laker report jan 25-27

Dan - I was gonna call you or send you a message, but thought you were working and we weren't sure how sunday was going to turn out with the thousands of people out on the ice.

nsfisher - The nerve to go out comes with being prepared. The yellow onesy looking thing i have on is a drysuit, and except for my head and hands, id be completely dry if I fell through. leaving me a very large window where I can get myself out of the water before any hypothermia or cold shock sets in. Conveniently, i also stay dry when reaching down the hole to my shoulder trying to grab fish.

wear a floater suit on top, check the ice often, and keep a long rope so if i do go through i don't take my gear with me.

On top of that, my dad has tons of coldwater/rescue/survival experience, with a lot of transferable skills for falling through ice.

That's at least three of us Craig and Bob, not enough ice for me yet either.

Great report.I was out at 2nd line today for the first time ever fishing K bay in 118 ft from 10-2:30 and could not get a bite.Obviously,wasn't doing anything right though I used everything but the kitchen sink.Congrats Alan

Hey Will, I dont have anything against you going on the ice and I am glad that you and your father are more than well prepared when you go out. I personally would not feel comfortable on ice that thin hence I would not enjoy my day of fishing. I am truly jealous as my biggest laker was about 2 lbs from Rosseau and I have never iced a whitefish. I will hopefully get out for my chance once the ice gets a bit thicker. I am curious, where did you get the dry suit and how much do they cost?

I know you don't have anything against me or anyone else, just like to make it clear that those on the ice should always be well prepared. Water/Ice should always be taken very seriously, and it ticks me off when I see guys out on thin ice with no PFD, no spud etc...

I ordered the drysuit from Mountain equipment coop in Vancouver. It was the last large suit available in the country at the time and they can be hard to get, especially in ontario.

cost about $900, but I did not by it for just for thin ice. We do a TON of paddling, and its nice to have spring and fall in cold water. Was actually planning on taking the kayak out off SB last saturday, but then the bay skimmed over.

Thanks for the info Will, and the great advice for the members. Kayaking in Jan? Lol to each their own but if you haven't got down riggers on it then I'm out.

Fantastic Report Will!
Well done, beautiful trophy lakers..

Guys come on! Leave something for me, for when I finally get out there. LOL j/k

Glad you went fishing and enjoyed some quality time with your dad.

That's a heck of a way to end your exams..
Cheers & Congrats.
Jerry

good job Will !!!! lakers up here are a bit smaller then simcoes (or so it seems),,, but our ice is super thick, was around minus 38 and lower last week for days!!!. Good job!! wouldnt mind being in your area now!

Woke up to see it was a snow day today, so called up a friend who's been eager to get out and we were dropped off around 10 at SB and set up by 10:30. Marking fish right from the start, but they weren't as eager to commit as they were on the weekend, and it proved difficult for my buddy (who was out for his second time ever) to not only get a reaction, but to set the hook and get them to hole.

He ended up missing probably 5-6 good hits/fish and lost a hefty one right at the hole.

I on the other hand decided early on that i would let him play with the fish in the bottom of the water column, and tied on a live target lipless crank to fish high (40+ feet off bottom) so i could show him first hand the size some of these fish can be.

Ended the day with only 5 fish landed, the biggest topping out at 6-7lbs .

also had a massive school of either smelt or small herring right under the hut through the crystal clear ice. Ill post a pic of them tomorrow if my computer decides it wants to cooperate.

i can't wait for the day when "only catching 5-6 " and the biggest being "only 6-7lbs" deserves a sad face.

just saying.



you still did very well Will

Nice fish Will.

The first time I went out this season at VB the same thing happened. Rod ripped through the bottom sleeve..

I went home that day and used 30 lb braid and sew up all corners where the poles sit...

Not ripping now...