23" Rainbow Last Night!

[fishonjr]

Hey all!

I'm sorry I don't have a pic (yet) to post but I managed to land a 23" 'bow on 2lb test last night! Wow! What a rush! I was shaking like a leaf. It must of taken me 10 minutes to get him in. Three screaming runs and I was finally able to get her head in the hole and put her on ice! Joe at Parkside Market here in Gaylord took a digital pic and I hope to get it from him to post. I also lost 3 other 'bows. One was on a tip up and the other two were jigging. I was using a forage minnow tipped with wigglers and fished very aggressivly 2 feet below the ice in about 12ft of water. I was on a local lake here in Gaylord. Lots of snow on the ice made for difficult walking, but only had to walk about 200 yards. I'm curious why there doesn't seem to be much talk about fishing for trout throught the ice? I've seen a couple of post that barely get a response when someone was looking for information and tips. Why? Do not many of you fish trout through the ice? Or is it something that we shouldn't discuss?

[javelin]

I think "trout guys" keep their cards close to their vest.

[fishonjr]

That "they" do! Why this is I don't know. I know there are some great trout sites out there but most of them pertain to fly-fishing or something of that form. Why? I do notice that the trout lakes up here (Gaylord) usually have the least amount of pressure on them. I dunno know. To each his own, but I would rather go do battle with those 'bows & splake, & browns up here than catch a bunch a perch. I guess I go for perch for food and the trout for the rush they provide. Not to mention how great they are to eat also!

[MiketheElder]

We'd fish them if we knew about them! What lake were you on? I might be in that area in the next couple of weeks. Never caught a trout through the ice before. I'd like to give that a try.

[fishonjr]

There are some terrific trout lakes up here! Heart, Big & Little Chub, Pickerel, Big Bradford, McCormick, Lake 15, and there are many more in nearby Kalkaska county. I caught mine on one of the Chubs and after landing that beast, I was sporting>CHUB>!!

[Northbound]

Never caught a trout through the ice before. I'd like to give that a try.

Me too!

Never caught trout threw the ice, I know where Chub lakes and Heart Lake is at.

Fishonjr tell us a bit more about your techmique and best time of day to go, .

[Banditto]

Burt Lake has rainbows and people fish them pretty much like you described, except don't count on your next one only going 10 minutes... 30 minutes sounds more like it.

[William H Bonney]

I think "trout guys" keep their cards close to their vest.
This is true.

Here's what I think,, if you're trout fishin through the ice,, one or two fish is an outstanding day. Pan fishing,, one or two,, HORRIBLE DAY. Most guys just don't have the patience to sit in the cold all day for one fish.

[Relentless]

There are some terrific trout lakes up here! Heart, Big & Little Chub, Pickerel, Big Bradford, McCormick, Lake 15, and there are many more in nearby Kalkaska county. I caught mine on one of the Chubs and after landing that beast, I was sporting>CHUB>!!

I've known about that area for 25 years .... my grandparents have a cabin on Little Chub Lake. The deal is though, it's a long hual for alot of people to drive to. I wish they would plant browns again.

[Splitshot]

A 23" rainbow is a beautiful fish. Congradts.

[dinoday]

We'd fish them if we knew about them!

You can find them a whole lot closer than Grayling Mike;)

[cwalinst]

Guys, for all who is or will be fishing these trout in Shupac, Big Chub, Bridge, and Heart lakes, please make sure you note which pectoral fin is clipped off the rainbow trout that you land. DNR Fish Division, which is who I work for, have been stocking 2 different strains of rainbow trout in these lakes (and others statewide) to differentiate planting/survival success between Eagle Lake strain and steelhead strain rainbow trout. Call up the MDNR Fish Division (ask for Tim or Neal) in Gaylord at 989-732-3541and we will mail you a sheet for which you can document your catches (by fin clip). This is a very important statewide project, and one where anglers such as yourselves can help us evaluate the project. If the fishes right pectoral is clipped, its a steelhead strain rainbow. If the left pectoral fin is clipped, then its an Eagle Lake strain rainbow. By the way, its not the way we look at the fish, its the fishes fin that we are talking about (e.g. my left arm, my right eye, etc). Thanks for helping people.
Tim Cwalinski, Fish Mgmt Biologist, Gaylord MDNR

[fishonjr]

Hey all, thanks for the comps on the fish! It'll probably be another 32 years before I catch another one like that but sure hope not! Anyway, I'm not being advidsed by another member to consider NOT mentioning certain lakes and perhaps just being a little more vague. I will consider it and think it over and will think about the harm that may come to these lakes. In no way am I "pro" or anything. Don't own a bait shop. Not partners with any businesses that would benefit from my posts. I'm just a fisherman. I've seen first hand what can happen when "word" gets out about a certain lake. There is a small bluegill lake in this area that last year my friends and I fished quite regularly simply because of the bull gills you would catch. Everyday you could expect to catch an 11"+ gill. I have. There were never more than 4 of us that fished it at least 2x a week. Throughout the year we chased off some poachers (2 people with at least 300 gills) and other than another local pike spearer, we rarley seen people. This year is another story. Two Sundays ago I couldn't even get a parking spot. It hasn't been fished out yet, as I recieved a terrific report from someone who fished recently but if that pressure continues, it's over. I wouldn't want that to happen again. My question is why in the "north" is it taboo to talk about lakes, but anything south of appoximently Houghton Lake, you see posts after posts about certain lakes. I grew up a flatlander (Bay City) and everyone shared information. Not "up north". Why?

[William H Bonney]

Hey all, thanks for the comps on the fish! It'll probably be another 32 years before I catch another one like that but sure hope not! Anyway, I'm not being advidsed by another member to consider NOT mentioning certain lakes and perhaps just being a little more vague. I will consider it and think it over and will think about the harm that may come to these lakes. In no way am I "pro" or anything. Don't own a bait shop. Not partners with any businesses that would benefit from my posts. I'm just a fisherman. I've seen first hand what can happen when "word" gets out about a certain lake. There is a small bluegill lake in this area that last year my friends and I fished quite regularly simply because of the bull gills you would catch. Everyday you could expect to catch an 11"+ gill. I have. There were never more than 4 of us that fished it at least 2x a week. Throughout the year we chased off some poachers (2 people with at least 300 gills) and other than another local pike spearer, we rarley seen people. This year is another story. Two Sundays ago I couldn't even get a parking spot. It hasn't been fished out yet, as I recieved a terrific report from someone who fished recently but if that pressure continues, it's over. I wouldn't want that to happen again. My question is why in the "north" is it taboo to talk about lakes, but anything south of appoximently Houghton Lake, you see posts after posts about certain lakes. I grew up a flatlander (Bay City) and everyone shared information. Not "up north". Why?
That seems to be the story every where, not just "up north". Alot depends on the size of the lake. Most guys don't mind givin' up a report on a big body of water. Smaller lakes,,, I can understand not givin' up a good report.

[bloo_gilz]

Great post/ Great fish. I appreciate the fact you DID keep a "vague" response. I've witnessed many times what can happen when "word gets out".
Huge bucks,Monster brookies,Hog gills.., doesn't matter what the quarry !
Sportsman can be lazy, greedy, and oppurtunistic. It's a shame when some one does good (like yourself)..Shares a little knowledge of success,& the next thing you know, everybody & his bro wants a piece !
My old man always told me to just keep my trap shut!!:D
It has already been mentioned,but I agree,. A smaller lake can be Hugely impacted in just one season of "over" fishing. Good luck up there. That's a beautiful lake...Mark