first trip of the season

[jigglestick]

the first trip of the season to a local lake felt real good.
My daughter and I took our first trip onto one of our favorite local lakes this evening.
I searched and searched for that 18 foot hole I allways look for, but couldnt fine anything deeper than 16 feet. then I realized that the lake is down a foot and a half..DUH!
I augered holes for both of us so as we could use the same lantern.
it was only about twenty minutes when my bobber dropped and slowly disapeared under the ice. I picked up the pole and kate ran over saying "poppa, can I..." sure kate, here you go. she set the hook and the fight was on. this fish was pulling drag right off the bat.
I grabbed the line to get a feel for how big it was and guestimated four to five pounds.
she fought it and actualy got it to the bottom of six solid inches of ice when it flipped up against the ice and broke the line >:(
I got to see it and she just caught a glimpse but could not tell that was indeed a hefty walleye.
when it swam past the hole I realized that my guess was pretty close.
we only got one more bite, but that was fine with us.
we are just getting started.

the end of ice season leaves me feeling like there is a hole in my heart. a big empty space where a passion resides all winter long.
to walk back onto the ice and fire up my bent and twisted, trusty auger rekindles the flame that keeps me warm during the cold winter months.
to think that we are just at the very beginning of a new season puts a smile on my face.
that old familiar smell of auger fumes. the hiss of the coleman lantern.
the sound of the vex whizzing round and round. the skim of ice that forms over an eight inch hole and the bobber dropping right on cue are all welcome signs that it is really here.

welcome back ice fishing season!!

reports from mary at fred's
are that dark houses out one half mile at bowens road on winnie are sitting on 11 1/2 inches of solid ice!
bowstring reports come back from two sources that the fish are biting in 19 feet of water and atv's have been cruising around on four to five inches of ice.
hoping the ice cooperates there, I will make it out this week sometime to check out some old coords.
bowstring crappies are very tastey :)

the reports will be rolling in daily. with mary's new marketing strategy, I will be stopping in there more than usual.
if you want to see her new marketing gimmick, you need to stop in there yourself. it's worth it 8)

good fishing all! remember, no ice is safe ice -- be careful!