no more ice

[CrappieJohn]

For most of the winter my boat served as a handy storage bin for the sled, auger and other ice fishing goodies I think I can't live without, but now they are put away for the season. Last week I went to the river and pretty much smoked sauger and walleye. Sunday I went back to see if it was a fluke or chance happening, but nope, it was for real down there.

Being in the boat again is an itch that started up in January and it took this long to get to it, but now if it ain't open water I'll settle for reading about it. Ice fishing is a season, like Christmas. I had the Christmas lights down a week after the holiday. Now I'm wondering if I should have cleaned the boat out then too. Oh well, they call that thinking water over the dam. That's exactly where I can be found now though if I am fishing...on the downstream side of the dam at Alma. I don't want anymore ice....the open water bug has bit.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I hear ya, Crappie Tom. The river yielded many channel cats to us last week. No more ice for this guy.

[Slyster]

Just got my boat back from Maplewood Marine (great little shop!)... I got the lights redone.. new safety chains.. and new bearings (old were toast).. I am finally all set to do some traveling... the last two years my trailer lights were out so i couldn't go far nor fish late. We are al set! Sorted my lures.. and am going to order a BUNCH of tubes and senko type baits from basspro... can't wait! Sad to see the boat covered in SO much snow after this strom... oh well.

Anxious to check out the mississippi with the kiddies.. going to camp at Merrick State Park in WI.. the maps of the area look awesome! Lots of backwaters.. should be fun to fish and just explore and enjoy summer. (I hate winter)

[Down Deep]

I've always liked open water better than ice. To me ice is just to get through the dark days of winter although it does have a certain charm. I'm going to be at the ice fishing for a while until the Rainy breaks loose.

[Jaypo]

Any early prognostications on ice out in the Twin Cities Area? I say April 10th.

[CrappieJohn]

Its hard to say about the ice-out issue with these temps flip-flopping around they way they are. The dams are running good right now on the river and we have been slapping waldos and sauger up pretty good now for a couple weeks.

With all the snow on the ice now along with miserable travel conditions on the ice as well, I am happy that I am able to see past futility. There are those who can't. I am certainly willing to travel a few more miles to sit in the boat, rather than to drag half a ton of stuff across the slop and slush, getting soaked while doing so. The point being...the fish are at open water now regardless of where you are fishing. Fish the open water and you'll do much better than through the ice....even if it means standing on shore or ice to cast to the open water.

Right now is long rod time...pack the shorties away for the year and quite grumbling about no fish, no hits and fishing conditions already.