Fishing The Hardwater

     First trip on the ice this year.  Temps were in the negatives with the windchill for most of the day.  Fish would freeze before you could get your tip-up back in the hole.  We had a great day on the walleye along with a few nice perch and a couple pike.  Caught on nice walleye that measured almost 23 inches that I released.  She was a very fat female and it was evident that she was full of eggs.  Always have to look out for the future and let the big females go once in a while so that they may spawn.   I'm looking forward to getting back out on a little warmer day but do not see temps above the teens anytime in the near future.  Until next time!

Flag!!! An ice fisherman's favorite word to hear.

Flag up means fish on the line..(hopefully).  It turned out to be a great picture with the backdrop of the iced over reservoir and the Allegheny Forest. 

A new PA state record Walleye.  6oz!

A nice Northern Pike.  As you can tell by my eyes being closed, the wind and rain was blowing in my face.

Managed a quick pic when the sun came out for 5 minutes.  Turned out great.  Should send this picture to the CLAM shelter company.  Maybe I could get an endorsement.

Fishing The Hardwater!

Drew, who works with me at Whitetail Country, caught this 26'' walleye while we were out this week.  This big female was released so that she may spawn this spring.

The take home catch.  Enough for a couple of dinners.

The end to a great day on the ice.

      Fortunately this year we have had some ice.  Don't get me wrong...I love to fly fish, but I also like ice fishing for walleye, perch, northern pike, musky, and crappie.  A few tip-ups, a chair, and an adult beverage have their place and time as well.  We caught some nice fish and had some perfect weather for fishing the Kinzua Dam.  Perfect ice fishing weather just means that it was above ZERO degrees and light winds!!  Oh yeah... and enough ice to stand on.