A dream come true disappoints:
Finally got an invite to my friend's cottage near McKenzie point and was stoked to try Balsam hardwater. Having caught so many fish there over the years I was figuring it was a lock. Was hoping to introduce her 12 year old to the wonders of ice fishing, as I helped him catch his very first fish in his 4th summer of his life.
Shoreline was looking darkish but right in front of the cottage was still very solid. Ice was no less that 15" in all of the 20 holes I hand augured. I drilled from 5' of shore all the way out to the Trent canal buoy. Fished 3 fow, 5 fow, 8 fow and 29fow. Was hoping for pike and pan fish but didnt so much as see a fish let alone loose a minnow. I threw everything I had at them, I retied and retied, I jigged till carpel tunnel kicked in and I worked from 7:30 am til 1:30 pm. NADA NADA and NADA.
Great day for a walk on the ice; I covered some serious distance. Nice to have an entire lake to oneself. Problem was I couldnt find weeds, I did find a couple of rock piles that will see my return in the tin can soon as season opens on those glorious BASStards, but am at a loss as to where the weedbeds are. In the summer there is an incredibly plush, thick robust weedbed right off the front of my friends. Anywayenough of the MWAAAAAMBULANCE.
As the day progressed the shoreline started running open. For awhile I laid out a section of the dock to bridge the slushy section between terra firma and solid water. However as the open water started getting closer and closer the cottage i frontage I folded up and packed it away.
Discouraged but not beaten: I will get back the next year and i will find fish.
BALSAM LAKE MAR 29/13, NOW I know why no one icefishes
