Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on December 13, 2019, 11:45:48 AM
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I've been wanting to start a thread on ice fishing in this province. It's something I've been doing (or wanting to do) more and more every winter because there are so many opportunities once you drive a couple of hours east from the Fraser Valley and the fisheries are pretty under-utilized.
The past couple of days we went up to Tunkwa Lake for our first outing, just to test out all the gear to make sure they are good to go for the season. The fishing was pretty slow during the day as expected, and a bit windy too which is kind of unusual in the winter. The late afternoon bite however, was quite good. From 2pm until dark, fish steadily showed up on the sounder and by 3:30pm, they were on your bait most of the time. All the fish we kept were in the 16 to 17 inch range, and a handful of 10 to 14 inchers were released.
The rig we used, is basically what Al at the resort always uses, a little jig (in this case, a 1/16oz Rapala Tubby tungsten jig) tipped with some bait (worm, shrimp, dough balls etc) dangled about 12 inches below a broad spoon (I used a Gibbs Ironhead) as a flasher. Al showed me how to use my sounder properly and it was incredible to see how much more effective once you figure out how to read the graph correctly. Most of the fish were caught in 7 to 10ft of water.
(https://i.imgur.com/GneVREk.jpg)
More trips to come!
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My favorite ice fishing gear is the Jaw jacker. Sometimes, I would wander if it should be banned.
The favorite bait is the Pautzke single salmon egg. No mess, no stink. one jar lasts for a whole ice fishing season.
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This is something I'm hoping to try this winter in the caribou. Didn't have much luck this fall with the kokanee so will see if we can't get some thru the ice.
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Nice catch
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I’m hoping to take up this sport in the near future. What u need to get started?
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I’m hoping to take up this sport in the near future. What u need to get started?
To start out with you'll need a ice fishing rod and reel, which are pretty inexpensive. You'll need a hand auger too, which also doesn't break the bank. Ice skimmer to scoop the ice out of your hole... Terminal tackle is just a box of small jig heads and lures. Bait is worm, shrimp...
If you really get into it and want to catch fish more consistently, electronics make a huge difference. A tent and heater make your life a lot easier out there. An electric auger which we tried for the first time last week is a game changer....
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What about a gas powered auger? What kind of electronics are we talking?
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What about a gas powered auger? What kind of electronics are we talking?
Gas powered auger is useful in extreme cold weather and deep ice. Not necessory in kamloops area
If you have wireless powerdrill, you can buy an adaptor for $10 and use as electrical auger.
I use Milwaukee M18 drill. The regular compact battery can drill 10-15 holes on 1 foot ice in -5C temperature .
By using 5ah battery, It can drill 100 holes at least. The drill speed is 2 second per hole. I usually drill 20 holes at beginning to cover water.
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https://www.rapala.ca/strikemaster/lithium-40v-auger/Lithium+40v+Auger.html
This is the one we used. 100 holes in 16" of ice on one battery charge.
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For $850.00 it better ;)
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My biceps and back tell me to spend the $850. ;D
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Is that the trend now? The electric auger is replacing the gas powered auger?
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The price range is fairly similar. I personally like the electric way better than the gas. Being a little smaller than other people, I find even the gas one is labouring for me to use in the cold. With the electric one it was just so easy, and quiet.
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A hand sled comes in handy, to pull your chairs, tent , gear etc... around if you don’t have a snowmobile or Quad.
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Right! How did I forget a sled! That is a must.
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https://youtu.be/yGuNNJreA3M
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Don't forget the FireballTM
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We had two fun yet challenging days of ice fishing just before Christmas near Kamloops. On the first day we picked a lake where there was at least 6" of slush/water on top of the ice. Without waders, I ended up pretty much wet wading for 7 hours, but good thing the air temperature was pretty tolerable that day (~0C). We saw plenty of big fish up to 6lb but couldn't entice them, had to settle with the only two fish I landed, one being 14" and the other 19".
On day two we picked a lake that was a lot colder, -12C so the snow was powdery and no slush was involved. Quite a few bites, but also quite a few newly stocked brookies (6 to 10 inchers) from this past spring. A couple of good sized rainbow trout were hauled in, around 16" and 19" long.
We had a scary moment on day one. Dan (Everyday) came ice fishing with us for the first time and somehow, we walked into a big hole which someone had made previously but failed to mark (we're talking about a BIG hole, like 3'X3'). I'll show the video soon. If this had been me, or Kitty, or a little kid, the outcome would have been very different since we are a lot smaller. Dan somehow managed to catch the edge with his arms and popped himself up right away, but water still managed to gushed into his chest waders. The hole was partially frozen and covered with slush so nobody had noticed it, and we had all been walking around it and somehow missed it. If you are going to make a hole that big, mark it before you leave...
(https://i.imgur.com/XcRavDM.jpg)
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Where do you stay or do you drive back and forth?
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If we are going to Kamloops, we just stay at the hotel and bounce between lakes.
For lakes around Merritt and the Kane Valley, we usually do day trips.
For Tunkwa Lake, we usually stay at the resort to maximize fishing time.
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We had two fun yet challenging days of ice fishing just before Christmas near Kamloops. On the first day we picked a lake where there was at least 6" of slush/water on top of the ice. Without waders, I ended up pretty much wet wading for 7 hours, but good thing the air temperature was pretty tolerable that day (~0C). We saw plenty of big fish up to 6lb but couldn't entice them, had to settle with the only two fish I landed, one being 14" and the other 19".
On day two we picked a lake that was a lot colder, -12C so the snow was powdery and no slush was involved. Quite a few bites, but also quite a few newly stocked brookies (6 to 10 inchers) from this past spring. A couple of good sized rainbow trout were hauled in, around 16" and 19" long.
We had a scary moment on day one. Dan (Everyday) came ice fishing with us for the first time and somehow, we walked into a big hole which someone had made previously but failed to mark (we're talking about a BIG hole, like 3'X3'). I'll show the video soon. If this had been me, or Kitty, or a little kid, the outcome would have been very different since we are a lot smaller. Dan somehow managed to catch the edge with his arms and popped himself up right away, but water still managed to gushed into his chest waders. The hole was partially frozen and covered with slush so nobody had noticed it, and we had all been walking around it and somehow missed it. If you are going to make a hole that big, mark it before you leave...
(https://i.imgur.com/XcRavDM.jpg)
Wow that is scary. !!! 3x3 ft hole in the ice & snow covered. Person could fall thru & in excitement go under the ice to the N W E or S direction or just get so cold & slippery sides one could just drown..
Walking on a frozen lake with snow maybe have a stick or pole and stab the snow to find solid ice so ya know it's safe to take the next step. Do people wear floatation jackets on ice cover lakes incase they fall thru the ice?
EDIT IN : 3x3 hole camaflouged by slush or even 2-3 inches fresh snow...accident waiting to happen.
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Sharing some of Everyday's photos, which are much better than mine.
(https://i.imgur.com/lsBBTUg.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YO96LOM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VJi6zf6.jpg)
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looks cold
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Some brook trout swimming along the edge of a weed patch in 5ft of water from today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6r5cUqnO86
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I’ve never ice fished but, from the pictures I’ve seen over the years, most rb tend to be dark(er) in colour.
What is the table quality of dark(er) rb through the ice?
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I’ve never ice fished but, from the pictures I’ve seen over the years, most rb tend to be dark(er) in colour.
What is the table quality of dark(er) rb through the ice?
Actually that was the first kind of dark fish I've seen. That fish was a a lot brighter when it first came out fo the hole actually, you'll see it in the video. I'll let you know how it tastes soon.... ;)
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Some brook trout swimming along the edge of a weed patch in 5ft of water from today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B6r5cUqnO86
very cool vid!
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I read a story about that you can be charged with manslaughter etc if leaving a hole in ice like that.
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New ice fishing video is now live, join us in the live chat if you until 5:30pm!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn3wsqLyv8E
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Another episode (day two of this trip) is going live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1fFHW7BjWU
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxPSXus6fI4
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New video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8nszBfzvHQ
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Very devious Rod. Send Nina to a hole where there is no fish and then you catch one with her rod. ;D
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Hey, gotta use all the tricks if I want to score high.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOy8tDmV-vA
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Just got back from the ice again, trying out some kokanee fisheries this week.
(https://i.imgur.com/h12yx0Z.jpg)
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fresh sockeye in the winter does it get any better than that!
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Is that a Williams Wabler for the flasher?
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Is that a Williams Wabler for the flasher?
Gibbs Ice Gator.
(https://scontent.fyvr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81146146_2878651502158571_3550051307802853376_o.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=cittD43Io5oAX83LARb&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr4-1.fna&oh=620f838674b1a8bd0aa82e2d7ec70631&oe=5EC481A6)
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Parker finally gets a haircut....
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The episode on ice fishing for kokanee is now available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-m9MCqtNtc