raywriter
01-16-2011, 09:43 PM
First off, an explanation. I spent a lot of time chasing fish this weekend, but was unable to post immediate results. When I tried, I received a message saying something like: "unable to access the requested site". I live out in the country. My internet provider is a satellite dish and is the only option I have. Makes no difference how I feel about their service, it is the only provider available at this time. In many cases I cannot post same day results. That being the case, I will summarize Friday morning through Sunday evening results.
On all trips, I stopped at Bay View for small suckers, 2" minnows, 3" shiners, waxies, spikes, wigglers, and occasionally, perch minnows. If I was chasing perch I bought mostly smaller baits, and if I was after walleyes I got mainly larger baits. Usually there is enough length variation among minnows to cover both bases.
As for general areas, I spent time fishing between Kipling and Yellow Gate South, and I also went out from the Terrace area, heading both north and south from there. Some of my fishing was from permanent shacks and some portable - fishing with friends or sometimes alone.
In general, I continued to catch perch north, but had to go through lots of small fish for each keeper. I did not see as many walleyes and pike on camera (on the north end) this weekend as I did previously. I find this somewhat perplexing since the number of small perch I saw would make me think there would be lots of predators around to feed on them. Having said that, I supose a well fed pike or walleye does not roam around as much, and would be less likely to show up on camera. I can tell you that I saw walleyes from 26" to 30" caught off Yellow Gate during Feb.2010 in depths of 7' to 10' up in the weedbeds with tip-ups baited with small suckers. Most anglers would not look for action that shallow during that time of year.
We caught a few walleyes south, but found no consistency. Long stretches without bites were common, but honestly, moving around on Saturday with the wind, was not comfortable fishing. Setting up a shack in that wind was almost impossible. I did not search like I usually do. The conditions reminded me of cold weather survival training I experienced in Alaska in the 60's when I was in the military. (I'm not sure why I was sent there, since I'm a Viet Nam Vet, but who's complaining - Alaska is somewhat comfortable and familiar for a Yooper.)
At this point (Sunday night), I am planning to start another search Monday before sunrise. I'll post some thoughts after my time on the ice.
On all trips, I stopped at Bay View for small suckers, 2" minnows, 3" shiners, waxies, spikes, wigglers, and occasionally, perch minnows. If I was chasing perch I bought mostly smaller baits, and if I was after walleyes I got mainly larger baits. Usually there is enough length variation among minnows to cover both bases.
As for general areas, I spent time fishing between Kipling and Yellow Gate South, and I also went out from the Terrace area, heading both north and south from there. Some of my fishing was from permanent shacks and some portable - fishing with friends or sometimes alone.
In general, I continued to catch perch north, but had to go through lots of small fish for each keeper. I did not see as many walleyes and pike on camera (on the north end) this weekend as I did previously. I find this somewhat perplexing since the number of small perch I saw would make me think there would be lots of predators around to feed on them. Having said that, I supose a well fed pike or walleye does not roam around as much, and would be less likely to show up on camera. I can tell you that I saw walleyes from 26" to 30" caught off Yellow Gate during Feb.2010 in depths of 7' to 10' up in the weedbeds with tip-ups baited with small suckers. Most anglers would not look for action that shallow during that time of year.
We caught a few walleyes south, but found no consistency. Long stretches without bites were common, but honestly, moving around on Saturday with the wind, was not comfortable fishing. Setting up a shack in that wind was almost impossible. I did not search like I usually do. The conditions reminded me of cold weather survival training I experienced in Alaska in the 60's when I was in the military. (I'm not sure why I was sent there, since I'm a Viet Nam Vet, but who's complaining - Alaska is somewhat comfortable and familiar for a Yooper.)
At this point (Sunday night), I am planning to start another search Monday before sunrise. I'll post some thoughts after my time on the ice.