Monday, March 18, 2024

Skunked On A Short Windy Trip GOMh/Rock

 



34℉, PC, 12-15mph SW


I dropped off the garbage then stopped at Rock. Rock Dock is not in. Fished for about 10 minutes then left. The wind at the GOMH was blowing out of the SW at about the same rate as a couple of days ago, but the temps were just above freezing this time. I fished for maybe 15 minutes on both sides of the bridge. No bites. Flying swans, red wings, and a beautiful sunset tonight. It is too bad the wind was blowing straight up the pipe again.

Skunked  

Sunday, March 17, 2024

DNF

 It didn't get above freezing. I basically slept all day. This upcoming week's forecast is not a banger.



Saturday, March 16, 2024

Not Even A Sunset Pic

Saturday March 16th
 7:25-8:10PM GOMH SW
31-33℉, Cloudy/Flurries, 10mph NW
Water Low and Falling

I thought maybe it would be a wackfest with the light snow flurries. There was nobody at the GOMH when I arrived. I didn't get a bite and when the guides started freezing up I was done. Not sure when I will get out again.

Friday, March 15, 2024

Skunked In the Morning/Some Bullheads In The Evening

 
6:45-8:30 AM GOMH SW
33-34℉, PC, 0-3mph W
Water Low and falling

I got minnows at Bear Trax then headed to the GOMH. I only got one bite that didn't hook up later in the morning. Nice sunrise and the red wings were singing away. Some swan and eagle flybys. Disappointing trip.

6:45-9:15 PM GOMH SW & NE
48℉, Cloudy, 10-15mph SW

I had just arrived when Lantern Man's son and two buddies showed up. The wind was hellacious but fishable. I missed one jumper on a jig. Brett moved over to the SW side with me. His buddy on the SE side got a gator. A couple of minutes after that I got a jumper and then Brett lost a 3 to 4lb jumper. Then a long lull. Lighted bobbers came out. Brett missed one bite. I headed to the NE side just as Lantern Man arrived. I didn't get anything. I put my stuff in the car, then went to talk with the crew. Kyle on the SE side got the first silver. Lantern Man got two and Brett missed a bite or two. I had enough of the wind and left at about 9:40. Those were the only three silvers they got.

2Jump 

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Gator And Silver Bullheads

 
14" Cubby/minnow

Choked it

13" Demon/minnow

25.5 Swim Shad



Rock Dock Not In

6:30-7:45 AM GOMH SW
34℉, PC, 0-3mph NE
Water Low Falling

I got a bite in the current that got off. The very next cast was a small gator. I got one more 23" gator a while later. I think I had something pull down the bobber right before Dad called. Because of that, I ended up leaving a little later than planned. I did get the car back in time for Mom to get to her hair appointment in Pierz.

2 Gator

5:00-11:00PM SW NE GOMH, Rock & Bulldog, SW GOMH
48-53℉, PC, 0-3mph

First evening stop at the GOMH. Nobody came around. I got a 25.5" gator on my only bite on the SW side. I briefly fished the NE side and had a small gator swirl on me.

2 Gator

Rock & Bulldog
There was some really small baitfish shallow at Rock. Rock Dock is not in yet. A few swans flying around. I did briefly fish at Bulldog, before heading back to the GOMH. No life at Bulldog.

Back at the GOMH:
Nice pink sunset. I missed three hits on the dogfish tackle. I got out the lighted bobber and quickly caught a 14" Slabber Bullhead. A couple bullhead fishermen showed up and fished the N side. I was just about ready to head out at 9:45 pm when I finally got another bite. From that point on I got a bite every 5 to 10 minutes until I ran out of minnows. I got a 12.5" and a 13" going 3 for 8 on bites. I was a bit rusty.  Also, a bow fishing boat blinded me so I missed my final two hooksets. I could not get a bite on just a glow Cubby. When the Bow Fishing boat came around I put my sunglasses on. They headed back into Platte as I was packing up. I shined two golden bullheads on the Platte side and one bullhead in the rocks on the Sully side.

3 Slabber Bullheads





 

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Ice Off Platte & I Got Two Gators @GOMH

 

First of two min-gators

Clicking will show the ice line


ice at the Platte Lake Access
5:10-6:45 PM Rock & GOMH
30-34℉, Sunny, 3-6mph NW

Rock Report: There was still ice on the southern half of the lake. There was very little baitfish activity. I heard eagles but didn't see them. Somebody was pulling out as I came down the hill. Tomorrow will be the day ice goes off Rock.

GOMH Report: I saw a red-wing blackbird in the tree to the East. There were not nearly as many swans around tonight. About 15' of ice is still at the access and a fair amount in Inlet Bay. I would be able to get a boat from the access to Jenny's so I'm calling ice out today. I had a small gator take a swipe at the Swim Shad right by the shore before I pulled it out of the water. A couple of casts later I had a hit across the channel in front of the cattails on the Swim Shad, a small gator. I threw the gator on the far side of the beaver dam. I put Cubby/Minnow out and got hit just to the East of the Beaver Dam flotsam. I'm pretty sure this fish was smaller. It came off as I tried to beach it sending my rig up and around the bridge gating, ridiculous. I got things untangled and called it a night. There was still some ice at the NE Access on Sullivan. The Bonfire Crew was doing a controlled burn as I was leaving. I could feel the heat at the car; I and the car smelled like smoke the whole way home.

2 Gator

Friday, March 08, 2024

Skunked at Rock & GOMH


GOMH

Sullivan Access


Rock Report: Skunked (Ice was off the upper 1/3rd of the lake and moving South. Two eagles flew out from the North. Only saw one baitfish. THe ice was probably 70 yards from the access.)

GOMH Report: Skunked (Ice barely holding on in Inlet, Our, and Access Bay. Should be gone tomorrow. Sullivan was mostly clear as well. It was getting dark by the time I arrived, I didn't get any hits and didn't fish long. My line was slowly icing up at both places.
 



Thursday, March 07, 2024

Pike at Rock Lake Tonight


 
Colors were bright and growing dimmer the whole time  I headed West

Platte Public Access



5:40-6:10PM Rock Lake 
33-36℉, PC, 0-2mph NW

Ice is holding on in Platte, but I don't think by much. I stopped at Rock, and while I was stretching I noticed baitfish activity out by the ice line on the surface. I got one pike, and that was my only bite. I stopped at Bulldog, not much progress again. I got to the GOMH a couple of minutes late for peak colors. I then drove to the Platte Public Access where there was still a bit of ice.

1Pike 

Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Did Not Fish

 


Dock Guy On The Right

Platte Lake Access
It got cold last night and only made it to about 42 without much wind. I walked to the Storage Ranch and back, that was about all my legs could take today. I stopped at Bulldog and Rock, which looked similar to yesterday. I also drove North Platte Lake Drive. Platte is slightly more open than yesterday. Dock Guy was at the GOMH so I didn't fish, just chatted. I heard a red-wing blackbird. He didn't get any bites. I think Platte will probably be ice-free by tomorrow night; It is supposed to be in the high to mid 40's and windy out of the SE.

Friday, March 01, 2024

Skunked at the GOMH On A Beautiful Evening


 





Three of my Fantasy Bass Guys made the cut. Cobb and Walters got 30's. I bought my fishing license at Bear Trax.

Skunked! I toured the lakes before hitting the GOMH. Bulldog had more ice at the access than before the cold, but some of the shorelines are pulling away. The Rock Lake access area ice pulled away from shore right in front of the access. GOMH had ice on what was open water before the cold. It was plenty open for me to fish. Lots of swans flying around tonight, a few geese, and two chirpy eagles even. It was a beautiful day and got to 55.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Checked Lakes And Got A Gator Bullhead @GOMH

 

Last cast


Ducks were out there



It will be interesting to see if this area refreezes 


5:55-6:20 PM GOMH SW
48-53℉, PC, Calm

Opened my Tackle Warehouse today, then took a nap.

I checked lakes first. I think Lantern Man was out on Bulldog. I saw some deer on the way to Rock. Rock also had a guy out fishing by Rice Island, his truck was at the access. Open water is now past the N GOMH Point. I heard ducks quacking but didn't see them. I had a gator steal my Cubby/Minnow. I think I got the thief on my last cast of the night with a Rocket Shad. I saw a muskrat tonight and had a lone Canadian flyover as darkness descended.

1 Pike 


Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Last Ice Fishing Trip Of 23/24

Last fish in the last hole

 




Finally a fish


7:10 AM-1:45 PM: Rock Lake 17', 12'
24-47℉, PC, 0-8mph SSW
Water clarity poor to start and the ice made noise until 9AM

I got started loading the car about 10 minutes late and it took me 50 minutes before I was ready to leave the driveway. I had to go get the Fish Trap first. When I got to the access I should have repositioned the car before unloading, which was a slow clown show. I turned my headlamp off after parking the car. The ice was cracking and groaning, which kept on until about 9AM. As I came around the corner to the PRO Bay there were a bunch of swans swimming and on the ice. I couldn't make out where my old holes were, but I had the Garmin 7 with so I was close. I was a rust bucket at first and visibility was terrible. I only got two crappies and only saw 3. Sunfish and perch were around. I saw 3 pike in the first set of holes. At 9AM I drilled a second set on the maidencane drop, right next to my previous holes. A pike came in quickly and bit the minnow, but I pooched the hookset. I then fished my way back to the access spying two pike, catching one in the last hole. The northern half of the access had standing water and the ice was getting soft. This will be my last trip of the 23/24 ice season.

5Crip 
6Pike 
30Sun 
12YP 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

1st Bullhead of 2024

 

17" eBay Spin/Goat (Glow/Black/FC)

5:15-6:15 PM GOMH SW 
40-44℉, PC, 1-3mph S

It was a nice day, but I was too sluggish after getting up to get my ice fishing stuff together, but I did want to go fishing, so I did. I thought maybe I underdressed my feet, but they didn't get cold. I was expecting a skunk, but you never know at The G.O.M.H. I was just about to switch to something else when the gator bullhead hit the spinnerbait. No skunk and the earliest open-water fish I think I have ever caught. I caught a pike at the GOMH on the 27th of February in 2016. Lots of swans flying around. I'm pretty sure there is open water on the southern side of Don's Point.

1Pike