Mar25 - Willow Beach

[Flukes]

I shoulda gone out with Casey's or to Cook Bay. Shoulda, coulda, woulda....next time?
Beautiful day today. The ice was in very good shape. The access point was great. A couple of pressure cracks but several easily passable spots. A few ATVs and sleds out there. Great walking conditions. Sold my flip-over on the weekend so I was fishing "naked". First drop, a good 10" male. Second drop 9" female. Thought it was going to be a day like the other reports of jumbos everywhere so I settled in. A few more keepers, then dinks and then the fish all disappeared for about an hour. So I had to move and look - tried various spots towards where others were fishing. Picked up a fish here and there and really no better than where I was so I returned...still dead. Moved just a bit shallower. Another keeper but that was it. Moved a bit shallower and then got 7 more keepers in 30 minutes....then dead. And when I mean things went dead, not a single mark for a good 30-60 minutes. I don't understand that. Never seen that before and for so long. Anyway, I ended up with 18 keepers (6 between 10 and 12" - two were 12"). So no complaints except, can someone turn that sun down a bit? Came home with really tanned hands and face (and I was facing away from the sun all day). Should have a couple more ice fishing trips but hoping for one more shot at Simcoe perch and hope to hit the jackpot. Still great conditions so hope people can get out and get some. All the big ones came from 35-40 FOW.

[turtle]

I was at Willow Sunday afternoon with a buddy. Fished 10-39 FOW and ended up with 7 keepers.
To be honest a nice guy came by and gave us 3. Only thing to add a section of ice out from the access point collapsed at a crack and had to be by passed. Lots of ice Sunday not too mushy on top.

[jumboperch]

Thanks for the report!

[Flukes]

I have no shame in accepting some nice perch from someone who decide it's not worth cleaning just a few of them. I've accepted offers many times...even if I am getting decent fish. These fish are too good to give up.