[fish tremble]

Went out and met my buddy out on Union last night. Only fished for two hours with no success. Had a walleye on while we were setting up everything but hadn't unpacked the gaff yet so it got off while trying to pull it up on the ice. Looked to be a keeper but not much bigger. Hit came on a gold airplane jig with a walleye minnow. No other hits after that but was marking massive schools of baitfish that would move through every couple of minutes. We had put about 12 holes in the ice around the shantie looking for the fish but no luck. About an hour after sitting in the shantie the ice let the pressure loose from us putting all the holes out there. At least a 50 yard circle around the shantie dropped about 2 to 3 inches down pushing water up through the holes and creating a 50 yard circle of water on the ice. Man was my wife mad after having to wash my soiled long johns from that experience. My friend having grown up on Lake Sherwood had to tell me multiple times that this is normal but I have been ice fishing for years and have never had such a large chunk of ice drop like that. Doesn't help matters when you are sitting over the top of 80 feet of water when this happens either.

 

[No More Mini]

I have had it happen to me before.....unsettling to say the least.

I guess you were trembling a bit....lol

Mini

 

[muskiebobsr]

Had that happen a couple of times a half century ago on the bay.

I went through the ice once but I was very lucky I was about five feet from the drop off so I only went to my armpits. My God was that cold. Got out of there and Dad drove me home nearly naked on the floor of the car in front of the heater. I don't recommend this for anyone.

 

[fish tremble]

Good one John, I can see the fish now swimming around with their "Rob Trembles" shirts on laughing it up. I doubt I sat on the bucket more than 15 minutes total after that. Something about deep water that just makes me leery on the ice. I'll be back at the Coast Guard station this weekend where I will never be deeper than 8 or 9 feet.

 

[h2o]

You never have to worry about ice sinking. ICE FLOATS. so say you were on a 10 foot X 10 foot piece of ice you would float as though it was a raft.

h2o<--- remember ICE FLOATS

 

[fish tremble]

I know the ice was only attempting to expand but there is still the other side of the brain that tells you in that quick second anything is possible and self-preservation attempts to kick in. Besides I am already a ball of nerves from giving up the cigarette habit.

 

[h2o]

Oh I totally understand. I've had the flooding occur many times what I did when that happened was pop a few holes in the lowest spot to drain the flood it worked well for me. Also when you hear that sonic crackkkkk and the heart skips a beat. It's really a good sign telling you that the ice machine is making more ice and the sonic boom is it expanding. Most definately floods and cracks and 80 feet would make anyone wonder for sure.

h2o<---says the lake has pressure and has to release it. (causing floods and cracks.) I bet you were fishing a area that had no holes around it before you or anyone else fishing in the area.

 

[fish tremble]

H20 you would be correct. No one else was near us and don't think anyone had put a hole in the area before us. Great tip about putting some holes near the low point to clear the water though, the rising water level kept pushing the slush into the holes. It was the first good scare for the year and I am sure the rest of this season won't nearly be as scary. Until last ice that is!!! The ice is building quickly now even with all this snow, must have been sitting on a solid 6 inches which is a lot for a lake this deep. Will hit it again this weekend hopefully with a better report but need to get to Blossom Heath to see if the jumbos have started to come in yet.

 

[h2o]

I would by all means not fish in such deep water get more on the drop off and i think you'll do better in 80 feet you get the ones if they happen to cruse by. I would get in about 20 foot on a point or drop off but thats me. Good luck and will look forward to the next report.

h2o<----says jig jig jig!!! wax-worms, + minnows

 

[fish tremble]

Absolutely agree with you H20. If you pull up a map of Union you will see that it is all points and drop offs. The only reason we are sitting out from the drop off is because it hasn't been holding fish. We are finding all of the fish are suspending because that is where the baitfish have been schooling. Even as late as 1:00 in the morning the baitfish have not moved up onto the flats or the submerged islands (which I thought for sure would put fish on the ice for us). Most of the fish have been hanging between 20-45 feet down. Great advice though and definitely was what I was thinking and trying the last couple of times I went out but seem to only be pulling crappie from the shallower water right now. Will definitely give you the reports from the weekend on Monday. Good luck to all!!!