12-25-2011 Sun
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Weather: NW 14, clear, 42˚, three to six inches of ice
Location: Mississippi River Pool 7
Caught: nothing
Partners: None
Comments
It was a quick ice fishing excursion close to home today. I specifically wanted to target an area (Fox Beach) where I had done rather well on perch and bluegills two years ago. Today it was a big zero; it seemed as if the flow was too fast to make it a pan fish wintering hole. My second spot was a rather shallow area that I had fished several years ago and had caught one fourteen inch perch. I have wanted to get back there for a couple of years and today I was scratching that itch. The area has awesome weed growth, but the depth is only about two to three feet. Again, I came up with a big zero.
The third and final spot was an area on the north end of the lake about one half of a mile directly west of the Prairie Cut. The area looked good; the depth was about four feet with a hard sand bottom and scattered weeds throughout the area. This final area I just fished with tip – ups and never had a flag.
Observations:
The ice thickness in the areas I fished varied anywhere from four to eight inches. The running conditions with the air boat were quite extreme; the ice was totally bare, there were lots of open water areas and there were many spots where the boat broke through.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
12-21-2011 Wed
12-21-2011 Wed
2:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Weather: Calm, clear, 41˚, four inches of ice
Location: Fort McCoy – North Flowage
Bagged/caught: Approx. 30 bluegills (kept 10 nice gills, two bass 14 and 12 inches
Partners: Scott
Comments
Scott and I made the trip to the North Flowage of McCoy today. I was hoping to get some decent size bass on tip-ups; however we only caught a fourteen incher on the tip-ups. The action on both the jig poles and the tip ups was very slow. But then around the last thirty minutes of light the fish became very active. I drilled many, many holes, but had very little action until the sun was far in the western sky. I never marked many fish on the locator nor did Scott see many on the Marcum camera.
However near the end of the day, it was hard to keep the fish off the hook. The locator was always filled with fish and the fish were very active. I feel the fish were always there; however they were not very active until the end of the day.
Observations:
The ice thickness was around four good inches of ice. The fish that I kept and cleaned were very heavily peppered with the black parasite spots.
2:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Weather: Calm, clear, 41˚, four inches of ice
Location: Fort McCoy – North Flowage
Bagged/caught: Approx. 30 bluegills (kept 10 nice gills, two bass 14 and 12 inches
Partners: Scott
Comments
Scott and I made the trip to the North Flowage of McCoy today. I was hoping to get some decent size bass on tip-ups; however we only caught a fourteen incher on the tip-ups. The action on both the jig poles and the tip ups was very slow. But then around the last thirty minutes of light the fish became very active. I drilled many, many holes, but had very little action until the sun was far in the western sky. I never marked many fish on the locator nor did Scott see many on the Marcum camera.
However near the end of the day, it was hard to keep the fish off the hook. The locator was always filled with fish and the fish were very active. I feel the fish were always there; however they were not very active until the end of the day.
Observations:
The ice thickness was around four good inches of ice. The fish that I kept and cleaned were very heavily peppered with the black parasite spots.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
12-18-2011 Sun
12-18-2011 Sun
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Weather: S16, clear, 44˚, 29.92 falling, three inches of ice
Location: Lake Onalaska in front of Schaffer’s
Bagged/caught: Approx. 20 bluegills with maybe one keeper, three bass 17, 14 and 12 inches
Partners: none
Comments
I had been itching to get out fishing in front of Schaffer’s ever since the ice became solid enough to walk on. Normally this spot is good for early ice gills and pike with a small sprinkling of bass thrown in.
Today the story line was pretty much bass. Oh, I did catch a few decent gills, but the vast majority of them were small chips. The biggest bass of the day came on my jig pole, and it turned out to be a battle of determination between myself and Mr. Largemouth and I won. I only had one flag all afternoon and that turned out to be a decent fifteen inch largemouth.
Observations:
Ice conditions are not ideally safe, but there is about three inches of good hard ice and I did feel fairly confident I would not be swimming today! I was definitely disappointed with the amount of fish I caught today. Normally first ice in front of Schaffer’s is good for pan fish along with some bonus pike and largemouth bass.
12-17-2011 Sat
12-17-2011 Sat
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Weather: S6, overcast, 27˚, (1153) one inches of snow cover, four inches of ice
Location: Sparta, WI area and F McCoy, WI
Bagged/caught: small buck (already had shed antlers/ Lots of small gills and some nice ones and 6-8 crappies from 8 – 10 inches
Partners: Tom W. and some of his friends (bow hunting) myself ice fishing
Comments
Today started out with about one half day of some late season bow hunting. The strategy for the hunt would be deer drives. I would finish off the day ice fishing on the North Flowage of Fort McCoy.
On the first drive of the day I was a stander and it just so happened that it was the only drive that we would see any deer on. The action was awesome; we had deer bouncing all over and they were somewhat stuck between the drivers and the standers. I had several shots and was able to connect with one of my shots. I must tell you these were no chip shots. These deer felt trapped between the standers and the drivers and when they can by me they were in the escape mode and they were making tracks! The deer I did connect on was shot too far back and we had to let it be for two hours before we came back to recover it. Even after two hours it was still alive, but in very bad shape. One more arrow was necessary to put it down. One of the other hunters also shot a deer, or shall I say somewhat of a deer. This deer was tiny and I would have to guesstimate it weight at around thirty pounds! My deer was no trophy either. It was a buck that had already shed its’ antlers, but it weighed in at a measly seventy pounds.
After we finished the deer drives and recovering the deer the group was done hunting, but for me it was time for a little first ice action on the North Flowage. I really did not have a clue on where to go, but I drilled around twenty holes and towards sundown I finally was on an area that started to produce fish. I did not have any flags, but I did get on some fairly nice bluegills and crappies.
Observations:
The weather today was just gorgeous and it was definitely ideal conditions for bow hunting. The fishing in the late afternoon was also good and we had about four inches of safe ice to venture onto.
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Weather: S6, overcast, 27˚, (1153) one inches of snow cover, four inches of ice
Location: Sparta, WI area and F McCoy, WI
Bagged/caught: small buck (already had shed antlers/ Lots of small gills and some nice ones and 6-8 crappies from 8 – 10 inches
Partners: Tom W. and some of his friends (bow hunting) myself ice fishing
Comments
Today started out with about one half day of some late season bow hunting. The strategy for the hunt would be deer drives. I would finish off the day ice fishing on the North Flowage of Fort McCoy.
On the first drive of the day I was a stander and it just so happened that it was the only drive that we would see any deer on. The action was awesome; we had deer bouncing all over and they were somewhat stuck between the drivers and the standers. I had several shots and was able to connect with one of my shots. I must tell you these were no chip shots. These deer felt trapped between the standers and the drivers and when they can by me they were in the escape mode and they were making tracks! The deer I did connect on was shot too far back and we had to let it be for two hours before we came back to recover it. Even after two hours it was still alive, but in very bad shape. One more arrow was necessary to put it down. One of the other hunters also shot a deer, or shall I say somewhat of a deer. This deer was tiny and I would have to guesstimate it weight at around thirty pounds! My deer was no trophy either. It was a buck that had already shed its’ antlers, but it weighed in at a measly seventy pounds.
After we finished the deer drives and recovering the deer the group was done hunting, but for me it was time for a little first ice action on the North Flowage. I really did not have a clue on where to go, but I drilled around twenty holes and towards sundown I finally was on an area that started to produce fish. I did not have any flags, but I did get on some fairly nice bluegills and crappies.
Observations:
The weather today was just gorgeous and it was definitely ideal conditions for bow hunting. The fishing in the late afternoon was also good and we had about four inches of safe ice to venture onto.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
12-11-2011
12-11-2011 Sun
1:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Weather: SW15, sunny, 40˚, two inches of snow cover, six inches of ice
Location: Trempealeau bike trail and Mississippi R. Round Lake
Bagged/caught: nothing/ Lots of small gills, kept 6
Partners: Roxy
Comments
I was taking Roxy out for her maiden hunt this year. I already decided that how she did hunting today would dictate how much rabbit hunting I would do this winter. The conditions were ideal: sunny, 40 degrees and two inches of snow. Everything was perfect except someone had beaten me to the spot. We hunted it anyway and we did run into three generations of hunters (grandpa, son and grandson). I was rather bummed, this is a very good spot and I had high hopes Roxy would start out strong.
Unfortunately she was pretty much a bust. She has some interest in rabbits, but the drive and search is just not there. I do not know how much more I will hunt her this year; I just do not think she will ever be a rabbit dog!
After the disappointing rabbit hunting session, it was time for a little first ice, fishing. My first stop was Mud Lake. I walked out without my gear, just to kind of scope the area out. There was one other fisherman and his son there. He told me they had caught a couple of perch and that was the extent of their success.
I by-passed Mud Lake and went to Round Lake. There was a fairly large group of fishermen here, so of course I assumed some fish were being caught. I set out two tip-ups and fished for pan fish with my other line. The ice thickness was more than I had anticipated and after chopping holes through six inches of ice I was tired.
The bite was not fast and furious, but I would have small schools of fish come through on a regular basis. I never did get a flag on any of the tip-ups.
Observations:
The water level on the Mississippi is very low this winter; I do not expect Mud Lake to be as good as last year on account of this low water. The rabbit population appears to be quite healthy.
1:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Weather: SW15, sunny, 40˚, two inches of snow cover, six inches of ice
Location: Trempealeau bike trail and Mississippi R. Round Lake
Bagged/caught: nothing/ Lots of small gills, kept 6
Partners: Roxy
Comments
I was taking Roxy out for her maiden hunt this year. I already decided that how she did hunting today would dictate how much rabbit hunting I would do this winter. The conditions were ideal: sunny, 40 degrees and two inches of snow. Everything was perfect except someone had beaten me to the spot. We hunted it anyway and we did run into three generations of hunters (grandpa, son and grandson). I was rather bummed, this is a very good spot and I had high hopes Roxy would start out strong.
Unfortunately she was pretty much a bust. She has some interest in rabbits, but the drive and search is just not there. I do not know how much more I will hunt her this year; I just do not think she will ever be a rabbit dog!
After the disappointing rabbit hunting session, it was time for a little first ice, fishing. My first stop was Mud Lake. I walked out without my gear, just to kind of scope the area out. There was one other fisherman and his son there. He told me they had caught a couple of perch and that was the extent of their success.
I by-passed Mud Lake and went to Round Lake. There was a fairly large group of fishermen here, so of course I assumed some fish were being caught. I set out two tip-ups and fished for pan fish with my other line. The ice thickness was more than I had anticipated and after chopping holes through six inches of ice I was tired.
The bite was not fast and furious, but I would have small schools of fish come through on a regular basis. I never did get a flag on any of the tip-ups.
Observations:
The water level on the Mississippi is very low this winter; I do not expect Mud Lake to be as good as last year on account of this low water. The rabbit population appears to be quite healthy.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
112-5-2011 Mon
12-5-2011 Mon
6:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Weather: NW10, fog/mist, 25˚, 30.39 rising, and one inch of snow cover (1153)
Location: Mississippi river bottom closed areas, Onalaska WI
Bagged: nothing
Partners: Dick
Comments
Duck season closed yesterday and the muzzleloader season was still open, so that meant we could hunt the refuge closed areas today. In past years we use to hunt the Tiffany Wildlife Area near Nelson, Wisconsin, but the Fish and Wildlife Service had changed the closed area boundaries and now that area is an open hunting area.
The start of the hunt did not go well. I was taking the airboat and we could not get the boat off the trailer in the wee hours of the morning. So, I positioned the trailer on a slope where we would have the help of gravity slide the boat off the trailer. The first little push from Dick and I did move the boat about an inch. Well from past experiences I knew the boat would now roll off easily since we had moved it ever so slightly. This is where the trouble started.
I went to remove the safety chain that prevents the boat from coming off the trailer in case the trailer winch fails. Well, I failed to tell Dick that he did not have to push anymore and as I was about to remove the chain he gave the boat another all you can give push. This last push spelled disaster for my right little finger. The boat now easily slid backwards, but unfortunately my little finger was now tangled up with the chain. I immediately felt this incredible pain and all I could see was the shredded finger from my glove, stuck in the chain.
I was very vocal in my expression of my pain and Dick asked what happened. I told him my finger got caught in the chain and that I seriously did not know if I still had my finger and that I did not want to look. Once the sting stopped and I calmed down, a quick glance down at my hand confirmed that yes indeed I still had all five fingers on my right hand. As Autumn said ” at least you will not be like grandpa Tolley” (missing fingers). I still had my finger, but it was not looking too healthy. I figured I needed to go visit a doctor, but it was the opening of muzzle loader season in the refuge areas and I did not want to miss it.
Dick asked how my finger was and I replied it hurt and it does not look good, but let’s patch it up as best as we can and go hunting. We managed to scrape together some gauze and duct tape, and bandaged the bleeding finger up. It is truly amazing what you can do with duct tape!
Muzzleloader hunting was not nearly as exciting as the finger episode, but it was a lot less painful. I ended up seeing three deer in the two hours I sat in the morning and Dick saw eight. Neither one of us fired a round; we were both waiting for a suitable shot and one never materialized for either one of us.
After about ten o’clock we made several drives and never moved a deer. All the drives we did do had already been pushed by other groups of hunters.
Observations:
This is the first time I had ever hunted this refuge area and I think I will do it again next year. I was very surprised by the amount of hunters that were out here. Unfortunately, ice up had not taken place yet and this allowed many more hunters to get out there than there would have been if we had ice instead of open water. There is no doubt deer were shot, but hopefully the hunters did not put too big of a hurt on the population.
6:45 AM – 4:00 PM
Weather: NW10, fog/mist, 25˚, 30.39 rising, and one inch of snow cover (1153)
Location: Mississippi river bottom closed areas, Onalaska WI
Bagged: nothing
Partners: Dick
Comments
Duck season closed yesterday and the muzzleloader season was still open, so that meant we could hunt the refuge closed areas today. In past years we use to hunt the Tiffany Wildlife Area near Nelson, Wisconsin, but the Fish and Wildlife Service had changed the closed area boundaries and now that area is an open hunting area.
The start of the hunt did not go well. I was taking the airboat and we could not get the boat off the trailer in the wee hours of the morning. So, I positioned the trailer on a slope where we would have the help of gravity slide the boat off the trailer. The first little push from Dick and I did move the boat about an inch. Well from past experiences I knew the boat would now roll off easily since we had moved it ever so slightly. This is where the trouble started.
I went to remove the safety chain that prevents the boat from coming off the trailer in case the trailer winch fails. Well, I failed to tell Dick that he did not have to push anymore and as I was about to remove the chain he gave the boat another all you can give push. This last push spelled disaster for my right little finger. The boat now easily slid backwards, but unfortunately my little finger was now tangled up with the chain. I immediately felt this incredible pain and all I could see was the shredded finger from my glove, stuck in the chain.
I was very vocal in my expression of my pain and Dick asked what happened. I told him my finger got caught in the chain and that I seriously did not know if I still had my finger and that I did not want to look. Once the sting stopped and I calmed down, a quick glance down at my hand confirmed that yes indeed I still had all five fingers on my right hand. As Autumn said ” at least you will not be like grandpa Tolley” (missing fingers). I still had my finger, but it was not looking too healthy. I figured I needed to go visit a doctor, but it was the opening of muzzle loader season in the refuge areas and I did not want to miss it.
Dick asked how my finger was and I replied it hurt and it does not look good, but let’s patch it up as best as we can and go hunting. We managed to scrape together some gauze and duct tape, and bandaged the bleeding finger up. It is truly amazing what you can do with duct tape!
Muzzleloader hunting was not nearly as exciting as the finger episode, but it was a lot less painful. I ended up seeing three deer in the two hours I sat in the morning and Dick saw eight. Neither one of us fired a round; we were both waiting for a suitable shot and one never materialized for either one of us.
After about ten o’clock we made several drives and never moved a deer. All the drives we did do had already been pushed by other groups of hunters.
Observations:
This is the first time I had ever hunted this refuge area and I think I will do it again next year. I was very surprised by the amount of hunters that were out here. Unfortunately, ice up had not taken place yet and this allowed many more hunters to get out there than there would have been if we had ice instead of open water. There is no doubt deer were shot, but hopefully the hunters did not put too big of a hurt on the population.
12-4-2011 Sun
12-4-2011 Sun
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Weather: NW8, overcast, 31˚, 30.09 rising, and a dusting of snow cover (1153)
Location: Dick’s landlords farm, Genoa, WI
Bagged: nothing
Partners: Dick
Comments
It was the seventh day of muzzleloader season, but only the first time I had been out for it. We were hunting Dick’s landlord’s farm just north of Genoa, WI. There was just Dick and I and the plan was to do about four drives. One on one drives can be productive if you know the area and there are some pinch points where the deer have to go, but today we had neither going for us.
I was still excited to go. I love to see new country and the thrill of making deer drives is what keeps bringing me back to this type of hunting. The thing is you can usually push something past one of the standers, and if you are a driver you also have a chance to see deer and you also get to scout other areas out.
Today we did not see a deer, I am sure we moved a couple from the looks of the tracks we found in the freshly fallen snow. This country is steep, rugged and quite isolated, so you would think it would be a top notch deer area, but it is not! There are deer here, but they are not overly abundant. In fact, trails are non-existent. If it was not for all the rubs I saw, I would say the deer are really scarce. Dick blames the lack of deer on two things: The Amish shoot anything they see, and his landlord pastures a lot of the woods.
I may have not seen any deer but I had a good time and I saw plenty of squirrels and turkeys.
Observations:
Rubs were quite abundant, and there appears to be a healthy population of squirrels.
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Weather: NW8, overcast, 31˚, 30.09 rising, and a dusting of snow cover (1153)
Location: Dick’s landlords farm, Genoa, WI
Bagged: nothing
Partners: Dick
Comments
It was the seventh day of muzzleloader season, but only the first time I had been out for it. We were hunting Dick’s landlord’s farm just north of Genoa, WI. There was just Dick and I and the plan was to do about four drives. One on one drives can be productive if you know the area and there are some pinch points where the deer have to go, but today we had neither going for us.
I was still excited to go. I love to see new country and the thrill of making deer drives is what keeps bringing me back to this type of hunting. The thing is you can usually push something past one of the standers, and if you are a driver you also have a chance to see deer and you also get to scout other areas out.
Today we did not see a deer, I am sure we moved a couple from the looks of the tracks we found in the freshly fallen snow. This country is steep, rugged and quite isolated, so you would think it would be a top notch deer area, but it is not! There are deer here, but they are not overly abundant. In fact, trails are non-existent. If it was not for all the rubs I saw, I would say the deer are really scarce. Dick blames the lack of deer on two things: The Amish shoot anything they see, and his landlord pastures a lot of the woods.
I may have not seen any deer but I had a good time and I saw plenty of squirrels and turkeys.
Observations:
Rubs were quite abundant, and there appears to be a healthy population of squirrels.
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