Chrome Hen Steelhead Caught Ice Fishing

Ever see a 20 lb brown come through a hole in the ice?

A facebook friend sent me this pic he took this morning of a 20 lb brown he saw caught.

Three fish that highlighted my year ...

The year is quickly coming to a close. I might get one more ice fishing outing in ... but whether I do or not 2010 had some definite highlights!

January 9th ... my biggest Brown through the ice (Approximately 34" and 17 lbs)

September 16th ... My largest King Salmon (36", 18 lbs). One of four I caught that day.

October 21st .... My largest Brown (31", 20 lbs, 23" girth).

It was an awesome year for me in the harbors of Lake Michigan. My bass fishing was cut short by back problems.

My goals for 2011 ... 33" Steelhead, a 25 lb Brown, a 40" salmon, and a 7 lb largemouth. It sounds ridiculous, but I think they're all within reach.

Big Steelhead Caught Ice Fishiing in Wisconsin

Sorry, but I'm drooling a little just thinking about it!

The weather looks like it will allow me to chase some slob browns and steelies tomorrow. We might get the unique opportunity to fish both long and short rods at the same time. If you haven't discovered these yet for ice fishing predatory fish ... you need to!

The Automatic Fisherman allows you to fight fish with a short rod and reel as opposed to using the traditional hand-over-hand method through the ice.

The harbor I plan to fish has enough ice that we should be able to fish both Autos and long rods tomorrow. And THAT'S why I'm drooling! :)

Snow, snow, go away ... so I can fish on Saturday!

Want to get fishing on Saturday ... but the forecast now calls for 3 to 5" on Friday night and 1 to 3" on Saturday. Of course it's beautiful all week while I'm working!

BIG Buck Steelhead Through the Ice in Wisconsin

Friday, November 26, 2010.

Decided to venture out with my buddy Troy. Founds a place to hide from the wind below the harbor wall that was actually quite comfortable considering it was 18 degrees with 30 mph winds. Ended up with these 6 fish:

This was my first personal double. Caught the brown on a green and gold Cleo ... hit right at the dock as I was about to pull the bait out of the water. As I was taking the hook out we heard my other rod sliding across the dock. Grabbed it and landed this beautiful male steelie that inhaled a chunk of cured skein fished under a float.

Got this buck steelie on a spawn sack.

Hen brown hit a black/silver X-Rap as it paused between jerks. I was letting it sit in neutral buoyancy for 5 to 10 seconds ... then giving it a small twitch and letting it sit again. This fish just hammered it as it sat still.

Hen brown caught on spawn.

Seeferellon Brown caught while retreiving a spawn sack. It hit while I was cranking the spawn in to go home. Followed it like a muskie would a jerk bait, then grabbed it and turned. The fish swam this line into another float line. As the second line was being dragged along it got hit by ANOTHER brown. This one broke off as Troy tried to free the line / set the hook. Crazy experience you only see on those magical days!

Giant Brown Trout through the ice in WI Harbor

My biggest Brown through the ice ... on a VERY COLD day!

Steelhead Double Ice Fishing in Wisconsin!!!!!!

It's ALMOST that time of year again! I can't wait for first ice!!!!!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Went 3 for 3 fishing a pump... 2 steelies and a whitefish. We'll see if they're any good to eat! Big steelie came on fresh brown skein. She hit as I was packing up ... and pretty much set the hook herself. Temp about 50, rain, E wind changed to S. Caught the first Steelie at about 7:00, the second about noon.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Took my brown down to Tom Wendel today. Stopped to fish on the way ... fished from 9 am to 1 pm. Went 4 for 7 wirth 2 buck Coho, one hen Steelie, and one hen Brown ... all on sacs. Lost a monster brown!!!!!!!! Broke me off under the dock in the corner with the pumps. Guy pulled the plug on the pumps at noon so I found another and got the brown there. Forgot the camera ... no pics.