February 13-17
Granny and I have been enjoying our time at home. We had plenty of snow in the driveway and on our porches so we shoveled hard our first few days. In between the winter snow removal exercising we enjoyed hot chocolate breaks, hikes and snuck a drink at the local pub. Paradise you might say.
Thursday February 13th an unbelievable heatwave hit. Evidently its was below zero all of January here in Northern Wisconsin but the last few days temperatures have hovered in the mid 40°s. I’m trying to get work done because I have a few more gigs ahead including a big one in Iowa for the Hawkeyes. But bright sun and warm temps meant we had to do something extra fun.
Fun started as a routine drive in the country. We have a ton of lakes near home and we saw people ice fishing and they were driving right to their holes. Ice fishing during a heatwave and being able to drive to your ice hole – that’s hard to resist!
Once upon a time I ice fished every chance I could. I didn’t miss a day when I was at college in Ashland back in the early 80’s. And I loved jigging for lakers when I first moved to Jackson Hole in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Then I got too busy, but I promise you, I never threw any of my gear away.
Once home from that drive I dug around the garage and pieced together six tip-ups and found my old minnow bucket. My boxed up ice fishing stuff had hooks, weights and some well used depth finders just waiting for use. The only thing I didn’t have was an auger but Josh Hulbert was quick to lend me his slick little one that fits a drill as a drill bit.
I once drove on frozen lakes like it was nothing but heading down the icy boat ramp for the first time in years took some nerve. But once I flipped Granny’s old Jeep in 4 wheel we were on our way. The snow was flying and the ice could be heard buckling. It was great. This could be addicting we thought!
And it was. Granny and I have ice fished at least a few hours each of the last five days including today. We have hammered the northern pike and enjoyed a few tasty meals. We’ve also caught some largemouth bass and one yellow bullhead.
It’s been a treat to be home. It feels good to be ice fishing again. Enjoy the photos from us fishing five days in a row during the February thaw!
Enjoy, nice to have the ice again!
Tad