Conference wahoo::fishing

    There is one technique that I've heard about, but I'm not to sure
    that it works. You experts will have to comfirm this.
    
    Seems that this one guy was out ice-fishing. Now what he was doing
    was casting his lure out and reeling it back. After a while and
    with no success, a friend of his comes along and after watching
    him throw his lure out and reel it back a few times, told him, "You're
    doing it all wrong." "The right way is to take my snowmobile and
    troll for them."
    
    Now my question is, what would be the right speed to do the trolling
    at????
    
    Tight lines, Ron ;^)

    OK GUYS....this was really meant to be the start of a serious
    discussion.  I know....I know...it seems a might bit early to think
    of ice, cold weather and snow...but c'mon Ron...when the weather's
    cold...ya have to get down DEEP...so ya have to mount a down-rigger
    on the snowmobile and troll s-l-o-w!  (geez...I wudda thought he'd
    know that by now!)
    
    Hey, Ron...I hear that you mount your outboard upside-down on the
    Ranger, install a bigger prop and use it as an ice boat.  Really??!?
    
    -HoleShot- (going_deeper_into_depression)
    

    Don't forget the skis Joe, you need the skis.................or
    the boat does this great imatation of a bass on the shore.....;^)
    
    Ya, I was aware that you have to get deep....deep under the covers
    that is. Give me the fireside and a ............(supply your own
    idea here;^) and I'll let you have all the ICE that isn't in my
    glass to fish through.
    
    Why do you think I'm off to FLORIDA???? Suffer.........;^)
    
    Tight lines, even if they are frozen, Ron

    Well Ron...it's like this.  A few of us "true blue" yankees are
    not what can be considered "fair weather" fisherman.  I mean, to
    go out ice-fishing when it's 30 degrees, raw and pouring rain and
    spend the WHOLE day out on the ice (or slush) chasing little red
    flags ... well...that's true sportsmanship.  I realize that there's
    a fine line of distinction between being a REAL fisherman and insanity,
    but I guess those wimps that take off for greener (and warmer) pastures
    will never really experience that great feeling and exhileration
    of fishing through the ice.  Half the fun of being out there is
    dreaming and planning for the upcoming season over a bottle or two
    of Jack Daniels or schnapps (that helps the mind to adjust to the
    present conditions.)
    
    Anyways...good luck down south and be sure NOT to tell us how you
    did.  I don't want to hear it!
    
    -HoleShot- 
    
    PS.  Anyone ever tried using a chainsaw to cut a long path thru
    the ice for casting??
    
    

    Hay Ron I have some relatives that might like a visit
    for the hoilday!! have any room in that car and
    boat for a little company??  Promise only to bring
    5 rods and four boxes of takle :^)   
    
    Bassin Bob
    
    P.s if you like to do a little horse back ridding
    to some little srcub ponds with
    only a rod and a pocket full of 
    black grape worms  we can find some lunckers
    that would make this notes file look like a 
    joke!!!!!
    
    
    

    Oh yea Bob,
    
    I know those ponds too, but think I'm going to settle for time on
    the LAKE for the sake of convience (and lack of a horse). Sorry
    I don't have any room left over, as the kids and S.O. will be taking
    all that's there. Maybe some other time.
    
    Just waiting for tight lines, Ron
    

    	Ahhhhhhh ! Back to fishing notes again. Just moved from NM0
    to NI0, had no account for awhile, then no system for awhile.
    	Anyway, this happens to be one of my favorite types of fishing.
    My friend and I always head up to the Great Bay area for smelt and
    white perch. Won't be long now. This type of fishing does not usually
    require alot of angling skill, patience, or money. There is not
    to much of a thrill to pulling in a smelt on a jig stick but they
    are good eatting. The white perch are even better. When either or
    both are running, (usually run from early Jan. to late Mar.), you
    have to wait all of 30 seconds to get a bite. I have 3 small fiberglass
    jigging poles that cost $1 ea. completely rigged. You can buy bait
    down the street from where I fish for $1.50 for 9 seaworms that
    wil last 2-3 people all night. The other interesting thing is that
    you never know what your going to pull up. My friends father caught
    a 19 inch striper through the ice will 8 lb test on one of my jig
    poles. Likewise, equivelent size salmon have been taken through
    the ice also.
    	One necessity to this type of fishing is the blackberry brandy.
    This stuff really does keep you warm. Its scary sometimes because
    when you drink this stuff, you feel warm but know its really cold
    and you start wondering if your getting frostbite and just don't
    know it (haven't gotten any yet so....).
    	When the time comes and if anybody is interested, drop me a
    line and you can follow me up there. 
    
    RAYJ_who's_never_ever_gotten_skunked_ice_fishing_for_smelt

    Gee,Ray,
    Joe and I thought we were the only crazies out there! Let me tell
    ya about the time my car was out on our favorite icefishing pond
    and it had been raining all day....fun huh? Well,a foot of slush
    and four wheel drive made for a really interesting exit...Ask Joe
    T some time.
    
    I haven't ever done any Great Bay type fishing, but I bet with some
    coaching I could get Joe to go...Doesn't sound like a big investment
    ar anything...What stuff do ya need?  Let's do some !

    	The first year I went, I improvised a little on the jig sticks.
    What I did is take the top halves from a couple of old 2-piece poles
    , tie some 6-8 lb. test to the bottom, then wrap about 30 feet or
    so of line on it. Next you run the line up through the eye holes. Take
    a small (inch round) piece of cork or styrofoam, poke a hole through
    the center, and run the line through it. Tie on a small hook (#10 I
    think, slightly larger than trout hooks) and about a 1/8 ounce egg
    sinker rigged as a sliding weight. You also want to take a couple
    small scraps of 2X4 to rest these on.
    	There are 2 types of bait I know of that work, seaworms (sand
    or blood) or shrimp. I can usually get shrimp real cheap at the
    time of year that I ice fish. Last year, a 5 lb. bag uncleaned went
    for $5.00. They also make excellent shrimp scampi but thats another
    story. Whatever bait you use, you only need a small piece. Worms
    can be cut into about 8 pieces each. 
    	What you do is lower the bait down the hole anywhere between
    5 - 20 feet. The bobber sits on top of the water (sliding bobber)
    and the weight holds the bait down. When you get a bite, you can
    see the bobber move around the hole. Once you find the depth they're
    biting at, the bobber usually freezes to the line to keep you at
    that depth. I usually fish two poles but sometimes when they're
    really running, all you can handle is one. I don't want to mis-lead
    you because there have been times where we had to wait 15-20 mins.
    between bites, but I'll repeat once again, I have never left without
    at least 1-2 meals of smelt.
    
    RAYJ_who_almost_never_goes_ice_fishing_without_blackberry_brandy

    OK, Ray...I'm convinced!  Just let Chris and I know when you want
    to go and we'll be there... (and we'll bring the brandy!)
    
    Gee...I just got back from Comdex out in Las Vegas and I guess who
    was checking in at the hotel (MGM Grand) when I was...a bunch of
    bass fishing Pros!  Apparently, there was a big tourney being held
    on Lake Mead (about 40 miles away) and these guys were LOADED with
    rods and tackle boxes.  I even saw a few familiar faces like Ricky
    Green and Ricky Clunn.  I would have liked to take a day to drive
    out to watch them...but unfortunately, no time.  It was interesting
    to listen to these guys talking about ... "catching 40-50 bass in
    a day" ... disgusting!
    
    Well...let's hope the ice moves in quickly.
    
    -Joe-

    	One thing I forgot to mention, if you have any 5-10 gallon buckets,
    bring them. You can put your catch in there when your done fishing
    and use them as a seat while you are fishing.
    	The real beauty of ice fishing is how fresh the fish are. After
    you catch them, you just throw them on the ice and they're frozen
    in about 10 minutes. When you get home with them and you happen
    to be tired and don't feel like cleaning fish right away, you don't
    have to. Just throw some snow on top of them and leave them till
    the next day. Smelt are real easy to clean. Just gut them and cut
    the heads and tails off. Unless they are real big (8 inches or up),
    you don't have to worry about the bones. You just roll them in egg
    and flour, or cornmeal, or whatever you like, fry them up with and
    eat them like french fries. The white perch aren't quite that easy
    but they're not harder than any other fish to clean. The first time
    my friend and I caught white perch, we filled one of those buckets
    up I was telling you about. We had about 10 meals each as I remember.
    	Well enough said for now. As soon as we get a good long cold
    snap, I'll take a ride up and check the ice and the fishing if anybodys
    out there and let you know. When the time comes I'll meet you somewhere
    and you can follow me up.
    
    RAYJ
    
    BTW - They bite much better at night. For some reason, most of what
    they get during the day are tomy cods.
    

    Geez....what gives!?!?
    
    A little bit of snow falls and everyone goes into SHOCK!!
    
    At least we can TALK about fishin even if we can't do it!
    
    -HoleShot- (who_walks_on_thin_ice_sometimes)

    You're right Joe, we can talk about it, but this snow laying outside
    doesn't exactly make me think of fishing. However, since I will
    be lucky enough (read rubbing it in here) to be in Fla. by this
    weekend and it's in the eighties there, I AM thinking of fishing.
    
    Hoping your ice-fishing goes well, tightlines Ron.
    
    I'll tell you all about it when I get back.    

    	it won't be long now for the ice-fishing. when i got up this
    morning i noticed that the lake i live on has totally iced up for
    the first time. i haven't checked the thickness of it yet but it
    won't be long now especially with an iced storm due tonight...
    
    
    denny

    HEY YOU GUYS,
    
    
    WHAT'S ALL THIS TALK ABOUT ICE FISHING! HECK, WE WENT OUT SUNDAY
    
    AND GOT 9 BASS AND MISSED OR LOST 5 OR 6 OTHERS. AS LONG AS THE
    
    RAMPS ARE ACCESSABLE AND THE LAKES DON'T HAVE "TOO" MUCH ICE, I
    
    CAN STILL USE A JIG N' PIG TO CATCH BASS. THE SECRET IS TO DRESS
    
    WARM, I USE LAYERS AND TOPPED THEM OFF WITH A SNOW MOBILE SUIT (I
    
    GUESS IF I FELL IN I'D PROBABLY DROWN). THE REAL PROBLEM LIES WITH
    
    GETTING A LOW OR NO WIND TYPE DAY, BECAUSE IT'S AWFUL TOUGH TO GO 
    
    BEHIND A TREE WHEN YOUR FISHING OUT OF A BOAT IN 10 TO 30 FEET OF
    
    WATER WHICH IS USUALLY OUT, A WAY FROM SHORE.   
    
    		SO HERE'S TO A FEW MORE WEEKS OF ACCESS!
    
    				Jim
    
    
    P.S. There's still Cape Cod bass'n to be done!!!
    
    

    Yea! Go get `em!   Geez, ya went and got me all fired up!  Now I 
    got to go home and see if I can find ol' stump jumpa, she's out 
    there under a foot of snow, someplace...  Hmmm, maybe I'd better 
    use all this energy to get my snowmobiles going...

    Don Mac  (haven't given up yet!)		
    
    Hey Ron, down in Florida, do they use 20lb HAWGS for Thanksgiving????
    

    The secret to this time of year fishing (I just discovered this
    2 years ago) is having a garage to keep the bass'n rig in. This
    way I'm always ready to go, the batteries are charged and the gas
    tanks are full. Hook it up and leave! It's a way to shorten the
    winter months (I don't get into ice fishing as much as I like to
    fish from a boat). For the last couple of years I've been able to
    launch the boat on the pond I live on in Kingston N.H. in Feb..
    It's been great (even though we only catch pickeral).
    
    					Jim

    	Looking back at my reply in .9, I really never mentioned in
    detail what my jigging rods looked like. I bought them at K-mart
    at the end of ice fishing season and they went for $1.00 each. They
    consist of a wooden handle about 3/4" in diam. and about 8-10" long.
    Coming out of the handle is a short fiberglass rod about 1 1/2'
    long with 2 or 3 eyes on it. Clipped onto the handle is a line holder
    that the line wraps onto. It could just as easily be a little spool
    that some of the more fancy jig sticks have. A hole is drilled through 
    near the top of the handle and a piece of wire shaped like a U is run 
    through it. This is so you can rest the pole on the ice without
    having something to prop it up on. The pole is rigged the same as
    the improvised poles. I usually fish with 2 hooks spaced about 18"
    apart.
    	There are 2 tricks to fishing where I fish for smelt. One is
    finding the correct depth. One night they might be biting at 5'
    from the surface, the next night, 20' + from the surface. You just have
    to play around till you find them. The other trick is to get as
    close to you can to the edge of the channel. This I know from fishing
    up there with no ice. Another tip is to fish a moving tide. It doesn't
    seem to matter much if its going or coming, just so long as its
    moving. Slack tide usually, but not always, means slack fishing.
    	Although I go up there to have a good time, I also go up to
    catch fish. My friend does the same. We usually split our catch
    up at the end of the night because the fishing can be so eratic.
    I out-fished my friend one night about 80 to 10. The funny part
    is we were using the same rigs and fishing out of THE SAME HOLE.
    Our pole were only 1' apart from each other and we were at about
    the same depth using the same bait. He has also done the same to
    me. Either way, one of us always manages to be the hottest person
    on the ice. There is a certain amount of skill and finess required
    to pull those little suckers up through the hole without them falling
    off. The trick is a slight jerk of the pole to set the hook and
    a constant retrieve to get them in. At any rate its alot of fun
    and this is my 4th year doing it. If you happen to be catholic like
    myself and observe lent, then theres the added bonus of not having
    to buy fish. All in all, it has got to be the cheapest most enjoyable
    fishing (next to bass fishing) that I do all year. 
    	Two important points. One, you need a fishing license to fish
    up there. Two, your bucket for fish must be clearly marked with
    your name, and I think, your address too. Although I have never
    seen a game warden up there at night, there's always a first time,
    and if you enjoy it as much as me, you'll probably be up there at
    least once or twice on the weekend.
    
    RAYJ_who's_anxiously_awaiting_ice_in
    

    Finding the depth of the smelt should be noooo problem....I'll just
    bring my portable flasher, drop the transducer thru the hole and
    VOILA!  It should save a lot of time trying to find the proper depth!
    
    As soon as you say the ice is SAFE...let me know...I'll bring the
    schnapps.  And while we're catching smelt...we can talk about the
    REAL THING (i.e. BASSIN!).
    
    -HoleShot-(who's_wonderin_how_Ron_is_doin_!@%^*!??!)

    	I was thinking of that (depth finder) after I wrote that note
    yesterday. I'd be real interested to see how that works out. As
    far as the white perch go, they usually run about 5 to 7 feet below
    the surface. When they come in, the smelt usually leave. A few smelt
    can be caught down around 20+ feet at the first part of the white
    perch run but since the white perch eat the smaller smelt and I've
    seen white perch up to about 3 lbs., the smelt don't hang around
    for long. Thats fine by me though because either fish is good tasting.
    If the white perch don't come in, then the smelt continue to run
    throughout the whole season. The first 2 years fishing up there,
    the white perch never came in. Last year they came in large schools.
    I caught the first one and didn't even know what it was. I asked
    another fisherman and he looked at it and said, "All right, the white
    perch are here". After I caught that first one, my friend and I
    pulled in about 4 or 5 more smelt and a bucket full of white perch.
    For some reason, we were the only ones really catching them. One
    guy came out of his shack to stretch his legs, looked over at our
    pile of fish, and said to his buddy still in the shack, "Holy sh*t,
    come out and take a look at the pile of fish these guys out here
    have". For some reason, they only got 2 or 3 so we gave them a few
    of ours that would quite fit in the bucket. That was before I knew
    how good they were. We never did quite as good as we did that first
    time but 1/2 to 3/4 of a bucket full wasn't unusual.
    	BTW, as mentioned before, this is tidal water. Be prepared to
    hear some loud, scary sounding, creaks in the ice as the tide changes.
    If your used to just ponds and lakes, its a little unnerving but
    you get used to it after awhile. I'm not sure but someone told me
    salt water freezes harder than fresh water. Not to worry though,
    the shacks out there weigh more than the people and I've never seen
    either go into the drink except for one old man that had to much
    to drink and fell into his own hole. Another interesting past-time
    up there is the occaisional X-rated sound effects you hear coming
    from some of the ice fishing shacks in the middle of the night. Last
    year you couldn't help but laugh at these 3 guys and one girl in
    a shack next to us, (that is unless the girl happened to be your
    daughter or something). I guess they just ran out of brandy and
    were trying to keep warm. I thought at least one of them was coming
    through the side of the shack at any minute. You'd here stuff like,
    "Ohhhhhhh, your hands are so cold" and "get that thing out of my
    face" or "wheres my other shoe, oh, there it is, BANG, OUCH (ice
    fishing shack moves about 3".) Yes a fun time can be had by all.
    
    RAYJ

    Well, if she's there this year and is soooo interested in fishing, I've
    got this 9" deep diving lure in my tackle box that she might be 
    interested in (yuk, yuk). 

    RE.-1  Come on now Joe...  Don't you mean a 3" LAZY IKE....!

    "anonymous"

    re:-1
    		Now thats really hitting below the belt.

    YEAH...and to think you started it, Ray!

    
    	I would of thought a MANN'S 9" puple worm would have been more
    in order.
    
    BTW - That was only one of a couple so called female fisherman up
    there. Last year there was about 3 different ones. Is that why they
    call those things bob houses??????? 

    	A little edit to the last note. It should read female fisherperson.
    
    	So I'm a sexist, nobody's perfect :-)
    
    	RAYJ_who's_glad_his_wife_doesn't_read_notes

    While reading the Sunday paper (Manchester Union Leader), I noticed
    a picture of a couple of guys ice-fishing on a snow-covered pond
    up in Epson (next town over from where I live).  ARE THEY CRAZY
    OR WHAT?!?  There's no way I'd venture out on the ice now!
    
    But...that means it's getting close to that time!
    
    -HoleShot-(who_sharpened_his_auger_this_past_weekend)

    	After today there won't be much (if any) ice. In answer to your
    question, YES, they probably are crazy. People like that bring new
    meaning to the term LIVE BAIT. 
                                                
    RAYJ_who_organized_all_his_ic_fishing_gear_yesterday

    I hope the this winter continues like this, heck, on the pond I
    live on in Kingston, NH. we've had 3 ice-in's and 3 ice-out's so-far
    this season....I might be able to get another bass fishin' trip in 
    before final ice-in (hopefully). 
    
    						Never Say Die
    
    							Jim

For those of you who are interested, I went out to my secret hole on
    Saturday  and was able to get 4 bass and missed another. It's a
    strange feeling having  to crash over  100 yards of ice in order to get
    to an area that's liquid enough to make a cast. Water temperatures
    were 39 to 40 in the open water (that's down about 15" from the surface) 
    I caught 2 on stinray grubs on a 1/8 oz. jig head, and the others
    on 3/8oz black jig n'pig in 9 to 18 feet of water. I tried some
    vertical jigging over, what appeared to be some big fish, on or just
    above, the bottom according to my Z6000 with no success. Considering
    that I fished for 5 hours and only had 1/3 of the pond available
    to me, due to the abundent ice, I think I did pretty good. This may
    be the last trip this year for this neck of the woods but there's
    still Cap Cod.
    
    
    			Here's to still being able to  break through
    			the ice!!!
    				
                                                       Jim

    YA REALLY KNOW HOW TO HURT A GUY!!!

    I haven't written in here for quite a while, but since the east
    coast bass fisherman are through for the year, I thought someone
    would like to know how we are doing in the Pacific Northwest.
    
    So far this year I've landed 17 salmon and 3 steelhead.  Four of
    the salmon were chinook, the rest were silvers.  We are just starting
    our winter run of steelhead and the weather is perfect.  The rivers
    are dropping (no rain for a week) and they have good color.  I've
    heard of some being caught, but I haven't had any luck yet.  You
    have to suffer a lot to get winter steelhead, but I think I've paid
    my dues. 
    
    The winter run should hold up til February when the 5 year chinook
    come in the Columbia river system.  These will run up to 55 lbs
    and can be quite a challenge.  Not many caught, but the one that
    are can really give you and your tackle a real test.
    
    So, there are still some of us out there in pursuit of the wily
    fish.
    
    
    Ken

    Well...I went out and tested the ice on a small pond near my house
    yesterday to see if it was safe for my boys to go skating...about
    2.5" thick!
    
    So...Bassbustin Fletcher and I have already planned our FIRST excursion
    to go ice fishing for New Year's weekend!  Don't anyone make plans
    for that weekend cause it ALWAYS rains when we go...but I'm prepared
    with a nice new rainsuit!
    
    Hey...DonMac (or anyone else)...you interested?
    
    -HoleShot-

    	I'll being going up to my spot to check it soon, maybe this
    weekend. Probably won't get a chance to get out before Jan. 1st
    though.
    
    RAYJ_who_watched_ice_skaters_with_interest_this_past_weekend
    

     I was watching the ice skaters out the window this past weekend.
    I wanted to get out there and check it out but i couldn't drag myself
    away from the football games. Maybe this weekend...
    
    Denny

    Sounds good Joe!
    
    I'll be skiing up north that week, tue-fri, but should be back and
    ready for a shot at ice fishing for the weekend. 
    
    Don Mac

    Well...it's OFFICIAL!  Winter is here...but on the up side...
    
    THE DAYS ARE NOW GETTING LONGER!
    
    

    It's only "official" on the calendar... I launched the boat down on
    Cape Cod yesterday and between myself and my partner, we boated
    two bass (4.5lbs and 3.5lbs) three pickeral (one was 7+lbs) and
    a 14" brown trout. We also lost 3 other fish (dag-nab-it!). Not
    bad for this time of year. 
                        
    					Well that's the report...
    
    						Jim

    What pond did you launch at on the cape and what kind of lures did
    you use
    
                                        ED

    Jim...
    
    You keep this up and we're gonna have to lock you out of this
    notesfile.  While everyone else has put their boats in storage and
    their gear away for the season, you continue to tease us with your
    productive escapades.  Enough is enough!  I'm starting to have
    nightmares!  I suggest you either put up...shut up...OR TAKE ME
    WITH YOU!
    
    -HoleShot-(I'm_going_boinkers_thinkin_'bout_bass!)
    

    Really.... I'd say Jim wins the `86 die hard hawg'n award...          
    Jim, your making the rest of us look like 'fair-weather-fisherman'!
                                                                          
    Thank God I've got this past summer's mount to look at, I'd have      
    forgotten what a real bass looked like.  Although, when we put up     
    the Christmas tree, Cathy made me take the hawg off the livingroom    
    wall, had to put it in my office (no, not at work, at home... but
    hey, that's not a bad idea!).  But to make up for it she got me  
    one of those ornaments from BassPro with the hawg jumpin out of the   
    water, naturally it's hanging dead center on the front of the tree!   
                                                                          
    Don Mac 						Is it ice-OUT yet?

    I must say, although yesterday may have seemed like a good day,
    it infact, it was a "little nippy". We had line freezing in the guides
    until 10 AM, which at times seemed like a hit when the line stopped
    coming in. The cure here was to dip the rod in the 39 to 40 degree
    water to melt off the build-up of ice. When this happened, I was able
    to set the hook thinking that it was a hit, this  got the adrenalin
    moving to warm up the extremities. We were fishing Mashpee-Wakeby
    Lake in Mashpee, when we got there the wind was blowing in on the
    ramp at an unreasonable 10-15 mph. This gave us a wind chill well
    below zero without moving. Launching the boat was no picnic either,
    had to back the trailer/boat into the water, start the motor, and
    warm it up (this took a about 5 minutes) then putting it in reverse, backed
    off the trailer into the incoming waves. This soaked the back fishing
    platform sufficiently, making for some slippery fishing from the back of the
    boat because it immediately froze on the cold carpet. Driving across
    the lake at 54 mph was, again, a real thrill, the best part of this
    was #1 we reach our fishing spot fast , #2 when we stopped we felt
    WARM!!! The spot was out of the wind, except for an occasional
    swirling. We started fishin with the usual Jig N' Pig and after
    2 casts my partner caught what he thought was a HUGE bass that
    turned out to be the 7+ lb pickeral (we had an argument on who was
    going to take it off the hook, I said that he caught it so it was
    his responsibility). He took his gloves off and reached into the
    water to grab the fish, pulled it about 6 inches out of the water
    (I swear this happen) the pickeral started to SHIVER while he removed
    the hook. 
        Someone asked what we used for bait. Well as I mentioned, we
    used the Jig N' Pig (brown/orange with brown or orange pork), 1/4oz.
    stingray grub, a silver Gitzit, and off the back of the boat we
    drifted, alive (for you ice fishing freaks out there) an Arkansas
    Shiner. We caught the bass and the big pickeral on the Jig N' Pig, the 
    trout and a pickeral on the shiner, and another pickeral on the
    Gitzit.
        The action stopped around 1PM (this seems to be normal for down
    there). Although we weren't smart enough to leave, we stayed until
    4:30PM, which went by suprisingly fast. 
    	We weren't the only crazies out there, we saw 2 other boats, and 
    a canoe (they were pulling out as we were putting in around 7:30AM,
    it wasn't a day for canoe'n). 
    	All in all we had a good day because we caught fish
    and because we also knew we beat the elements, we also knew that
    we probably wouldn't get too many more trips in before ice-in.
        
    
    
    					Jim

    Being a Floridian (by adoption), I can stand back in awe when I
    read about these kind of feats. I can't imagine how you can do it.
    I get cold between the house and the car, let alone in a boat going
    54 mph across a windy lake with the temp around freezing. My hat 
    is definitly off. Jim, you are what they write articles about when
    class A bass nuts are discribed;^) 
    
    There is one good thing about all this though, when I show it to
    my girlfriend, I'll look real good. She thinks that I'm a bass-a-
    holic. Now I can show her a real one..................:^)
    
    
    Tight lines, and clean rods, Ron
    
    ps. is the ice out yet????
    
    

    re: .24
    
    Boat??? You should have been wading with me last Saturday.....

    What the H___ were you doing WADING??? Even I'm not crazy enough
    to do that!!!
    
    
    					No Time To Get WET!!!
    
    							Jim

    Don't expect a reply from him soon...his teeth are still chattering
    and he hasn't thawed out yet!

    Heck no my feet got a bit cool, nothing to worry about...of course
    I use neoprene waders...besides I never got in deeper than my waist.
    Unfortunatly I caught nothing but the tide was just coing on dead
    low, we ususally do best on the rising tide. (Kennebec river Augusta)
    It was a nice warm day (~35) and very little wind. It was very nice
    to cast my new fly rod for an hour or so.....
    
    dave
    

    I can relate to that... 
    
    Whenever you can cast into soft water it's great!!!
    
    				Keep Them Flys Flying
    
    					Jim

    hey Jo, its 65 dogrease don cheer an dem basses is boilin to de
    top. We jes fill de chester freeze wit ice an dey jes jomp in lookin
    for a cool spot!! We don eben need to use takel to ketch dem wit...
    
    Wan chew boys wan to thaw com on down an we git som ob dem warm
    basses, huh??
    
    Coonass Bob, waitin for de cowld wether....
    

    Well...I guess you could say the "jinx" is over!  Fletcher and I
    went ice fishing and it didn't rain!  Unfortunately, the fishing
    wasn't all that great...a few pickeral and yellow perch.  Certainly
    nothing to write home about.  We went to a small pond called Little
    Massabesic in Manchester (or maybe it's in Auburn).  The ice was
    about 6-7" thick and was crystal clear...black ice!  I've seen that
    type of ice condition in magazines, but I've never been on it before.
    Actually, it's kind of spooky because you can see right thru it...it's
    hard to tell if it's 2" or 6".  
    
    Oh...I guess I forgot to tell you.  Although our "jinx" was broken
    and it didn't rain...we went fishing last Friday during a
    FRIGGIN BLIZZARD!  So the only black ice we saw was what we found
    under a foot of snow!  I don't believe that I let Fletcher drag
    me out during a no'easter...but we went anyways.  (Believe me, our
    wives let us know how crazy we were!!)  The winds were howling...the
    snow flakes were as big as DonMac's hawg and they were flying
    horizontal!  What a site...two idiots sitting over a little hole
    jiggin a line while trying to watch a bunch of traps for flags and
    sippin on schnapps to stay warm.
    
    Well folks...we made it back safe.  We did lose our bearings for
    a while and wandered around in circles.  Fletcher almost fell thru
    one of the holes and it took us a while to drag the sled out...but
    we're ready for another trip.  Anyone care to join us??  I promise
    IT WON'T RAIN!!
    
    HoleShot (waitin_for_Fletcher's_side_of_the_saga!)
    

    	Their here. Went up Saturday night and got the first batch of
    smelt for the year. Unfortunately, the weather drove us off the
    ice early. It was mostly rain after we got set-up. There was 2-3
    inches of ice but the rain was starting to rot it out. When you
    pulled in a smelt, it swam all over the place as we were standing
    in about 1 1/2 inches of water. It looked like the tide was coming
    in over the ice. My buddy and I only fished from about 5 pm to 7:30
    pm. I wouldn't be suprised to hear that someone fell through up
    there. There were about a 15 people fishing when we left.
    	As far as action, it came in spurts. You could be waiting for
    5 minutes for a bite, then all of a sudden, you couldn't keep both
    rods in the water. My buddy caught the first fish. I couldn't beleive
    it when he pulled in a white perch. That was the only white perch
    caught that I had seen. It was about 3/4 of a pound. Between us,
    we caught 12 smelt. I probably lost as many as I got. I'm going
    to replace all my hooks with eagle claws for next time.
    	I'm going away this coming weekend (unless we get another storm)
    but I'm planning my first official trip on either 12/23 or 12/24
    (Fri. or Sat.). I'll probably head up there about 6 pm and fish till 
    the next morning. Anybody interested in following me up there can send
    me mail to firm up the time, date, and meeting place.
    
    RAYJ

    Boy...am I depressed!!
    
    I went out ice fishing the other day just to wet a line.  Aside
    from the fact that I only had a few flags (which didn't really bother
    me), the ice was 30 INCHES THICK!!  
    
    IT'S GONNA BE MAY BEFORE IT'S ICED-OUT!!  (aarrrgghhhhh!!)
    
    I think I'll drag my canoe out on the ice next time I go, take the
    ice auger with me and drill a few holes, climb back in the canoe
    and practice flippin to the holes!
    
    -HoleShot- (anxiously_waitin_to_see_a_robin!)

    speaking of Robins, a lady in Manchester, Ma. I think, called into
    the radio station yesterday and reported seeing a ROBIN. Now she
    is either the cruelest person I know, blind, or the most promissing
    lady around. The D.J. on WSSH announced it yesterday morning.
    
    We can only hope, and live in knowing that it will get better....
    someday.
    
    Tight lines, Ron (three_weeks_and_counting)

    Cheer up, guys & gals!
    
    The last couple of days, it has felt like spring is coming; temps
    in the 40's and a brisk wind blowing in your face.  The snow seems
    to be lower to the ground here in WMass and I even see bare ground
    in spots here and there.  The last snow (monday?) didn't even stay
    on the pavement a day!  AND.........the Connecticut River hasn't
    had a crust of ice in the morning for a couple of weeks.  Think
    rivers and you'll be fishing before you know it!
    
    Steve

    Not to rush things along (I wish I could), but seeing as I started
    this note...come March 21 or ice-out, whichever comes first, I plan
    to "OFFICIALLY" close this note.
    
    -HoleShot- 

    I was out 'casting' last Saturday into the Merrimack!
                                                              
    Couldn't really call it 'fishing'.   The launch below the Hooksett
    falls has been cleared, if I had my truck and boat ready, I'd have
    done some real fishing.  This time of year that waters a little
    to rough for the canoe.  Once the launch up by the Bow power plant 
    is cleared, I'll be in that warm water one way or another.
                                           
    Think Spring
    

    I know that you are a man of few words, Bob, but .57 is carring
    it just a bit to far...............;^)
    
    Tight lines, Ron
    
    ps. Sorry you couldn't get any fishing in while enjoying the N.W.

    I'm sure that he was left speechless upon coming home and seeing
    this new white sh*t on the ground.
    
    WHEN IT'S GONNA END???!!!
    
    ...for you optimists...
    
    Despite the snow and cold, I've already seen some sparrows building
    nests in my barn!  Maybe they know something we don't and good ole
    Mother Nature will cooperate with an early spring!
    
    -Joe- 

    .57 was an error writing!!!
    
    It was supose to say something like this!!
    
>    	Boy I saw all kinds of Robins in Portland last week.  55' is
>    nice weather to be out bass fishing in!!!
    
    Or some thing like that.  I can't remember what the dig was!

    BBP
    

I just looked out the window and .... IT'S SNOWING!!!


OH MEADOW-MUFFINS !!!    <- hey co-moderator, is it ok to say the "M" word?


Well...I just winterized the motor for the winter....looks like it's gonna 
be a l-o-n-g  c-o-l-d  winter!

At least my wife will be happy for about 4-5 months because I won't be using 
the "F" word much (ie." FISHING").

sigh....

-HoleShot Joe-    

    Lake Quinsigamond is NOT safe yet! Someone drowned there last night.
    I have lived in the vicinity of Quinsigamond most of my life and
    I know that lake doesn't freeze easy. When the smaller lakes and
    ponds have a few inches on them, then Lake Quinsigamond is just
    starting to form ice. I would NEVER go on Quinsigamond until at
    least the middle of January and it would have to be around zero
    for quite a few days in a row before I'd go on it.
    
    John

    Some of Quinsigamonds small coves that have land on 3 sides maybe
    safe.   We have fished the lake when we can see open water in the
    main lake and the coves have 6-8inches!
    
    Bassin Bob

Just as a safety precaution, I always bring a 30' length of rope with me.  
Also, when crossing a lake or pond with questionable ice, never walk 
together in a group.  Space yourself out at least 20-30' apart so that if 
the "point-man" goes through there's someone who is on safe ice who can 
help.  Obviously, the point-man SHOULD NOT be carrying the rope!

If I wanted to be really safe, I'd even consider wearing my inflatable 
diving vest.  Then, if I fell through, I wouldn't have to expend as much 
energy just trying to keep my water-logged clothes from dragging me under.

-HSJ- (who_doesn't_go_out_unless_there's_at_least_4"-5"_of_ice)

    It was a little 8 year old that drowned in Quig. He was there with
    his 10 yr old brother, who they did manage to rescue.
    So guys please be careful. I don't do ice and snow but I want you
    to
    all be around come spring so I can meet you crazies next spring
    and summer at the tournements.
    BTW Happy Holidays to all of you.
    
    Jan
    

    Lunenburg, Ma. has ice.  I was thinking of picking up a couple
    of 2x6x12's, mounting a pair of cross country bindings on em.
    1" of ice should be more than enough...............:*)

    This is terrible. I was going to put a 'count down to spring' thing on
    my board. Like in weeks, not days -- cause I didnt want to figure days
    out -- well, I figured April 15 was a good date to be thinking of
    putting the boat back into the water. 20 WEEKS. Are they kidding? I
    need to move further south. All I can do is shop. Well -- OK, a little
    Steelheading. But 20 WEEKS.
    Just think tho, you ICE guys got 20 -- cold -- weeks of fishing.. Its
    not fair...

    Well, Jack, maybe it's time to become one of those "ICE guys"
    
    donmac - one of those ice guys 

    
    RE: .67
    
    	20 weeks of ice... are you kidding.  We'll be have a good year of
    	ice fishin' if we get over 8 good weekends of good safe ice and
    	semi-tolerable weather in my neck of the woods.
    
    	BTW: the BARGE was winterized this past weekend... boy was that
    	60HP HEAVY.  I'll opt to leave it on next winter.
    
    
    	The Harbormaster ... who needs one more outing before ice in.
    

Well, Jack....I almost always get out on the water by the 2nd-3rd week of 
March.  We almost always have a couple of warm days (50-60's) by then, so if 
you think in that vein, it's only 'bout 15-16 weeks to go!  Not quite as bad 
as T-W-E-N-T-Y weeks....I mean....THAT sounds like FOREVER!

Hey Don...Chris and I are ordering that portable tent from BassPro...the big 
one so there should be room for 3 of us in it.   Let's see....me, Chris and 
my son....hmmmm...I guess you sit outside.  But not to fret...we'll let you 
come in to warm up when one of us has to step out to make a nature call.


-HSJ- (15 weeks and counting til ICE-OUT!)

    	

    	What do you MEAN, "ICE IN??????"  Up until the snow this afternoon,
    we had 50 to 60 degree temperatures.  Water is just at turn-over stage. 
    Bass still chasing schooling minnows on the deep ledge drops clear up
    to the surface.  Could only catch 2 on Saturday morning and broke my
    flipping stick on one little 14" Bass that wound me up in a brush pile
    in about 10 feet of water after I hooked him on a Zara Spook.  Water
    surface temperatures are still hovering around 43 degrees.  WHAT, me
    WINTERIZE the boat??????  NO WAY!!!!  TOO EARLY!!!!  Still got a month
    at least.  (Sorry to pop the bubbles. )  :-)

Hey, Wayne....


			S T U F F   I T  ! ! !

    	You guys will just have to move to a nicer climate if you want to
    fish longer.  :-)
    	Either that, OR, visit CXO, ABQ, PNO, or Coonass to continue
    fishing.  Anyway, you'll be GLAD to hear that is SNOWED last night
    here.  We got SO MUCH that the ground ALMOST got gray.  HOWEVER, if we
    DON'T have a WET WINTER, I won't be joking about teaching the Bass and
    Pike how to ambush prey from behind cactus plants. :-(

    - a few back-
    I'd become an 'Ice Guy' but I cant figure out -- I understand standing
    in the Salmom River dodging ice chunks--but I never understood how
    far back from those little ice holes you stood to cast. Never
    thought Id be good I guess. How DO YOU cast in those little tents.
    Hey Bandit -- sounds like Wimps. Imagine showing up on the bank in
    Pulaski with a TENT? 
    
    Joe T -- Ok, Ill keep track from March 15. But its still too long.
    COONASS tell us a "warm" story... 
    

re:          <<< Note 214.74 by CGVAX2::HAGERTY "Jack Hagerty KI1X" >>>

>    I'd become an 'Ice Guy' but I cant figure out -- I understand standing
>    in the Salmom River dodging ice chunks--but I never understood how
>    far back from those little ice holes you stood to cast. Never
>    thought Id be good I guess. How DO YOU cast in those little tents.

	If you think casting is difficult, you should try trolling! ;-)  
	Now *that's* difficult... ;-)

	/Ken 

	Does anyone know of someplace around Worcester that can
	sharpen auger blades ?  

	Thanks,
	Ken

    	Aw, com'on guys! I'd be happy with only twenty weeks of
        "hardwater"! The ice has been around for two weeks and we
    	don't stand a chance to get rid of it before late April/
    	beginning of May. That'll make 23 weeks at least!
    
    	Why not join the icefishing lot? Good question... but it
    	is *icy* fishing after all. - 20 degree Celsius and snow
    	up to your b***s. Not exactly my idea of good fun!
    
    	I think I'll stick to dreaming...
    
    	Eki
    

    Yea, de only ting dat interropt me fishin is Tanksgivin an
    Creasemoose.. an we don gone halbway into dem...
    
    Frum now to sprawlin time mos bass fishin is crankerbaits an wurms,
    both in deep water(4-8 feet). Dey gone don dere an gone dormant wit de
    garfish, but at leas chew don hab to cut a hole in dat ice!!
    
    So if any ob chew git tired ob de cold or change your minds an decide
    chew don like it op dere anymor, jes let ole Coonass know an we kin go
    fishin. I figgure mos ob chew like it op dere or chew wud go somewere
    else, right??!?
    
    Coonass

    Hey Coonass,
    
    Sum ob us is leavin'.
    
    -SSS-

    Yo Steve,
    
    An jes where in Teenysee are chew goin?? Dere are som purtty lakes roun
    Knocksville, an in de west part dere is Pickwick, don in Missislippi,
    but all dats way op north frum don chere.
    
    Mebbe chew let me know when chew get op dere an chew kin com don thru
    Arkansas to de camp.
    
    Chew gonna be too late dis year to root for dem volunteers, tho...
    
    Coonass(its gettin cold don chere now, had a frost las nite)