Back to the T-P for fishing.

Fished again today. Cold, sunny and windy on the bay 19 degrees with 7-10 mph wind from the NNE . I decided to drag out my ice fishing T-P. It's been in storage for 5-6 years. It needs a little repair work but it has aged well. If memory serves me well it must be 25 years or older. It worked well to day. Quicker and easier to setup and tear down. Plenty of room.

My 25 year old T-P seems like it has plenty of good use still left in it. Tomorrow I'm going to make a few repairs and modifications. Look close you can see the lighthouse on the right off in the distance (click on each photo for larger version). Also  Notice the 30 lb propane tank on the left. That is the heat supply. This is one of the reasons driving out to fish is so great. You can take what you want.

Nice comfortable seat and a Vexilar (fish finder).

Tackle, bait (yellow box on the ice) and heater. A heater that will cook you out.

 And of course fish on the ice.

Fishing in a new spot today. Started off slow but soon picked up. Fish on the Vexilar most of the day but the bite was on and off. The perch were bigger today.

Quick fishing report. Smelt and perch.

Quick fishing report. Sunny but darn cold. Used the shelter and turned on the heat for the first time this season.

Ice conditions and travel conditions on the bay are great. Everything has firmed up from the rainy slushy weather of last weekend.

Reports at the landing seem to be the same for others. Smelt, perch and occasional coho.

Passing the time on the cold days. Like today!

The last few days I have been passing some "fishing" time tying flies and staying warm.  Winter jigging flies I hope. At least that's what I think they are going to be. I have no idea if they will catch a fish but I plan to use them for panfishing. Perch, crappies and bluegills. I plan to tip the jigs with waxies and / or spikes. As soon as we get a little warmer weather I'll test the jig and report back.

Small Ice Fishing Jigs.
For what it's worth here is the materials list.
1. #14 Nymph hooks
2. Wing. Flashabou. Glow in the dark. Assorted colors.
3. .020 lead free round wire. To weight the jig. 10 wraps.
4. 3/0 thread for the body. Assorted colors.

Inland lake ice fishing trip.

We spent a couple of days in the Minocqua WI area. Ice fishing, reading, eating out and of course a little quilting for the ladies.

The fishing was fun..... with some new experiences. My wife caught her first fish through the ice a Northern Pike.

The perch were  biting... but slow and light. The three day trip ended with a nice walleye catch at 10:00 P.M. on Saturday night.  Hey Skip the fish measured > than 17 inches.

The weather wasn't the best on Thursday and Friday but by Saturday night it was miserable.... windy and snow mixed with rain. The wind was from the East all day long.

Wind from the West, fish bite the best.
Wind from the East, fish bite the least.
Wind from the North, do not go forth. 
Wind from the South blows bait in their mouth.

Other Wisconsin Weather Stories.

Trip home was not fun. The snow and rain mix made the roads sloppy.

This guy on the left snowbank is not having a good day either.

A dining out tip. If you are in the Minocqua / Woodruff / St. Germain WI area try eating at McGregor's Blink Bonnie for a great steak. Arrive early limited seating.

Mc Gregor's Blink Bonnie Club
Listed Since: 1984
1506 County Road C
St Germain, Vilas County, WI 54558-8944
Phone: (715) 542-3678

Fished with family and friends today.

A short video of a sunset on Chequamegon Bay. I ice fished with my brother-in-law, nephew and an old fishing buddy. We call him "the chief" as in fire chief (retired).



Another warm sunny day. Perch were biting today. My brother-in-law caught a coho on a tip-up. It was the first flag I've seen in several trips out. Fish on the ice.

Yet another great sunny day on the ice.

 What can I say the sun was out.  The bay is 1/2 mile away and the access is easy. I can't remember a string of weather that has been this perfect for my kind of ice fishing.

Knock on wood, fingers crossed and praying to the fishing gods that it continues until say fly fishing weather.

At one point today the temperature reached 48 degrees. The digital thermometer hangs on my jacket zipper. Granted it was against my black jacket in direct sunlight. But 48 on January 18th.

The fish were biting a lot better today although still only perch. In four trips out I have not seen a single flag (strike) on a tip-up.

I stopped and talk to several other fisherman at the landing everyone seem to have the same results. Mostly perch and smelt between the shore and the lighthouse. Better results toward Washburn and Houghton Point.

Jump in for a trip out onto the ice.

Below is a circle tour around the bay.
This is a 360 degree rotating view of Chequamegon Bay. You will be looking north east toward the lighthouse. As we move toward the left the specks in the distant are cars and ice shacks. The distant shore (at 11 seconds) is Houghton point then (at 18 seconds) Washburn (NW). My truck. Continuing to the (WSW) (at 39 seconds) the sun and the head of the bay. Ashland then (at 47 seconds) the Chequamegon Hotel (at 48 seconds) the end of the oredock to the (S). Continuing to the (SE). The break wall in the distant. Back to the lighthouse.

A little closer to supper. But not much. Day 4 on Chequamegon Bay.

Another beautiful sunny day. High temp on the ice 34 degrees. Wind from SW 10-13 mph. Travel conditions on the ice are great. There is very little snow and what is there has melted near flat. It's like driving in a very large parking lot. The landings are getting a little rough but still easy on and off.

Lots of people fishing on the Ashland side of the pressure ridge. The talk was people were having spotty results. Some coho, walleye, a brown trout occasionally, smelt and of course perch.

Today was a landmark in a manner of speaking. Todays trip (#4) means that I have ice fished more in the last 2 weeks than I did in the last two seasons.

A special thanks to all who helped make it possible Scott, Chris, John and the school staff and of course Donna.

Oh ya...... four more perch only two came home. The two that came home are from the same cookie cutter. See yesterday's post and photo.

Another sunny day on the bay. Windy but very enjoyable.

Well the fishing wasn't great but it was another sunny day. The wind was fairly brisk. I did manage to catch a couple more perch. I must admit it isn't the most effective way to catch supper. The two here and the two there method. Oh well eventually they will taste good.

I've included a short video. Not much to see. Two perch. A Vexilar fish finder. Notice the red/yellow area at 6 o'clock on the screen....that is bottom at about 30 ft. The flashing narrow green line (at 5:30) is the bait. Watch close for a second yellow/red line between the bottom and the bait. That is the fish. Now watch the bobber (yellow) in the hole. Watch for the quick bite.

Ok Skip give me a break I can't fish and video tape at the same time.

All the noise in the background is the wind blowing and the radio.

When I raise the camera the black tripod device is a pop-up for catching or maybe trying to catch ...or...ok it's to watch and give you something to do.

The lights on shore are lights along US 2 east of the oredock.




Yellow Perch

Parked on the bay 3/4 mile offshore

I'm back and I'm retired as of January 4, 2010. Ice fishing on Chequamegon Bay.

It's all about the numbers.......
01/13/2010. Ice fishing in Chequamegon Bay. 1.5 miles offshore. 1/2 a mile from the lighthouse. 30 feet of water below. 16" inches of ice underfoot....and truck. Sadly only 2 small fish on the ice. 62 and retired!

The sun was shining. The wind was light. Temperatures in low thirties. In my opinion a perfect day to ice fish.

Ice fishing video. Chequamegon Bay.

Ryan joining the "trip" after work.
Ryan ready to fish? Video.
Auguring a hole in the ice.

Ryan and the retired guy.

Ryan at sunset.