Birthday Ice Fishing 2013
Every year there are two days that I can count on fishing
for sure; father’s day and my Birthday. For my birthday I always take a day
off. This year thanks to the great friends I have found at DuPage Angler.com I
had partners in crime take off the day as well. Jason (aka Darkstar) and Ted
Yates (soonerbass) both agreed they would join me along with my brother-in-law
Al.
Well the winter weather again this year has been a
disappointment to say the least. Warm weather and unsafe conditions have taken
their toll on the ice angling community. I set my alarm and I was quickly off to
sleep anxious to start fishing in the morning. This morning mind you, I have
planned for weeks and talked my buddies into as well. At 3:30am I wake up to
pouring rain!! YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME! I pick up my sell and let the guys
know that it’s off, we are done, and we are sleeping in.
I could not sleep, so I look outside and no rain. Well I
figure I should go see the damage on to the ice at my local pond. To my surprise
the pond is not totally destroyed and safe. The shore was wet but that’s it!!
So I quickly make some calls and both Sooner and DS are back in.
Our first two ponds are a disappointment. The first we could
not find fish, the second thin ice, but the third was the gold! Ds made it to
the ice first and crossed the thinner shore ice that was covered with 4 inches
of water and started making Swiss cheese of the lake with his ION auger. I go
to pull my shelter on to the ice and got a shock! I was walking backward and
did not notice this hole in the ice!! Maybe a beaver hole I am not sure but in
a city second my left leg is completely submerged and my ass is on the ice!!
HOLY COLD ICEMAN!! Thinking on my feet, well once I got to my feet I hid in my
minivan and put on the extra pair of snow pants I brought. Then yelled “which
of you is wearing more than one pair of socks?” Thanks Ted for the donation to
the pondboy fell on his ass foundation.
We decided to fish the suspended fish we found in 6.5 foot
of water. The crappie bite was great thanks to Little Atom Wedgees and Nuggies.
The plastics out fished any other presentation. In fact I did not even open my
spikes and waxies! It was a blast everyone was catching fish. The bluegills
were not as easy to get on the line but we managed to trick some of them as
well. Both the full size Nuggies and the micro Nuggies worked. I really love
the red and orange colors.
After fishing a while the guys went and got pizza for my
birthday!! What an awesome meal on the water! Thanks guys.
Well when the guys brought the food on the ice they
discovered the shore ice was getting worse and worse due to the climbing temps
and the sun now beaming down on the lake. We had to either cut our day short or
risk not getting back to shore.
We very carefully got ourselves and our truck load of
equipment off the dying ice and called it a day. Although it was not the all
day fishing marathon I had planned we managed to find some ice and some fish. I
had a great time with friends as well. Not a bad birthday angling
adventure.
There are many reasons why fishing is considered one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities you can do in your pastime.
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