All good things must come to an end....

We all knew our good luck ice fishing would soon come to an end. 17 Jan was the annual MLK day fishing trip. Historically this date has marked the first time we can get out ice fishing. While today was not really cold, it was freakin windy. Weather was partly cloudy with a high of about 35 deg, to almost white out from a small ground blizzard. 2 days ago was a big tournament on this lake, but this morning started out promising.

5 people met up at the visitors center, and we left about 0615. Me and Ski, Mark R (not Mike R like I called him last time), Klumpp Daddy, and some new FNG. Our first objective was to stop at the new breakfast burrito/Texas BBQ stand up in divide. The food was good, we all had chopped brisket breakfast burritos.

Still think the smothered burrito at the Donut mill is better.

The next objective was catching fish. We walked out from our spot last week and set up in about 9 ft of water. Mark R hooked up with the first bite. He said the fish was huge. This within minutes of our arrival. So we were expecting some good action. 

I set up the Ice Cube to get a better view of the bottom. 9ft and weedy, which seems to be most of the lake.

  The wind started picking up around 10:30 or so. It blew so hard it was collapsing one side of the ice cube. I had my trusty Kestral 3500 weather station, so I stepped outside and measured the wind speed. 

Thats 27.4 MPH windspeed, not air temp. Shortly after this I recorded a 32 mph gust. I'd guess it stayed 25-30 mph for about an hour. 

A small ground blizzard forming. Sitting on the ice for a few hours and not catching anything, we decided to move. 

Thats Mark R getting blown around with no ice cleats. You could use your body as a sail on the ice, and just go. If you did not have ice cleats you had to walk on the snow drifts. 

Here is the new location. Somewhere along the way Ski decided to take off his glove and sacrifice it to the wind gods. I guess it helped some. The wind finally slowed down to around 10 mph for about 30 mins, and then kicked back up with another small front coming through.

So now here is the real kicker. This may very well be the catch of the year, provided by yours truly. Now I always give credit where credit is due. And I spent years learning how to ice fish, from THE guy who has caught fish for money. So its about noon, and we are starting to pack up to go home. Ski is not paying attention to his pole as usual, and Klumpp was. Why Klumpp was watching Ski's pole? I dunno. I dont ask those questions. I sit in my hut and mind my own business. They are right outside the front of the ice cube, maybe 6 feet from me. I hear them hollerin about Skis pole getting tugged and then then his line breaks. Next thing I know, BAM! FISH ON I yell to them outside the tent. We had three bites up to this point. So as usual I had to show them how to catch a fish. It hit hard, and immediately went into this alligator death roll and tangled up my line. 

Now I said I give credit where credit is due. Ski comes inside the hut and sees me struggling with this monster fish. I was playing this fish ever so gently, and the fish didnt know if it was making love or being caught. Ski comes in, and grabs the fish from my hole for me and we land the only fish of the day!! 

It was on par with weight and size as the other large fish we caught the last few weeks. About 18-20 inches or so. Now Ski being the ever sharp eyed copper he was, takes a look at this fish and yells, HEY! Thats my Hook! Redonkulous I say, I caught it on my pole, in my hole. Turns out, this fish was so determined to get to my lure, it swam straight through Skis powerbait, swallowing it hole and breaking his line, and attacks my Pink Ratso like a great white shark attacking a seal. 

BT

Antero 7 Jan 2011

The second trip of the year found us going back to Antero. I think everyone will agree when I say this turned out to be PERFECT weather! It was absolutely gorgeous out by the time we left. 7 people braved the elements and the early rise time to make this trip. We added two new people to the mix, Bill K, aka Klumpp Daddy, and Mark R!

We stepped at 0430. Ski and Klumpp met me at Pete, and then we met Jody, Jeff, Mike & Mike at the Donut Mill. We reached Antero and were greated by a beautiful sunrise surrounded by snow covered mountains and no wind! 

We went to a new location further west on the lake. Led by years of razor sharp instinct, Jeff S and Jody took us from the North boat ramp west a ways, and then south. We stopped about 300 yards west of the boat ramp in 10 feet of water. 

I immediately set up  the essentials. Tent, Heater, poles. I actually got the temp to 80 deg F in the Ice cube. The rest of the guys decided to brave the elements. I found myself later in the day too hot inside the shelter. I actually tuned the heat off by 10 am, and the sun beat down on the Ice Cube the rest of the day. When we arrived, the temp guage on the truck read 1 deg F. by the time we left  at 1330, it was about 45 deg F.

 

 Everyone setting up.

 Jody pulled in the first fish of the day. Niced sized trout. I think this was his first trip out this year, and its good to see his skillz from last year are still spot on. 

Bill got off to a slow start. Here he is playing with his pole. I eventually had to bring the youngster into the Ice Cube and give him some mentoring. 

 

Action wasnt slow and it wasnt fast. Just depends on where you were. There were a ton of people on the lake to include some russian dudes just to the north of us. The game warden showed up and deported a couple about 1100. No russians in this pic, just a bunch of guys standing around, not catching fish. 

Ski started out catching some minnows. I think he caught two or three, but he looked damned good doing it. 

Lunch was a big pot of elk Chili, courtesy of my wife. It was Good.

 

After lunch part of the gang moved just outside of my tent. I saw numerous fish swimming around my holes all morning. So I told them and they decided to move over by the hot spot. We were fishing in 10 feet of water, about 7-8 feet down, jigging usually a white, green or pink lure. 

 

Mike P with a nice catch. 

 

 Soon after lunch, young padiwan Klumpp Daddy hooked into a massive fish. We all came running over to mentor and guide the young man into landing this monster. He is in very good hands. He is a former Senior NCO, and has 3 retired Senior NCOs guiding him on how to VERY carefully land this fish. My mentoring of the young man seemed to have paid off.

 

I was able to stick my camera down another hole and got this quick shot of what he had just before it broke the line. 

HOLY SNIKES! Its a Marlin Trout!

I caught two fish, one of which was this beautiful Cuthroat trout (we think it is). It measured 20 inches and is on par with the largest fish of the year and is in the running for the LFOY contest. I just made that up.

While we were able to get out and enjoy the day fishing, remember others had to work. We were "buzzed" by one of the local C 130s from Pete. Their mission is Aerial Firefighting and they stay pretty busy in the summer. 

Total count for the day was 9 trout between 7 people. Not a bad haul. The day turned out to be one of the best ever Ice fishing because of the great weather. Tomorrow calls for 4-10 inches of snow.

Not sure when the next trip is planned. MLK day is usually the next trip, but not sure at this point. Also in the works is a trip further west to twin lakes, and a trip using my 14 x 14 wall tent like we planned last year. BT

Antero Ice Fishing 2011

The first trip of the year took us to Antero. It started with a great sunrise over Wilkerson pass. We met at the usual spot in Woodland Park, called the Donut mill.

The Usual suspects showed. The Handsome Duo of Me and Ski, The ever popular Jeff S, Rob D and Troy. It was a pretty day out on the lake, but cold and windy. I set up the Ice Cube immediately and climbed right in. The rest of the guys wanted to fish outside for some reason. It was a very slow day for the most part.

Ski picked up a new toy for Christmas. A humminbird fish flasher. Pretty Cool. It read that most of the lake was about 13 feet deep though.Battery life was great. He ran it from 0700 till we left about 1430 and the battery was only down about 40%. 

 There were quite a few folks out on the lake. Open water was spotted down by south end. Folks are crazy for sitting right next to it. Ice in our Spot was about 10 inches deep. I measured it. Still spooky, listening to it creak and crack. 

 

 Like I said I stayed inside the hut most of the day. I could see the guys huddling behind the hut trying to block the wind. Jeff S banged on the window.. "Hey is it cold out there? "

  

 Ski started the year off slow. Maybe a little rusty after coming off his best season yet. Everyone really started off slow. Jeff S got a bite right at sunrise. Then it was nothing for hours. 

Ski was nice enough to take the time out of his busy fish catching schedule to help mentor Jeff S. No Jeff, When the fish hits you have to hold the rod like this.

Here he is mentoring Rob D, no Rob your doing it wrong. Ive caught fish for money, you should listen to me.

Of course the best part of Ice fishing is the food. Jeff S brought his grill and provided some tasty dogs and brats. But then he teases us and said he had gumbo he could have brought but didnt know how to warm it up.... Really?

I sat all day in side the ice cube. Why? It was 25 F outside with a 15F wind chill, and gust up to 20 mphs. The real reason though is my big buddy heater. That's right its the secret weapon for ice fishin this year. 

 Nothing!!!! Its funny cause you cant tell in the picture but I could see all the way to the bottom crystal clear. Saw a few fish swim by, but nothing was taking the bait.

After the others left, Ski decided to join me in the Ice Cube. He of course had to use his new toy to see the bottom, which was crystal clear all the way down. 

 Ah!! almost tropical inside here. 70 Deg F! Now do you see why I stayed in the hut all day?

Surprisingly about 1330, the action started to pick up. I landed the first fish, but Ski caught the biggest of the day.

That fish measures 20 inches. I get half the credit because while he was screaming about something red on the fish flasher, I stayed calm, directed him which pole to grab, (THE LEFT ONE, THE LEFT ONE), AND had to sacrifice my body by scooping this monster out of the hole. I think I stuck my arm all the way to the shoulder to pull this beast out. I was a gracious host though and didnt out fish Ski as this would have been bad form, and he might not want to go with me again. Ski caught two, I caught one, and Rob caught one.

We went home with three fish. All in All a good first outing.

BT