There are still fish to be caught...

[Peron]

Had the afternoon off and work stress made it necessary for me to fish for the spare hour I had! My new ice fishing minnow setup works well (2 weeks and after a initial purchase of 2 dozen medium large suckers and minors I only had two dead minnows with 8 still going strong). I took my bait and headed out to a local Ottawa river shore location.

Wasn't expecting much, maybe a little Pike, so I dropped my bait about 4 feet below a float and let it loose about 20 feet from shore at a natural bend. Nothing for 45 minutes and then my bobber started doing the Jaws thing along the surface. Set the hook and I had the best cold water fight in a while only to lose what must have been a nice OOS musky or a very large pike about 15 feet from shore. Tackle intact minus the bait which always makes me happy.

Downside: my work stress is now replaced by fish stress since I won't be able to get out again for about a week. I know that once the ice starts to form it could be a while before I get to fish again if it is a slow freeze.

Get out there... but dress warm!

Rod

[zippyfx]

Nice! Glad your still hitting the shore.

[scarkner]

I have the itch too and your story is inspiring... with warm weather around xmas I might get out a bit myself!

[OntarioRider]

I have been out a couple times for an evening fish and have been successful for walleye fishing on a rock edge with a jig head and gulp leeches.
I wish I could get away for another evening out before Christmas but it appears I will have to wait until the weekend now.

[zippyfx]

It's been busy with Christmas prep the past couple of weeks but the 10 year old nephew is coming to town in a couple of days.... All I need is him to ask if I could take him fishing then my wife won't shoot me the look of (festive season) death.

[tbone1088]

Im planning on fishing tomorrow... never ever been out shore fishing this late in the year I am pumped up! Supposed to be around 16 degrees, picked about 20 or 25 worms for bait I am ready to go! If I get anything I will make a report for sure guys,
merry christmas to all