mallardtone-man
01-18-2005, 11:18 AM
Got out to my favorite lake today with my buddy mitch. Let me tell you, it was a struggle to wake up at 6:30 after only 3 1/2 hours of sleep. Mitch had never caught a pike thru the ice, so I told him thats what we would target today. It took us a few mins of getting pretty sweaty to spud out the holes for the Shappell 4000 (man that ice is getting thick! 6-8" where we are). Then we set the tip ups. We were only running 2, but before we even got in the shanty, I told Mitch he had a flag, turned out to be a 20"er. After he got that back in the water, he caught 3 more just like it out of the same hole, and I caught a 33"er that had to go 10lbs out of mine. All fish were released. Finally, we had time to sit down for a few mins in the shanty. Right away I had a nice pike in my hole As I readied the spear, I clanked the metal support pole on the ceiling and he took off DOH! I guess I will have to start bringing one of my shorter spears, at least untill I get the permanent buit. I must have had the hot hole, because I had several BIG ol' hawg bass come thru, a few hammer handles, and at least 3 different "takers" I only threw on one, and I could have sworn I hit him, but when I pulled up my spear, he wasnt there. One nice fish with a scar on his lip kept coming back, he would hang out just outside the hole. and stare at the decoy. As soon as I moved it he would take off, or, he would loose interest and swim away. I managed 1 more 26"er on my tip up, and mitch got one about 16". When I went to pick up the tip ups, all of the spindles were partially turned, but too frozen to flag, and the baits were gone. Damn cold........
*side note* Be careful out there in the cold. After I got home, Mitch called me and told me he had gotten frostbite on his hand. I havent seen it yet, but he said a 1 1/2" patch was all white, and clammy, and it is bright red around it. It was so cold on the lake that even with 2 heaters going full blast in the 4000, the holes frequently had to be skimmed.
*side note* Be careful out there in the cold. After I got home, Mitch called me and told me he had gotten frostbite on his hand. I havent seen it yet, but he said a 1 1/2" patch was all white, and clammy, and it is bright red around it. It was so cold on the lake that even with 2 heaters going full blast in the 4000, the holes frequently had to be skimmed.