Ice Fishing

[ishoot308]

After a three year hiatus, it looks like my bob house will be back on the big lake this weekend!

Looking forward to some hard water adventures and quality time with family and friends and hopefully catching a few fish along the way as well!

To those who venture out, check the ice often and stay safe out there!!

Good Luck!

Dan

[ishoot308]

We were fishing by noon! Should a good year for ice!

Lots of people out and about today on the ice enjoying a beautiful day!

Enjoy!

Dan

[8gv]

Yeah but...

Did you catch anything?

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Yeah but...

Did you catch anything?

Of course!….We caught two Lake Trout!

Dan

[8gv]

No pics... no peace!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by 8gv

No pics... no peace!

Nothing worth taking a picture of…two small lakers. There are way too many Lake Trout in the lake. They need to up the catch and keep limits. They should bump it up to 5 per day instead of two!

Dan

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Yeah but...

Did you catch anything?

Catching is just the by product. From the sunrise to the sunset and all stories and laughs between that’s what it’s about. Totally different experience from summer mayhem on the lake.

[tis]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Nothing worth taking a picture of…two small lakers. There are way too many Lake Trout in the lake. They need to up the catch and keep limits. They should bump it up to 5 per day instead of two!

Dan

Your place can't be seen from Tuftonboro Neck can it? Somebody is seeing smoke on Welch from there.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Catching is just the by product. From the sunrise to the sunset and all stories and laughs between that’s what it’s about. Totally different experience from summer mayhem on the lake.

I totally agree and well said!!

Here’s today sunrise for you!

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by tis

Your place can't be seen from Tuftonboro Neck can it? Somebody is seeing smoke on Welch from there.

No, I’m on the West side of Welch facing Locke’s Island and the Witches. I have been out here since before sunrise and I haven’t seen any smoke whatsoever on Welch and I am looking right at it…

Dan

[phoenix]

did you run into Felix or Oscar

[farechofisherman]

I've been preaching for years that the lake trout are too plentiful in Winni. Thirty years ago you would catch maybe one or two while salmon fishing, now it's like 10-12 in a half- day outing, completely out if kilter. They are eating machines and take smelt away from the salmon and rainbows, not a good balance. Up the limit and harvest as many as you can.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by farechofisherman

I've been preaching for years that the lake trout are too plentiful in Winni. Thirty years ago you would catch maybe one or two while salmon fishing, now it's like 10-12 in a half- day outing, completely out if kilter. They are eating machines and take smelt away from the salmon and rainbows, not a good balance. Up the limit and harvest as many as you can.

That’s exactly what’s happening. Recent trawl net and hydro acoustic surveys of smelt in the lake are confirming that! I do know for a fact that F&G biologist agree with increasing catch limits to help with this issue.

We have 13 so far today and the flags keep popping! Crazy!!

Dan

[farechofisherman]

The only positive to the heavy lake trout population is that maybe they are helping with the thinning of rock bass, otherwise there are too many. Be safe on the ice!

[SAB1]

Why are the lake trout so long and skinny if they are eating all the bait? Lake trout are slow growers. They have length but look like pickles in a jar. You go to other lakes with lots of bait and the lakers are fat.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by SAB1

Why are the lake trout so long and skinny if they are eating all the bait? Lake trout are slow growers. They have length but look like pickles in a jar. You go to other lakes with lots of bait and the lakers are fat.

I believe because smelt are getting scarce in the lake. It’s an issue that F&G biologist are well aware of….

Dan

[ITD]

Be careful out there, Gilford fire went through the ice in a utv yesterday while on a fire call. Wear your ice spikes, you never know and chances are you won't have an immersion suit on.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by ITD

Be careful out there, Gilford fire went through the ice in a utv yesterday while on a fire call. Wear your ice spikes, you never know and chances are you won't have an immersion suit on.

The reason they went through is they attempted to cross a pressure ridge with open water. Not sure what the hell they were thinking!

Dan

[ishoot308]

We had “Old Glory” flying high and proud yesterday! Caught a few fish as well and enjoyed the company of some friends who stopped by!

Dan

[MeredithMan]

I got out there yesterday for the first time since 2022. Almost had to re-learn how to use my gear Didn't get anything, but it was nice to have several hours of peace and quiet to myself. Fun factoid: First time ever, I was approached by a F&G Warden for a license check. At first, I thought it was just some rando on a snowmobile coming over to say "hi", then I noticed the badge and the gun. Very nice guy and in line with the posts above, he mentioned that he's seen a lot of lakers having been caught as he has made his rounds.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

The reason they went through is they attempted to cross a pressure ridge with open water. Not sure what the hell they were thinking!

Dan

The same thing the summer boaters passing the wrong side of the buoys …nothing lol

[C-Bass]

how thick is the ice?

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by C-Bass

how thick is the ice?

14” where I was at this past weekend. That doesn’t mean 14” everywhere so please check it on your own.

Dan

[C-Bass]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

14” where I was at this past weekend. That doesn’t mean 14” everywhere so please check it on your own.

Dan

thank you..............

[fatlazyless]

Something new for 2025 at Heath Hdwe in Centre Harbor, Heath's now has Shiner-bait fish for ice fishing. Heath Hdwe has a new four section aerated live well in the rear of the store that's about 18" x 72" x 18" with Shiners in two sizes, 12/$5.99 or larger 12/$8.49.

In addition to live Shiners there's also a huge selection of ice fishing and summer fishing items ...... all types of fishing equipment ..... there in the back of their store!

Is better to support this local business, Heath Hdwe, than go to a big box!

[ishoot308]

Well I guess all good things must come to an end! After 7 weeks it was time to pull the bob house off the ice yesterday.

While there is still plenty of ice out there (18" +), the slush and water on top of the ice was just getting too much to deal with as well as the upcoming warm weather and rain. I took the recent cold weather freeze up as an opportunity yesterday to pull it off the ice without too much of a hassle!

Its been a good season with over 150 lake trout caught and many memories made with friends and family!!

Hopefully we will do it again next year!!

Dan