First Ice Fishing Trip of 25/26, Rock Lake

 

 4:00-8:00PM Rock Lake 17' of water

12-25℉, Cloudy, 3-9mph NW

I wanted to be out of the house by 2pm, but I couldn't find some things, so I didn't leave until 2:35. I went to Bear Trax and got minnows. There were two trucks at the Rock Access. Then, when I got to the lake and had the car almost unloaded, I remembered I hadn't grabbed the Ion batteries. I thought about using the spud to make my holes, but no. So I drove back home. I stopped along the Rock Access Rd to talk to a couple of ladies with kids. Turns out it was one of J&D's cashiers from a couple of years ago. There was a big flock of turkeys I had to stop for going both ways. So I didn't get back to the lake until 3:15 or so. The ice checked out. I drilled 3 sets of 3 holes in 17' of water. I didn't mark anything until the 3rd set. A guy came out in Fish Trap and set up to my NW. He stayed late and only drilled a few times. I wonder if he had ffs. I should have gone over and talked with him. I lost one small crappie at the hole, but wasn't marking much. I drilled 3 more sets of 3. I didn't mark anything in them, so I headed back to one set where I did mark fish and spent the rest of the night there. I got a few crappies and lost at least 2/3rds of my bites, even on the bobber rod. It was slow with fish down there occasionally. They seemed skittish for the most part. There may have been some sunfish and perch down there as well after dark. There were also a couple of bigger red marks that I didn't get to bite. I stayed way longer than I should have. Lots of Russian Gremlins, and I was stressed out because of it, and not in a flow. I would say I fished at level 3 out of 10, so not good. I was the last one off the lake. The other guy left at 7pm when I should have.

9 Crips 

Not Efficient At Rock Lake

 

8.5" Glow Demon/Minnow

6" Glow Demon/Minnow

4" Not Skunked

3:40-6:15PM Rock Lake 15' My Spot

30-36℉, PC, 0-4mph SW

3-4' visibility

I went to my spot and drilled 6 holes in a circle. I then put the camera down in the first hole and there were sunfish swimming around. I then drilled three more holes got the rods out and started fishing. I wish I would have hole-hopped with the Vex instead. I ended up just staying put. There were sunfish, perch, and at least one pike down there. Visibility wasn't great due to sediment in the water. I caught two sunnies and two crappies after I had pulled the camera up. I missed a bunch of opportunities because I wasn't patient. After dark when things slowed down I drilled two more holes at each of the other hole locations then scouted with the Vex and glow Cubby. Didn't mark a thing. I fished about a half hour longer in the Trap marking a couple of fish, probably sunnies. I really should have gone fishing yesterday, but I overslept in the afternoon. Not sure when I'll be able to get out again.

2Crip 

2Sun 

Saw:

1 or 2 Pike, some small perch, and mostly small sunfish but there were a couple nice ones that came through.

First Ice Trip Of 22/23 Ice Season

 

1st Fish Of Ice Seaso

3:45-5:35 10' Out From the Platte Lake Access

26-35℉, PC, 0-3mph

Forgot to bring the spud, but there were a few people out, and there were old iced-over holes where I was fishing. I did a zig-zag pattern in 10-12' feet of water and spied a gill down in the third hole, so I drilled three more, and that is where I fished. Saw two gills catching one. Saw at least one pike, possibly two. It was about 10 minutes between appearances, and I didn't get a great look at the first one. A few marks came in, and looked, but I didn't detect any bites. Almost nothing as it got dark

1Sun 

(This is YT Report I did with the VN Video Editor App, first-ever time using video editing software)

(This is the YT Report before I got the VN app)

GOMH Morning, GOMH & Rock Afternoon, Back @ GOMH To Close Night Out

5.04lbs/20.5" Terminator Jig/Craw Tube (White)
Evening @ GOMH

4.50lber THE Jig/minnow
Morning @ the GOMH

Silver for the family from Brainerd

I was at the GOMH prior to sunrise. Nothing going on to start. Got a few jumpers including the 4 and a toothy. 

In the afternoon I stopped at the GOMH first, no silvers only jumpers. Stopped at Bear Trax and got minnows. Got the Trophy hooked up and headed to Rock. There was some activity in the Platte River Outlet Bay, but I didn't catch anything. I saw one pike and missed a couple of bites. There were carp up super shallow making a fuss. Nothing at the Beaver Dam so I beelined for the access. A guy and his bud were test running the guy's small fishing boat. The guy held the Trophy while I got the truck and then cranked it up when I drove it on. I dropped the Trophy off at the Lake Place then headed to the GOMH.

Nobody was there when I arrived. Caught 2 jumpers immediately including the 5lber that was 20.5. Some friends or family of Skibidi showed up and took the SE side. A family with a teen daughter and young son showed up and fished the SW bridge. The daughter is on the Brainerd Fishing Team. Skibidi joined his group. A few jumpers were caught as were a few silvers once it got dark. Had a 3lb jumper take me to the catails but I got her out. LM showed up about 8:15. SE side did better than the SW. I caught 5 quick silvers when I switched to the Cubby. I gave them to the dad. Called it a night at 10 PM. LM was the last one standing as the Skibidi clan left when I did.

 

Good Night at The GOMH Catching Bullheads

 

Bullhead Bullhead

Lantern Man's 2nd 14-incher of the night

12" THE Jig (Glow/Pink)

17.5" Cubby/minnow (Glow)

Hunting Pack of Pelicans

5:00PM-Midnight GOMH SW SE

41-59℉, cloudy clearing late, 0-4mph 

Water high and rising

1st person there tonight took the SW corner. I got done stretching than an old-timer named Richard S. stopped, and we talked for 10 minutes. He didn't have any minnows, so he left. Think I got 3 small jumpers before a friend of LM showed up and took the SE side. I got a few more jumpers and a toothy on the Swim Shad after I caught a weed right away on the previous cast and spooked it. Some guys fished on the NE side for about 20 minutes. LM showed up around 7:30. His son was on his way. Skibidi showed up and joined the guy on the SE side.

We all got a few bass. Brett showed up and caught some jumpers. We watched several groups of pelicans fly in and land. We got to see them hunt and start a feeding frenzy. I missed my first two silvers. They started catching them on the other side. LM's wife showed up while I was missing those first two. As it got dark, the action picked up but not as fast as last night. Beautiful night. LM got two 14s, and Brett got a 14.25" as well. The SE vacated after 10PM. Brett started getting smaller ones. I went to the SE side. and they kept catching fish. I got a 9" and missed a couple of bites. They left at 11 PM. I didn't care for the current, practically to the cattails. I got a 14" bullhead and headed back to the SW side. I Got two more silvers, and my last bite was a 17.5" jumper with melanated spots. I stopped fishing a bit after midnight. The sky was clear when I left. A lot of loon chatter after 11PM, and I heard an owl as I was packing up

3 Trips to the GOMH On the 3rd

14" 

Egret on Eagle Perch Point

Morning Bullhead

 The first trip was an attempt to get the bobber light that fell off when I set the hook on my last silver last night. Had the light on the shovel and would have gotten it except for that dang tree I was bringing up with it. Didn't get any bites.

Took a sunrise trip: 

Slow, but I got bullheads, so I can't complain. They wanted meat, and I used up my last 3 minnows. Had a 3-pounda bury me in the cattails when John W. stopped. I Got visited by a guy who was out yesterday afternoon getting a few big jumpers. Left at 8 AM to get the car back

5:00-9:45PM GOMH SW

32-52℉, Sunny, 3-8mph NE

Dead for the first hour, Ruh-roh. Then I got a couple of quick jumpers. Nice, a sign of life. Dock Guy showed up. Had two C-130 roar in at just above treetop level. It was incredible. Started to see activity on the surface and caught a few more jumpers. Skibidi showed up. Lantern Man showed up and came down by me on the SW side. He had minnows from Prince's. He started getting silvers almost immediately and offered to let me use his minnows which I accepted. I got a 13 and then a 14-inch crappie on THE Jig. LM got a 14.25. LM caught the fire out of them. I texted LMS and diddled while the fish were AWWWWWWN!. They were getting a few on the SE side. LM had his limit by 8:45 PM. He gave me a scoop of minnows and left. I caught a couple more fish, and then they shut down at 9:15. I called it a night when my minnow came off at 9:45 PM.

Golden Bullhead On Windy Cool Evening

Chaha oaked it!

21.5" Swim Shad/Minnow

7:30-8:40PM GOMH SW

40℉, Cloudy light rain when I left, 10-15mph NNE 

Water Level Normal High rising

Pete decided not to show up. Smart choice. I got the one bite and bullhead at about 8PM on the 2" Swim Shad with a dead crappie minnow. Totally choked it. I had long johns on, but my feet still got cold. When it started to sprinkle I bounced.

 

Silver Showed Up Tonight As The Packers 2nd Pick Announced

 

Only Bite Tonight

Took two trips today. Rock Dock is in. Skunked first trip after trying to help Steve with the dock. 

After dinner, I fished the Inlet, GOMH, Bulldog, Rock, where a light boat put in. I fished until about 9 PM, then headed back to the GOMH. Spied one baitfish along the SW side. Got a silver when the Packers selection was announced. That was the only bite I got. Stayed until the Vikes draft coverage was over. Thank goodness the Vikes traded down to 32 or I would have been skunked. Vikes picked Safety Lewis Cine. He is a fast, a hard hitter, and a student of the game, he is a well-spoken kid. A new Harry the Hitman?

It was mid-40s with moderate to light E Wind. Cloudy. Got to 52 during the day.

Skunked Tonight, Got Minnows Today

Sunny when the sun came up, then clouded up quickly. Cloudy when Dad and I went to Onamia. Sun came out again by 3PM. Nice night. 

I think Local Walleye Guy fished tonight on the NE side for a while. The weather was pleasant, but I forgot my headlamp. Got minnows today at Reed's. We then went to check Kathio Bridge for suckers, none. Had a turkey take out the driver-side mirror, and dad stopped too quick, spilling the minnows; what a mess. Didn't get a bite. Had a loon make me believe I would get something tonight the way it was bird-dogging on the SE side. There was open water off of the point at SPSI, but was only open 75% of the way there. 

 

Good Evening On Rock By The Cane

8.5" THE Jig (Chart/Org)

7.5" THE Jig

Should have hand landed it, oh well

Crips started with a double

 4:00-9:00PM 8' and 10' By the Cane 

33-40℉, Cloudy, 3-15mph WNW

 (I started in yesterday's 12 holes, but it was dead there, so after 20 minutes, I moved to the 8' holes and drilled a new set to the south in 10'. Schools of something came through every 10 minutes. Shiners and perch tended to be together. Had a couple of small schools of sunfish quickly come through. Had a good 3 to 4lb pike hit the stickleback when I was fiddling with the camera trying to get a picture. I tried to pull it up out of the hole as it was hooked in the snoot, but the line broke a couple of inches from the dropper; oops. I decided to give the other holes a try. Lost a small pike that came out of nowhere and hit the Cubby. It came off just after I got the camera up, not even a nick in the line. Had a good size school of gills move through and a couple of smaller schools. Right before it got too dark to see, the crappies showed up. I used up my last couple of minnows. Had a hot bite with the Cubby, and then it was looky loo's and pulling teeth. Think I saw a small bass in the 8' hole.)

Three swans were flying around, and as I was packing up, two were calling back and forth. One was to the West and one to the East. The PRO narrows opened up a good bit today.

Slow Evening On Rock, Late Start

10.5" Demon/Minnow

Happy Bullhead

As he took the minnow

7:00-9:00PM Rock Lake 17' fish were 10' and up

25-34℉, PC, 3-8mph NNW

I hemmed and hawed about getting out tonight. Turns out the wheel wobble was due to a slightly underinflated tire. Good thing I Googled it.

Got a late start, put the camera down, and waited them out. The first fish was the nice crip. It came in with a small mixed school of crips, sun, and the bullhead. Everybody left except for the bullhead who harassed the camera. As it was getting dark, the bull ate the minnow as I took a picture. A NICE PIKE CRUISED PAST when I pulled the camera up to ice level. Got a few crips as it got dark and several nibbles that may have been sunnies. Had several looky loo's as well.

1 Bull

Crips

3 Demon/minnow

2 Tubby/maggot

5 Aqua-Vu

Sun

3 Aqua-Vu

Pike

1 Aqua-Vu

 

Another Fair Night at Rock

Rare daylight bite

5:00-8:30PM 10' Perch 14' Shiners 17' Crappies, Sun, Perch, Bullhead

33-41℉, Cloudy, 3-14mph ESE

Perch were all over the place up high in the hole I had been fishing. Shiners were all over the place down the break. I didn't fish either spot. Went out to where I was last night. Extremely slow until about 7:30PM. I had sunnies, crappies, and bullhead come through. Pulled the camera up, and more crappies moved in. Got several nice ones up high on the Demon Minnow. I packed up at 8:30PM. Packed the truck as light rain fell. It poured when I got to the N Platte Lake Drive. Luckily it was still above freezing out.

Had I a do over I would have fished the first two spots.

20 Crips

Aqua-Vu:

Bazillion Perch and Shiners

Sunfish (5 or so)

Crappie

Bullhead

 

Nice Night At the Dog (Dog Sitting Mack)

 6:30-8:30PM The Dog, Matt's Corner, and Last night's holes out from Holy Family

35-47℉, PC, 0-4mph W

The first night of dog-sitting Mack. They canceled the day at Santee Cooper.

Started at the same holes as last night. There was a guy out front of Holy Family. Spotted Pike and Perch in the same holes as last night. Sunnies were out a little deeper suspended. Drilled holes there. Caught a bunch of sunnies. Had a pike prowling around and attacking the camera as I was bringing it up. Got out to my holes from last night just after sunset. Short flurry, and then they were done. Coming off the ice was butter. Don't know how much longer the access is going to last. The water is coming up with the snowmelt.

45 Sun

11 Crip

5 PerchAV

2 PikeAV

Caught Something Other Than Crappies, Got A Few Of Those As Well

 6:30-9:00PM Matt's Corner and Out from Holy Family 

30-41℉, PC, 2-6mph NE

Got the low down from Steve and then headed to the lake.

Pike down in the first hole, I put the camera down. I checked 6 or 7 of the holes somebody else drilled in Matt's corner. Saw a bunch of perch toward the bottom in the weeds, and sunnies were up high. Fished the second Sunny Hole. They were all over. Down Viewed 'em. I got bored with that quickly. Headed out to my area before sunset. It started slowly had a flurry on the Glow Demon and minnow. Good size fish up high. It was a Clown Show, or I would have caught more. Fish shut off for the final hour. Beautiful Moon!

31 Crips

20 Sun

10 Perch AV

1 Pike AV

Late Start at The Dog

7:15-9:00PM Out from Holy Family at The Dog

30-34℉, Cloudy, 

Short trip. Don't remember why I procrastinated on getting out. Didn't get to writing this because the rents left for FL the next day. Deer walking across the lake with me and had one hit me on the way home. Should have listened to John W. closer about the heard in the road N of Club of the Pines. I caught some, but I was a bit of a clown show.

5 Crips

A Little Better, But Not by Much

First fish on the Demon

After the Pike swam out of view.

 5:00-7:30PM Bulldog about 25' to the SE of where I had been fishing. 28.5' of water 

14-19℉, PC, 3-15mph WSW

I was the only person on the lake tonight. Caught the first crappie right away about 15' down. He showed up from above. I adjusted the camera higher and watched a pike swim off. Got the second fish on a Rippin Rap. Had a few pods move through, but nothing stayed around for very long. Fish were on the small side tonight and most were caught 10-feet or under. I forgot the maggies and waxies, oops. It pretty much died by 7PM. The ice seems to be melting from below. Forgot to check thickness, but I am no longer almost bottoming the auger out.

4 Demon/Minnow

3 Rippin Rap

3 Cubby

3 THE Jig

Another Slow Night at The Dog

 

Whew!

10.75" VMC Fly/Maggie

4:20-8:00PM Bulldog

23-32℉, PC, 5-15mph WNW

I drilled a little to the West of where I was last night. Didn't see a thing until about 5:45PM when three crappies came through; I snatched one. Had another pod of three come through before I brought the camera up. A few fish started coming through when it got dark, but it was slow. Only landed 11 fish tonight, but 40% were keeper size and the good fish were 12' and up. I'll try a new plan tomorrow.

8 Demon

3 VMC Fly