Ice Fishing Mud Creek, Strawberry Reservoir 12-27-19

Parker and I wanted to get some time on the ice together so we loaded up last Friday and headed to Strawberry Reservoir where we fished Mud Creek Bay. We weren't alone!

We loaded the SnowDog into the Fish Steeler Ice trailer and made it to the lake by 9am not an early trip, we may have missed the morning bite, but we accomplished what we wanted to. We got our machines on the ice and everything worked great. Parker is loving his SnowDog.

We set camp on the south side of the bay since the northside was packed with tents. We cut holes in 8 feet of water and set the tent. Parker put his flasher and camera in the hole and we waited, and waited and waited. We changed tactics colors baits many times. Parker couldn't stand it any longer and went on a search for better water. He went out of the bay and ended up about 200 yards south along the shoreline. I patiently waited for his return hoping he would find some fish.

About an hour later he returned to report that he hadn't found a good spot to move to. In the meantime, I had seen a dozen or so fish swim in and out of the holes and turn their noses up to my offerings. I quickly switched poles and baits trying to lure them into hitting my hook. Nothing was persuading them. After Parker returned we fished for another hour or so and finally, another fish swam into the holes. It swam up to Parker's bait and nudged it but didn't take it in and then instantly turned and engulfed my hook. I quickly set the hook and brought the cutthroat to the surface.

We fished for another hour and didn't see another fish swim through. We tried other spots nearby and saw nothing in the camera or on the flasher. We loaded up our gear and talked to a few other camps and they were having the same outcome. We finished the day off with a Strawberry Bay Marina Burger which made the day all the better.

Fishing Small Stream for Rainbows

Work has been a bear lately and keeping me from focusing on the right things. Saturday however I took a couple hours and went to the mountains and fished a small stream I hadn't fished in years.

I fished multiple pools and finally found one right on the side of the road that paid off. I used my favorite little jerk bait and a couple old go to's as well. Nothing big, but a lot of fun to get out and fish after a couple weeks in the trenches.

I jinxed myself talking about the plight of another angler losing his gear on a log I was fishing over and tossed my lure into a tree across the river. Not one to lose a lure, I went after it. It took me a few minutes to retrieve it but I got it back and learned why I couldn't get off the branch. There was a fly set up on the same little branch and a lot of fishing line that actually hooked my lure.

The water was crystal clear and I could see the fish flash when they hit and the one that wouldn't take the bait. It looked to be a bit bigger than the ones I had gotten to the bank, but you can't tell from the bank. I will return and see if I can get it to hit.

I may have to go back to being retired!