MT ice FISHING report (eats your hearts out Pt2)

[Jim W]

Guts? Remember the guy is happy to be republican!LOL

Have fun on the ice, but take it easy. Ice is never safe, especially 2.5 inches!

Jim W

[mjhowe]

I know, 2.5" of ice ain't much, thats why I stayed only about 12' from shore in about 3' of water!! I'm a fanatic but I ain't COMPLETELY crazy!!

Looks like the cold temps are not going to be around again for a few days so we will lose some of that. But it was nice to be able to catch some ice while it was here.

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Mike
Kalispell, MT
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[mjhowe]

Well, from 7:10 A.M. MDT to 7:40 A.M. MDT,
on November 6, 2002, I was once again sitting on hard water, rod in hand and a smile on my face!! Had the lake all to myself, cant understand it, there is at least 2.5 inches of ice, yet I was all alone!

I only had a short time so I only drilled one hole, and barely got that drilled. The ice came so fast I never had time to sharpen the hand auger this year! For a short 1/2 hour this morning the world was darn near perfect, good ice, Republicans back in control :-)and a lake all to myself.

Unfortunately, not one fish chose to acknowledge my extistence this morning but all things considered, it dont get much beter than to start your work day off ice fishing!!

You will all feel the same way soon!! Hang in there!

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Mike
Kalispell, MT
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[Surface Tension]

Im happy for ya.
Wear your ice cleats, we wouldnt want ya to slip on your A$S.

[MNice]

2.5"

I have to say, you have more gut's than I.

Have fun & be safe.

[the big dipper]

Hey Mike, What are you fishin for up there in MT? I too have been out on the thin stuff this year. We're on about the same latitude, you and I, though maybe you get a little colder nites this time of year. I'd gladly go sit out with you as I have a hard time finding anyone interested in being the first one out. I've been through a couple times in the past, As long as your not in too deep water it's not that big a deal. It can be an awfully cold walk home. Actually, I/ve never fallen through when ice fishing, it's usually been when hunting /trapping and I've been walking around in reedy - muck bottom areas. I did drive a jeep wagoneer through in about 10 FT on Pine Lake though. I was out through the window quicker than you can say "oh SH ", and watched her settle to the bottom.(never got wet) It's kinda a long story, but at the time I was kinda bummed I didn't grab the remainder of the 12pk / I was working on. Another bad combination alcohol and thin ice!

[mjhowe]

Dipper,

Well on the lake I was on, perch and pike. It is one of only a handfull of lakes around here that are shallow, most of our lakes around here are 100-300 feet deep in the middle and drop off fast, eliminating a lot of the searching for where the fish are, except for the lakers. We fish a lot for Kokanee salmon on the deeper lakes around here,they tend to suspend in 30-40' of water and lake trout and Kamloops rainbows (a big hybrid). We have no crappie, gills or sunfish around here. The MT state record perch was caught on a lake about 5 miles from here and that lake has perch, kokanee, rainbow and brook trout! I am not really an early ice fanatic, I just thought I would be one of the first to say I had already been ice fishing this year (actually, we have all ice fished this year, since it's 2002)well at least one of the first for the 02-03 season!

Pray for cold!!

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Mike
Kalispell, MT
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