First Ice and Last Ice version 2.0
Ice fishing season 2023 all over again? We had a few more days of a window this year but it wasn't much. Extreme cold followed by endless days of above freezing weather was not really what I wanted to see.
Amanda and I were going to be out of town for some of it and then a work trip for part of the other. The window got smaller and smaller. It was time to make the most of it and it didn't start out well. The first trip to a Grand River bayou yielded frustrating results. I've seen them picky here before but nothing like this. Getting a limit has never been a problem here before but it certainly was that night. We couldn't move around as much as we'd like with ice conditions but we still got on some fish. I tried my favorite trick for picky ones by downsizing to the smallest Clam Drop XL jig (1/64 ounce). Even when downsizing I prefer the XL version, I land way more fish with that big hook than a tiny one. I left the ice frustrated for sure and it would be a bit before I got a chance at redemption.
Trevor and I made a quick evening walleye trip just hoping to get a bite or 2 in that small bite window. Trevor hooked up with a giant but unfortunately it never made it topside. I never got any walleyes but I did snatch some jumbo perch. They were really responsive to a larger Clam Tikka Mino. It’s something I haven’t really worked into my perch game a whole lot but I can tell you that I will try it the next chance I get. Especially with the technique I had of never stopping it. Every bite I got came while the lure was sitting there shaking.
I did get a very memorable trip during this short season. There was going to be one day I could get the girls out. Mabel couldn't go because of a ski class commitment at the hill in Grand Haven. But June was going to get to go! Since we had to skip last year she was 2 the last time she was on the ice. However even though she's only 4 she is no stranger to reeling fish in. Trevor did all the work in finding the fish and we just had to show up. My kids are so funny in that they'd rather be outside than sitting in the shanty (so would I unless it's so good I never have to move). I set up the shanty and was immediately met with a request to fish outside. June had spotted her Barbie chair and once we found a hole with a bunch of them she set up shop.
It didn't take long and she was requesting “no coaching” and just doing it all on her own. It was awesome to watch even if the rod tip had to move a couple times before she winched them up. She was doing a great job of shaking the Clam Maggot Jig and stopping it. I only wish Mabel had been there because it would have been some great batting practice (and fishfinder practice). We had a great night and she was really proud of her 25 bluegills! Putting them into the bucket was another favorite activity of the night. It was also exciting in that I got some help from Mabel cleaning them as she started running the Townsend fish skinner for the first time. Both of them were excited for the fish fry later that week.
I really hope we get one more window to get out this year but I’m not holding my breath. There’s a couple fun boat trips on the horizon so we are going to get something accomplished no matter what this winter gives us.