I took one evening this past week to show good friend Brad Durick or Why-fish Radio a small pike pond close to where we live. We meet up about 3 that afternoon, the tempature was just above zero. Skies were partly cloudy, and a slight north wind was blowing. we drill a 8 hole patters in an "L" shape with 3 holes along the shoreline in about 3-5 feet of water. The other 5 holes were in a zig-zag pattern perpendicular to the others. For bait we used whole 3-5 inch smelt. The tip-ups were set just off the bottom, thanks to a new way I learned on how to set my depth from brad. It was only about 15 minutes till the first flag flew and a 5-6 pound snake was poking his head out of the whole. From there out Flags were consistanly popping every 10-15 minutes and it was there that I learned that Brad can spot a flag 3 minutes before the fish has taken the bait. 5 Fish were Ice and all were released. The largest was just under 8lbs and smalles was just over 2lbs. It was a great way to spend my last evening off before I had to go back to work.

Tomorrow Brad, Kent Hollads from Trophy Cat Adventures, his son Kolby, and myslef will be taking my wife Crystal ice fishing for the firts time. Crystal is from south taxes and thinks that ice fishing is about the dumbest thing she has ever heard of. But some how I have talked her into playing flag tackle. I will report on that and my 3 day trip to upper red next week. Also I made my son Brison a Mobile for above his crib, attached is a picture.

http://www.why-fish.com/
http://www.trophycatadventures.com/

Later
Esox

All right now that I am back, I plan on putting everything into gear and tightening the drag down. My fisrt fishing adventrue after I got back was thanks to good friend Loren Keiser of Fargo. Loren got me hooked up with Matt Breuer of North Country Guide Service. Matt and fellow guide Scott Hanson lead me on a venture for Perch and Walleye on Lake Bemidji. Althought it was the coldest day in 3 years (-35 degrees not counting the wind chill) Matt and Scott still managed to put me on some nice perch. It was a morning well spent with a bounus of watching a Crawdad tear into on of the dead minnow below our holes. It was a great way to get back into the fishing scene and a good friends were made.

A few days later for my birthdayI was grace with the presence of Jig-Em-Up Josh on the Ice of the western pond. Again a few more perch were stuck that day and great stories were shared while we caught up. The fish were again in a super negitive mode beacuse of the long cold snap that was in the area. Temps were at -15 all day long, not much wind and not a clould in the sky. I believe 8 perch came to play with our jigs. We did notice a funny haze the fisrt 6 feet under the ice. The ice was closing in on 30+ inches think, Josh and I both decieded not to fish again with out a gas auger. More to come Esox

To fish with Matt check out his website http://www.northcountryguides.com/

I am back from Iraq, and currenly in North Dakota. My family is well and its great to be with them again. Sorry I didn't post for so long, but my access to the site was block from my location. Now that I am back I will be postign regualy with my updates and storys from my trips. Can't wait to hear from you take care.


Esox