What do you do when waterfowl season is over? ICE FISH!

[Josh B]

I took a trip back home this weekend. I had been fishing heavily in Maine, but figured a trip home would be nice for a changed. I headed home to Rhode Island Thursday night from college seeing as i don't have any friday classes.

After a good sleep well into the day friday, i started thinking about ice fishing saturday morning. Well, i made some plans, and the meeting time was set at 6 am sharp at the local bait and tackle shop.

Saturday morning brought 10 degree temperatures and absolutely NO wind!!! A few wispy clouds broke up the otherwise bright sunrise.

Immediately after setting the first two traps, while in the middle of the third, i looked back to see the flags on the first to waving high into the cold air. I knew with this start, we would be in for a banner day.

We had flags all morning, and landed about 50 fish, with another 40 or so that got away! A great morning on the ice in Rhode Island!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1535.jpg

Joe in action!

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fish on the ice!

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nice pickeral!

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close up!

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fish showing his face!

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There he is!

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One of my many...i was camera man, so this was the only mug of me!

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another decent bass!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1504.jpg

Jimmy Houston???

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1497.jpg

[Josh B]

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1493.jpg

perch anyone?

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1492.jpg

my nice pickeral!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1489.jpg
another perch that joe got

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1482.jpg
The sprint to the flag!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m206/Joshb161/IMG_1470.jpg
joe in action, bringing in the lunker......that escaped!

Hope you enjoy them.

Josh

[GooseFlocker]

Great pictures, but do not forget to do the maintenance needed on all your hunting gear.

[Josh B]

thats for the summer time...

Maintenance????

I use avery/GHG. No maintenance required. I am rough with it, but it all looks great and is in perfect condition. Its already stored for the off season!

Josh

[Jason Mears]

Looks like a blast, hope to get out and do some of that soon.

[kparrott154]

Thats awesome. I'm getting out this weekend... I'll let everyone know how I do. This will be my first time!

[Wayne Radcliffe]

That looks like fun.

[Parker Sharpe]

HOLY $#*&:eek: it looks like there are cracks running through that ice in the 5th, 6th, and 7th picture. How thick was the ice, around 3-5 inches? I love to fish, but when in those conditions, i'll take sittin' at home next to the fire. ;)

[Rob Jepson]

No Friday classes! So you are learning a thing or two at school!

Glad to see things are going well for you Josh!

[Scott Moates]

If it was to ever get that cold down here, fishing would be the last thing on my mind.

[Joe Fladeland]

Nice job. Looks like a great time.

[Travis Mueller]

We have 16 inches of ice here and the fishing has been great. Catchin crappies through the ice is hard to beat!
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3295/dsc0003dg1.jpg

[CurrituckBoy]

I want to go.

Michael

[Josh B]

The ice was about 6-8" in all locations. that pond made more noise than any pond i have ever been on. Its only about 100 acres and is private. You have to live there, or be good friends with someone that does. Luckilly, I happen to be a friend!

The pond sounded like thunder all morning. I couldn't believe it. We had cracks shooting EVERYWHERE, but the ice was more than safe. I will fish on 4" minimum, and 6-8" is very good for Rhode Island.

Back at school in Maine now, we have 24-30" of ice. The ice pushes on the shores are crazy. VERY THICK. People are driving there 20-40K dollar trucks on the ice now. I will never drive my new truck out there, but i will ride with someone that is willing to. Just gotta keep the windows open to provide a chance at getting out if the ice ever gave in!!!

Gotta love it! Its the only time i will ever 'walk on water'!

Josh

PS: Thanks for the comments on the photos!

[joesac]

Nice job on the fish! I'm waiting for the weather to warm up so I can go do some lake trout fishing. It's been a bit on the bitter side up here for the last few weeks. Ice fishing is great time and a good way to make the winter pass a bit faster! Good luck fishing!

[Rick Frisch]

The ice up here is over 3 feet thick. You need to have an extension on the ice auger shaft to even make it through the ice. There has not been much out of the house fishing going on here since the temperatures have been 10 below zero for highs and -30 for lows. It still is a pretty good time.

[Jocelyn "Josh" Léger]

I intend to do a little ice fishing for walleyes next weekend. Nice pics guys, those are some nice crappies Mr. Mueller ...

[Eric Larsgaard]

Cold and fishing for me have never gone together.

But I enjoy seeing the pics.

Eric

[Ryan Kleinschmidt]

Back at school in Maine now, we have 24-30" of ice. The ice pushes on the shores are crazy. VERY THICK. People are driving there 20-40K dollar trucks on the ice now. I will never drive my new truck out there, but i will ride with someone that is willing to. Just gotta keep the windows open to provide a chance at getting out if the ice ever gave in!!!


24" is way more that enough to drive on. If we get 14" here people are driving their full size trucks on the ice.

[maxx]

If it was to ever get that cold down here, fishing would be the last thing on my mind.

If you ever tried it you would love it. I used to do it a lot in college and I have just gotten back into it this year.

I took my wife and 18 month son out for there first time this weekend. He sat on a bucket for an hour and half and didn't move, I think he will be ready for the duck blind this fall. We have a portable shed and heater so it was nice and toasty in there. After the first hour and half the little guy got restless so we called her dad and he walked down to grab him, the wife wanted to fish more. To my suprise she loved it.

We caught some nice gills and I manage to bring in a 6-8lb catfish which was fun.

[Josh B]

24" is way more that enough to drive on. If we get 14" here people are driving their full size trucks on the ice.

I just got a 2006 F 150. I am not willing to risk it. That would be 24K down the drain. Insurance doesn't cover stupidity like that. I dread having to face my parents if i had to call and tell them i sunk my new truck...that is if i even made it out alive.

I will ride with my buddies, but my truck is staying with solid ground under it!

Josh

[J Kryspin]

Very nice pictures guys!

[Walt McCord]

Yea ice fishing would be the LAST thing on my mind!!!!

[Patrice Picard]

Really weird for me to see that your lakes and rivers are frozen but you don't have an inch of snow. Lucky you in certain way cause you don't have to dig 18 inches of snow before reaching the ice.

[TJ Davis]

Travis who’s the stud with those crappies man he is good looking. haha
You been out recently.

[Curt Wilson]

Nice photos. That looks like a lot of fun. How cold was it when you were fishing? I know there is a lot of cold weather needed for that, but how cold does it have to be for you to not go.

[Jason Upton]

Sure, I think I'll hit the lakes near Houston this weekend and do a little ice fishing myself!!:D

[NDboy]

Great photos but you can also play hockey

[Josh B]

Nice photos. That looks like a lot of fun. How cold was it when you were fishing? I know there is a lot of cold weather needed for that, but how cold does it have to be for you to not go.

When i was out, the day started at 5 degrees (F) at 5 am at my house. By the time i was on the ice, it was 10 degrees. When i left, it was 20 degrees.

The key was NO WIND. If its windy, 10 degrees is the coldest i would be out, but then it feels -10 with wind chill.

I am back at school in Maine now, and we have been out a few days with 0 degrees and 30mph winds. About -25 with wind chill. I can't say that was worth it.

I love the cold. You can always put more layers on. I hate the heat because you can only take so many layers off.

Josh

[Travis Mueller]

No T.J. I have been too busy, you? By the way thanks for holding my fish up for me!

[Christian Curtis]

What do I do when duck season is over?

ANYTHING but ice fishing!

[Eric Wolf]

ANYTHING but ice fishing!

WHAT?!?!?!

Ice fishing is the best thing to do in winter! Come up to Minnesota and I will show you how fun it is! Im goin up to northern Minnesota this weekend to do some ice fishing and its gonna be a blast!

[Josh B]

What do I do when duck season is over?

ANYTHING but ice fishing!


See, you just don't know what you are missing! It really is a great time. Dress for the temps, and you are alllllllll set!

Flag Up!

Josh