Laker Sunday, Brutal Slush

Changed plans last minute and decided to fish close to home on a large lake recently frozen. Slot size 40-55cm release, and one line only. This was the big lake I was getting all the herring from in the Fall. Set out around 8:30, roads still not plowed, snowing like the dickens. Get to the lake, no signs of traffic, no signs of any angling. Two sled tracks out off the launch, appeared to have bombed across the lake day before… so we had some kind of path to follow. Spud our way, my buddy Paul and I, and our immediately run into epic levels of slush. The trail helps, but fishing grounds were about 200ft off trail, that was a slog through foot and a half of snow and slush…. My buddy is wearing hiking boots by the way… no comment… I’ve almost always got my baffins and I’ve suggested it before to him, and he knew, he just genuinely forgot the conditions. Anyway, we shovel out a rink for his double wide XL pop up hut, and drill some holes, which of course floods the rink, and we’re up to our ankles in water. Guys a trooper though we toughed it out til 2:30pm.

3-5” all black ice.

Marked fish right away in 30 fow, on top of a point, some big marks, some smaller marks, I get a 15” trout and release it and we keep fishing until 10:30, when we decide to go deeper, so about 100ft away we dragged the tent to 47fow. This time we packed the snow down and drilled holes and it kept off dryer longer. We set up, start marking fish again, which are following but lazy to commit. I manage to coax one of the bigger marks to hit a simcoe bug on 4lb line tipped with a pea sized niblet of worm, and bang! Fish on! Great fight on the ultralight gear, managed to get it the fish top side. 23” laker, Paul’s scale said 5lbs on the dot but I had estimated maybe 3.5-4lbs. This was right at noon. It was a beautiful fish, and a keeper over the release slot. Perfect. Kept fishing, had some chases, no commits, I landed one more at 20” had to release, also on simcoe bug. We wrapped it up around 2:30… because when the 23” fish was landed the ice cracked when Paul was standing next to me, and began to sink and water began coming up and flooding us out. We walked back through the nightmare of slush and back to the car, I hope Paul doesn’t have frostbite. We had the entire lake to ourselves…. What a great day out despite the slush. Snowed like crazy all day. Suns out now. Cheers.

Pink

Keepr

Boneless skinless yum yums

Glorious… who needs veggies anyway?

Juicy

Great report and the fish looks delicious. Hiking boots?….Yikes! Your buddy is one tough dude.

Great report.
Enjoy the delicious fish
I also agree with you on the weight, I think your buddy needs a new scale.

Looks delicious…veggies are overrated and man, what a sh!+ show in that slush today

I may have reached my seasonal low, hauling a sled with frozen crap on the bottom, plowing not sliding to get back to the car at dark this evening. Dumped my minnow bucket all over the slush when my sled tipped. May have said a couple swears ou loud. Even taught myself some new dirty words that I’ve never heard before!!! Shoulda stayed home or went somewhere else
I guess.

Good on ya for getting a couple… I slugged through it for a 12” laker the girlfriend caught and a 16” herring( PB though!) if we’re looking for high points.

Told the girlfriend I’m putting that herring down on a quick strike rig, and gonna get a big pike like Franks….it’s the only way this trip will come out worthwhile.

Nice, glad we didn’t suffer alone! Haha. I also have a 14” herring in the freezer destined for that purpose… although mine will be used for laker in a lake with no pike. I see the filet knife out, I’d be awful tempted to just eat the dang thing hahah

Good work boys! Way to soldier up. Experienced similar conditions yesterday with nothing to show for it. Maybe next weekend.

always like to the see fishing reports with the hot oil bathed aftermath...looks great.

Niiice! You seem to do quite well on those bugs. Is that your 'go to' bait these days? Were you using it as a high hook on a drop shot rig, or just by itself?

BTW---now I know the best place to find fish when I come North----just drive to your place!!

Nice catch Nick I caught one around 7 lbs sliced into pieces and baked it in the oven with Outdoor flavour.Roasted Garlic Butter and Chives I was impressed how good the trout tasted till next time tight lines.

Great story.....and lovely fish.