Really Good Night On Rock

8.5" T.H.E. Jig

Broke the bail spring cover

3:00-6:30PM 16' Rock Lake

29-31℉, Cloudy very light snow, 0-4mph NW

I went out to where the houses were last night drilling a little to the East. Drilled 3 holes to start and nothing was there. I thought drilling 3 holes sure was stupid. I then drilled a hole a little to the SW. Nothing there. Instead of drilling another hole, I went back and fish showed up quickly. I caught a crappie on THE Jig. Then I put the camera down. Getting it positioned right was a pain.  Once I got the camera settled it was game on until it got dark with crips and sunnies. I didn't actually catch a sunfish, but I saw quite a few. At about 4PM crappies got on the minnow. Fishing was good until about 5:40PM then really slowed down. I busted the bail spring cover when I bumped the reel. I packed up at 6:30 when it got super slow.

44 Crappie

5 Sunfish

 

OK Evening On Rock

11" Glow Demon/Minnow

5" THE Jig/maggot

6" THE Jig/Wax Worm

3:50-7:00PM 13' My Spot

30℉, Cloudy, 0-6mph ESE

On my way out the guy from yesterday came over with his 4 wheeler offering to take me to my spot. I was more than halfway there so I declined. He had gotten some crappies and pike where he was fishing. I think next time I'm on the lake I'll check over that way. There were two houses in my general area, but out deeper than I fish. They were running tip-ups toward shore and he had a flag go up a little before I got to my spot. False alarm. I got the minnow down and had lookers right away that left quickly. I then got the Aqua-Vu down. Not much light penetration today made my viewing area limited. I had a few perch and little sunnies come through that weren't interested. at about 4:45PM some better sunnies showed up, but visibility was poor. I had a pike look at THE Jig. I saw a couple crappies before I pulled the camera up. I got 4 crappies on the Glow Demon and minnow. The final bite of the night was the 11-incher. Had a few sniffers and missed a few aggressive ones. I dropped a glow Tubby Jig and couldn't find it. I then dumped my maggot puck. I guess I'll be buying that Clam Corner. When I was putting stuff away I found the Tubby Jig.

4 Crip

1 Sun

1 Perch

Ok Night at Rock

11" Glow Demon/Minnow

5:00-7:00PM 12' My Spot between the Cane and Reeds

20-22℉, Cloudy, 5-15mph NE

I did the needed repair on the Fish Trap (A nut had come loose). I don't remember why I got such a late start. Napping maybe. I headed to Rock and nobody was in the lot. As I was unpacking a guy came by that was going to be getting out here tomorrow. I set up on my spot. I think I tried to use the camera, but it was too dark. I ended up catching 11 crappies. The best bite I have had in a long time. The 11-incher was my last bite of the night. I stayed an extra half hour because of that fish.

11 Crip

 

Fishing Was Almost Good

 

19.5" THE Jig/maggots/wax worm

8" VMC Fly/maggot

                          

4:00-6:15PM 9' Platte Public Access.

10-18℉, PC, 5-10MPH SSE

I stopped at Bear Trax to get Minnows. He isn't carrying disposable propane bottles because of the high price. Stopped at the GOMH to get a picture. Took a picture of the Smitty all loaded up. Headed farther west and a little shallower than I have been. I put a minnow down then the camera then THE Jig. Not a whole lot of visibility; I could barely make out the minnow swimming a yard away. After putting THE Jig down I saw a bluegill immediately that quickly spooked when a pike swam in. I put down a spoon and spooked the pike. I got the first crappie on the THE Jig. I then missed a couple on THE Jig. The Pike came in to inspect THE Jig. It sucked it in and I set the hook. It got caught up on the Aqua-Vu. Luckily I got it free and the pike stayed hooked. I got one crappie on the Glow Demon/minnow and 5 on THE Jig. I had a 12" get off in the hole because it was caught on the transducer. Saw a few sunfish, but couldn't get them to bite. Pete called as I was starting to pack up. Mom called to see what I wanted for supper. I ended up sending THE Jig back down getting that 6th crappie.  

6 Crappie

1 Pike

Slow Cold Night On Platte

5" VMC Fly/maggots

5:00-7:00PM 11' Platte Lake Access

7-15℉, Cloudy, 0-3MPH N

I headed over to Steve's so he could get the Smitty Sled spaced out correctly. By the time he was done, I decided Platte was where I would fish. An old-timer was loading up his sled when I arrived. I got my stuff ready to go and the old guy came over to chat. He had been out since about noon and started on Sullivan. The fish wouldn't bite there so he came to Platte.  He showed me his bucket with a nice mess of sunnies and crappies. By the time I was drilling holes darkness was about to descend. I set up to the East of the road I fished yesterday. Caught one small crappie there and not much was going on, so I drilled holes over by where I was yesterday. Caught two small crappies there. Not much was going on. I was comfortable with the heater working. I did miss some bites on THE Jig. When I came in I popped the rope out of one of the skis on the Smitty. I was able to undo the knots and get it fixed.

3 Crips

Fortunately, all I had to do was screw off the heating element. 

New And Improved

Heater Wouldn't Fire, Caught 1 Crappie (Annoying)

 

8" VMC Fly/Maggot

5:30-6:30PM 12' Platte Lake Access

10-18℉, PC, 0-4mph NNE

I headed to the Platte Lake Access at about a quarter to 4PM. I pulled the Fish Trap out on the farthest West road. I got my lines down and then couldn't get the heater to start. Not a happy camper.  I pulled my lines up and headed to Bear Trax to refill my propane tank at about 5PM. Got back in the shack within twenty minutes. Turns out my heating element gave up the ghost. Really not a happy camper. I caught one crappie. It was about the same Temp in the new Fish Trap as it would have been in my old one with the heater running. When the holes started freezing I called it a night. 

A Few Fish On Rock Tonight (Packer Lost In Lambert)

8" Glow Demon Spoon/maggie

 

5.5" VMC Fly/Maggot

Initial Run On the Smitty Sled

4:50-6:15PM 14' Rock Lake

10-20℉, PC, 0-3mph WNW

I arrived at Rock Lake just as the 3rd Quarter ended in the Packer/Tampa Bay Game
Turns out Steve didn't account for the curves on the bottom of the Fish Trap which meant it didn't sit correctly on the Smitty Sled. I propped it up on the shovel on the way out. I set up maybe 15' North East of where I fished yesterday. Only drilled one set of holes. The heater didn't want to light for some reason Caught the first Crappie on the Glow Demon Spoon. Got the next fish on the Demon/Minnow. Got two on the VMC Fly/maggot. The last fish of the night was a sunny on the Fly.  I caught over 50% of my bites, so that's progress. A-A Ron was not able to mount a comeback and the Packers lost.

4 Crip 

1 Sun

Clown Show On Rock Lake Tonight

3:30-5:30PM 14' Between the Reeds and Cane

18-22℉, Cloudy light snow, 3-9mph SE

I was a clown show to start. Drilled 4 holes headed toward the Cane. Put the camera down and spotted a sunfish and perch immediately.  Made the mistake of drilling diagonally to the wind. Couldn't figure out the Rapala Camera Panner. The Glow Demon got hooked on the rod bag as I was taking it out. Visibility was poor on the Aqua View. I missed all the quality bites. I was lucky I didn't break the Genz Rod when I moved the Trap. I got Perch in both spots. Missed Sunfish at both spots. Saw nice crappie on the camera when I was bringing it up. Missed several more bites and kept having a muskrat come up in the holes.

 Steve finished the Smitty Sled. I picked it up on my way back home.

 

Two Thumbs Up for New Trap and Bibs

Didn't get skunked!

Mucho Leg Room

5:15-6:15PM Platte Lake Public Access

15℉, MC, 0-3mph NW

I got 3lb Suffix put on the Genz rod and got my stuff in the Kia and headed over to the Lake Place to pick up the Fish Trap at 4:15PM. Got the Trap loaded and then realized I didn't take the keys with me. Fortunately, I left the car running. I went and got the keys. I got to the access a little before 5PM. I ended up setting up out a little deeper than I would have preferred. The Fish Trap is taller than I am. Fits all of my stuff just fine. I am impressed. I started with my jacket off and can put it back on while standing upright inside the Trap. The only thing I don't care for is far up off the ice I am sitting, neck and shoulder strain may be a thing. I think I'll try putting a third five-gallon bucket in the trap and try propping up the Vex on that. I need to switch over the rod holders.    

The bib's cell phone pocket is convenient. The full leg zipper is nice.  

I caught the one small crappie and had a few more sniffers. 

Windy Evening On Platte

4:50-6:15PM Platte Lake out from the access

34-37℉, PC, 15-30mph WSW

I got the headlight on the Expedition replaced, but getting it back in place took some time. I headed out at about 10 after 4PM. I went to the public access on Platte Lake and not much was going on. Just a couple trucks in the lot. I unloaded and headed out. I got passed by a guy in a four-wheeler headed in.  I went out about 50-yards. The wind was hellacious. I noticed my Columbia hoodie wasn't in the sled. I walked back to the Expedition, no sign of it. I could have sworn I brought it. Went back out. Got a minnow down. Caught the 8" crappie after missing the first bite. It got caught in my second line on the way up. I had to cut the line and retry. I dropped the dropper spoon. Super frustrated at things at that point. I had a couple of sniffers and caught the dink. That wind was nasty. This will probably be my last trip in the two-man. 

Back to Mille Lacs

7:30-9:30AM Casino Bay

28-26℉, Foggy, 0-3mph

Because I headed out when it was dark and foggy I couldn't really tell if I was on the right path out when I started. I ended up having to go cross country to get to my spot. I saw a walleye there, but didn't get a bite and had a couple of brief marks. After about an hour I moved out deeper where I caught and saw some perch.  Man, it was foggy when I gave up., pretty though.

 

Skunked At Mille Lacs

4:30-6:30PM Casino Bay

28-30℉, Mostly Cloudy, 

Got a late start, to begin with. Then I didn't like the looks of things at Eddy's way too many ice heaves.  I decided to go look at Casino Bay, which was fine and hardly anybody there. I went out to about 14'.  I marked a few fish to start, but once it got dark things went quiet. Skunked again.

 

Platte Lake Access Trip

8" Glow Demon/Minnow

4:00-6:00PM 13' Platte Lake Access

33℉,  PC, 

Headed straight out from the access. There was one truck off to the East of the access. Didn't mark anything in the first set of holes. Marked stuff in the second set of holes. Couldn't feel the bites or wasn't patient enough. Got one crip on the Demon/minnow. And had the bobber taken down a couple times. I suck. Not enough visibility for the camera.

1 Crip

 

Oopsie, Forgot the Bait Aborted Trip

 I got up a bit late today, but it was in the mid 30's so I packed the car and headed off to the Platte Lake Access. Realized when I was coming up to the GOMH that I forgot to put the maggies and waxies in my pocket. Drove to the PLA disgusted with myself. Decided to turn around and go home. Should have at least gone to Bear Trax to get more minnows. I'll go fishing tomorrow.