12-25-2012 Tue 2:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Weather
(1453) N 14, 14 ˚ clear, 30.34 rising
Water:
4.72 steady, 10.5 kcfs, clear
Location:
Mississippi River Pool 7 (Lake Onalaska)
Caught:
2 – bluegills, 1 – crappie, 6 - perch
Partners:
none
Comments
I got out and did a little jig fishing on the lake today. It was Christmas day, and not much was going on. Autumn had slept most of the day away as she has done since she got home for Christmas break. We were having a turkey dinner with all the fixing, but I had the green light to go fishing for a while
Since I was not going for a long period of time, and I wanted to do some very quick exploring, I did not bring the boat nor the portable fish shack. I had my Otter sled, a few poles, my Marcum locator and an auger.
Once I hit the ice I took off running, or should I say sliding. With no snow cover on top the ice is rather slick. I by passed the traditional early season spot in front of Schaffer’s and made my way south to the lone island on the south end of the dredge holes. I marked very few fish and caught none until I got just south of the island on the south edge of the dredge hole.
This is the location where I did most of my fishing. The fishing was not fantastic, but I did have some perch action and a little crappie and bluegill action mixed in. The magical depth was around the ten foot mark. I did constantly mark fish, but when one came into view I was usually able to coax it into biting.
Observations:
The ice thickness is between three and four inches, and I would not be afraid to venture out and about with the four wheeler. There were not many fishermen today, and the ones that were fishing were scattered about.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
12-24-12 Mon
12-24-2012 Mon 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Weather
(1253) NW 13, 22 ˚ overcast, 30.01 rising
Water:
3.96 falling, 1.53 kcfs, clear
Location:
Black River Bottoms
Caught:
Three pike 26 – 28”
Partners:
none
Comments
It was a short tip – up fishing trip to Lytle’s. This was once a popular and productive ice fishing spot for both pike and pan fish, but the last couple of years it has been pretty much a dead fishery.
Things were different today. Although the fishing was not great, at least I did catch a few fish and had some action. I did peer through a lot of holes with the Marcum camera, but the only fish I did see was one dogfish. The one thing I did notice was the absence of weed growth.
Observations:
The ice was pretty good, but there were a few spots with some slush on top that made me a little nervous. It appeared that since the ice first formed to today, the water level had dropped considerably. Again, I definitely noticed that the weed growth was not nearly as apparent as in past years.
Weather
(1253) NW 13, 22 ˚ overcast, 30.01 rising
Water:
3.96 falling, 1.53 kcfs, clear
Location:
Black River Bottoms
Caught:
Three pike 26 – 28”
Partners:
none
Comments
It was a short tip – up fishing trip to Lytle’s. This was once a popular and productive ice fishing spot for both pike and pan fish, but the last couple of years it has been pretty much a dead fishery.
Things were different today. Although the fishing was not great, at least I did catch a few fish and had some action. I did peer through a lot of holes with the Marcum camera, but the only fish I did see was one dogfish. The one thing I did notice was the absence of weed growth.
Observations:
The ice was pretty good, but there were a few spots with some slush on top that made me a little nervous. It appeared that since the ice first formed to today, the water level had dropped considerably. Again, I definitely noticed that the weed growth was not nearly as apparent as in past years.
12-23-12 Sun
12-23-2012 Sun 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Weather
(1153) N 6, 21 ˚ partly cloudy, 30.08 falling
Water:
4.98 falling, 19.1 kcfs, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 – Goose Island
Caught:
Scott – One 20” pike, myself - nothing
Partners:
Scott
Comments
It was my first ice fishing trip of the season, and I was very disappointed with the outcome. The formation of ice has been very late this year and by all practical senses, today or yesterday was about the first day that a person could venture out onto the ice in a somewhat safe manner.
I targeted some of my older traditional back bay areas around Goose Island. The mode of transportation was by air boat, which was the only means to access a couple of the spots across the dangerously thin or non-existent ice of the more swift sloughs of the area.
As I stated earlier the fishing was pathetic. We only caught one small pike and I only saw one perch on the camera. On a good note, the air boat ran and handled beautifully on this seasons maiden voyage.
Observations:
The ice conditions were not great. The sheltered bays probably averaged about three inches of ice and the sloughs had none to about an inch.
Weather
(1153) N 6, 21 ˚ partly cloudy, 30.08 falling
Water:
4.98 falling, 19.1 kcfs, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 – Goose Island
Caught:
Scott – One 20” pike, myself - nothing
Partners:
Scott
Comments
It was my first ice fishing trip of the season, and I was very disappointed with the outcome. The formation of ice has been very late this year and by all practical senses, today or yesterday was about the first day that a person could venture out onto the ice in a somewhat safe manner.
I targeted some of my older traditional back bay areas around Goose Island. The mode of transportation was by air boat, which was the only means to access a couple of the spots across the dangerously thin or non-existent ice of the more swift sloughs of the area.
As I stated earlier the fishing was pathetic. We only caught one small pike and I only saw one perch on the camera. On a good note, the air boat ran and handled beautifully on this seasons maiden voyage.
Observations:
The ice conditions were not great. The sheltered bays probably averaged about three inches of ice and the sloughs had none to about an inch.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
12-19-12 Wed
12-19-2012 Wed 2:00 PM – 5:40 PM
Weather:
34 ˚ overcast, E 3
Water:
639.52 steady, 17.8 kcfs, 32 ˚, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 7 - Trempealeau
Caught:
Lots of saugers and a few walleyes most were very small, but I did catch a couple of decent saugers and a couple of walleyes that were under the size limit by a couple of inches.
Partners:
None
Comments
I really wanted to go tip up fishing today, but the ice is still very thin. I was walking on the ice at Lytle’s this morning, but there was only an inch or two at the most. I used my spud to judge the thickness of the ice and on almost every downward test stroke it easily penetrated through the ice and made it to the water below. The ice was not very thick but it seemed relatively strong and did not crack much from my weight. I probably would have chanced it, but the day time highs were going to be in the mid-thirties and I thought this might weaken the ice.
So anyway, I made the trek to Trempealeau in search of walleyes. I did catch quite a few fish, but the size was relatively small. I caught fish as deep as 50 feet and as shallow as 12. I caught fish pretty much everywhere, but the best fishing was after dark along the short wall in 12 to 20 feet of water.
Observations:
The conditions were perfect for fishing: no wind, very low flow, and clean and clear water. This may have been my last walleye trip for the winter. The weather is supposed to take a dramatic turn towards winter tonight. The weatherman has issued a blizzard warning with an expected accumulation of 8 – 12 inches of snow, and much colder temperatures on the back side of the storm. I am hopeful I will be ice fishing for the first time this year on Sunday December 23.
Weather:
34 ˚ overcast, E 3
Water:
639.52 steady, 17.8 kcfs, 32 ˚, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 7 - Trempealeau
Caught:
Lots of saugers and a few walleyes most were very small, but I did catch a couple of decent saugers and a couple of walleyes that were under the size limit by a couple of inches.
Partners:
None
Comments
I really wanted to go tip up fishing today, but the ice is still very thin. I was walking on the ice at Lytle’s this morning, but there was only an inch or two at the most. I used my spud to judge the thickness of the ice and on almost every downward test stroke it easily penetrated through the ice and made it to the water below. The ice was not very thick but it seemed relatively strong and did not crack much from my weight. I probably would have chanced it, but the day time highs were going to be in the mid-thirties and I thought this might weaken the ice.
So anyway, I made the trek to Trempealeau in search of walleyes. I did catch quite a few fish, but the size was relatively small. I caught fish as deep as 50 feet and as shallow as 12. I caught fish pretty much everywhere, but the best fishing was after dark along the short wall in 12 to 20 feet of water.
Observations:
The conditions were perfect for fishing: no wind, very low flow, and clean and clear water. This may have been my last walleye trip for the winter. The weather is supposed to take a dramatic turn towards winter tonight. The weatherman has issued a blizzard warning with an expected accumulation of 8 – 12 inches of snow, and much colder temperatures on the back side of the storm. I am hopeful I will be ice fishing for the first time this year on Sunday December 23.
12-16-12 Sun
12-16-2012 Sun 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Weather:
37 ˚ overcast, calm
Water:
620.63 steady, 13.3 kcfs, 32 ˚, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 7 - Genoa
Caught:
Lots of saugers and a few walleyes (50- 75), we kept 10 sauger and one walleye
Partners:
Scott
Comments
The fishing was very good today, we caught lots of fish, but decent size fish were rather scarce. I tried lots of different baits in hopes of finding the right combination to fool the larger fish, but my attempts were in vain. Most fish were caught in the 20 – 30 foot range, and most of our time was spent in the middle of the tail waters area.
I did have one very unusual catch that was my highlight of the day. I hooked a nice Fenwick pole and Okuma reel in about thirty feet of water and I played it expertly right into the boat. The rod and reel combination appeared to have been in the water for less than a month, and I plan to at least add the pole to my fishing arsenal.
We ended up running out of bait about two hours before we hung it up for the evening. After we no longer had the assistance of the bait to entice the fish, our catch rate took a dramatic nose dive.
Observations:
The river conditions were quite positive for fishing: the water was clear, the winds were light and there was not much current.
Weather:
37 ˚ overcast, calm
Water:
620.63 steady, 13.3 kcfs, 32 ˚, clear
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 7 - Genoa
Caught:
Lots of saugers and a few walleyes (50- 75), we kept 10 sauger and one walleye
Partners:
Scott
Comments
The fishing was very good today, we caught lots of fish, but decent size fish were rather scarce. I tried lots of different baits in hopes of finding the right combination to fool the larger fish, but my attempts were in vain. Most fish were caught in the 20 – 30 foot range, and most of our time was spent in the middle of the tail waters area.
I did have one very unusual catch that was my highlight of the day. I hooked a nice Fenwick pole and Okuma reel in about thirty feet of water and I played it expertly right into the boat. The rod and reel combination appeared to have been in the water for less than a month, and I plan to at least add the pole to my fishing arsenal.
We ended up running out of bait about two hours before we hung it up for the evening. After we no longer had the assistance of the bait to entice the fish, our catch rate took a dramatic nose dive.
Observations:
The river conditions were quite positive for fishing: the water was clear, the winds were light and there was not much current.
12-15-12 Sat
12-15-2012 Sat 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Weather:
42 ˚ foggy, calm
Water:
4.82 steady, 13.3 kcfs, 32 ˚
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 - Dresbach
Caught:
Approx. 6 small sauger, one 17” walleye (kept)
Partners:
None
Comments
It was a short trip over to Dresbach today. I did not catch a lot of fish, but I did not have a lot of time to find them either. The best action came after dark alongside the short wall. The action here was not fantastic, but I did have some action, and the sizes of the fish were decent. I did catch and keep the one nice walleye, but also lost several decent fish along the short wall. The action after dark took place in 10 – 15 feet of water.
Observations:
The river conditions were quite positive for fishing: the water was clear, the winds were light and there was not much current.
Weather:
42 ˚ foggy, calm
Water:
4.82 steady, 13.3 kcfs, 32 ˚
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 - Dresbach
Caught:
Approx. 6 small sauger, one 17” walleye (kept)
Partners:
None
Comments
It was a short trip over to Dresbach today. I did not catch a lot of fish, but I did not have a lot of time to find them either. The best action came after dark alongside the short wall. The action here was not fantastic, but I did have some action, and the sizes of the fish were decent. I did catch and keep the one nice walleye, but also lost several decent fish along the short wall. The action after dark took place in 10 – 15 feet of water.
Observations:
The river conditions were quite positive for fishing: the water was clear, the winds were light and there was not much current.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
12-2-12 Sun
12-2-2012 Sun 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Weather:
(0953) 43 ˚ cloudy, NW3, 30.00 steady
Water:
4.87 steady, 14.9 kcfs, 35 ˚
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 - Dresbach
Caught:
Scott – walleye 17” and Sauger 14”//Me – walleye 12 & 14”, sauger 14”, northern 20”
Partners:
Scott
Comments
It has been over a month since I was last on the water and since I had my fill of hunting it was time to get back into the fishing scene. In most past years I would have been ice fishing by this time, but it looks as if that season is at least another week off. Today I was fishing with a good friend and fellow angler below the Dresbach Dam. The fishing was very slow. We fished hard for almost five hours and caught three saugers, two walleyes and one northern. Three of the five fish were decent size. We used a variety of presentations and caught fish on ring worms, jigging raps and a jig dressed with Berkly Gulp. The magical depth seemed to be around that twenty foot range.
Observations:
The river is quite low and fairly clear, the weeds were not a hindrance to fishing today.
Weather:
(0953) 43 ˚ cloudy, NW3, 30.00 steady
Water:
4.87 steady, 14.9 kcfs, 35 ˚
Location:
Mississippi River, Pool 8 - Dresbach
Caught:
Scott – walleye 17” and Sauger 14”//Me – walleye 12 & 14”, sauger 14”, northern 20”
Partners:
Scott
Comments
It has been over a month since I was last on the water and since I had my fill of hunting it was time to get back into the fishing scene. In most past years I would have been ice fishing by this time, but it looks as if that season is at least another week off. Today I was fishing with a good friend and fellow angler below the Dresbach Dam. The fishing was very slow. We fished hard for almost five hours and caught three saugers, two walleyes and one northern. Three of the five fish were decent size. We used a variety of presentations and caught fish on ring worms, jigging raps and a jig dressed with Berkly Gulp. The magical depth seemed to be around that twenty foot range.
Observations:
The river is quite low and fairly clear, the weeds were not a hindrance to fishing today.
11-17 thru 11-21 & 11-23 thru 11-25-12
11-17thru 21 and 11-23 thru 11-25-2012
Weather:
Sat. nice high of 38˚, sun thru Wed warm with highs up to 50˚, Thursday thru Sunday very nice with 6” of snow on ground and highs in the upper twenties.
Location:
Moose Junction cabin
Bagged:
Mark (Jr.) - doe Saturday PM, Mark (grandpa) – doe Saturday AM, Me – 8 pt. buck Tue AM (on a drive) doe Sunday PM
Partners:
Jake T., Mark T (son), Mark T (Sr.), Donnie ( father in law).
Comments
It was deer season 2012 in the big woods of Douglas County and I was excited. From my previous bow hunting trip to the cabin a few weeks earlier I was not expecting a lot in the way of deer sightings, but I was still excited to be hunting the north woods. It’s hard to explain, but it just is a special type of hunting that I really enjoy. It is not the best deer hunting, but I don’t care I like the ability to go and do as I please on the ample amount of public land.
The first day was a complete bust for me, in fact I only saw one deer in the first five days of hunting and I shot that one. The first day I sat at a location I call the Otter Stand. I sat there the whole day, twenty feet up in the air and I never did see a deer. In fact all I saw was one black and one gray squirrel and a grouse. Mark Jr. and Mark Sr. each shot their deer on Saturday.
The next four days; Sunday through Wednesday was pretty much a bust for us, except for the nice buck I got on Tuesday. This buck was a result of a drive that the two Mark’s and Jake made to me and Donnie. It was the only deer that they moved and I just happened to be in the right location at the right time.
The only other real excitement we had the first five days was that Jake decided to hunt someone else’s stand that he thought they were not hunting. Well the guy that laid claim to the stand saw him in it and promptly came over to the stand and asked Jake to leave. The guy also made mention of the fact that someone had also hunted one of his stands last year and had shot a deer out of it. Of course it was Jake, but he played dumb! Jake did in fact shoot a deer out of the guys stand last year, then he wrote thank you in blood on an empty corn bag and stuck it on the guy’s tree he was hunting out of. I really get a chuckle out of that every time I think of it.
On Thursday morning we packed our gear and headed home, not knowing if we were going to come back again for the last few days of the season. Jake and I had discussed it and we both decided we would be back if in fact they got the snow up there on Thursday night as they were predicting.
A quick check of the weather on Friday morning confirmed that they had gotten at least two inches of snow that night and that sealed the deal. In fact when we got there the snow depth was probably closer to six inches (I was very excited). We got there and were unloaded late Friday afternoon and with about a half hour of day light left I was on the 4 wheeler across the road and heading south on a fast scouting mission. I actually could have shot a deer that afternoon if I would have carried my gun with me.
The snow made hunting wonderful. We were able to see what the deer were up to and where they were hanging out. I saw deer every day and was able to bag a doe on Sunday night with about one half of shooting time left in the 2012 gun deer season.
The deer season was an enjoyable one for me, I was able to bag two deer and I had a very good time. We ate some good food, which included grilled steaks, scalloped potatoes and ham, pork roast, moose chili, moose roast and the usual breakfast fare. I had a very good laugh with Jake and his dad. Jake’s dads 4 wheelers shifting lever had frozen up on Saturday evening and he could not get it into neutral. Mark and Jake looked for something to use as an ice chisel or spud but they could not find anything. Mark was getting a little frustrated and Jake really got to him when he picked up his dads Browning A Bolt and acted like he was going to use the barrel end as an ice chipper. I am still chuckling over that one, and I will remember it for a long time.
I did not deer hunt with my brother Dick at all this year, which was the first time in many years. It was different, I missed hunting with him, but on account of having so many dogs and having no one to take care of them he opted to stay home. I can’t say I missed the dogs being at camp, it was much more relaxing and easy without them.
Observations:
The weather this season went from extreme warm to six inches of snow on the ground. The deer population seemed low at the beginning of the season, but after the snow hit the ground it was apparent that more deer were around than I thought. The baiting of deer definitely has an impact on the deer locations and movements and I hope that someday the practice will be banned. But, until it is, I am going to join the baiting group just to be able to compete with the other hunters for the deer. It really is shame that baiting is allowed: It causes conflicts and poor hunting ethics.
Weather:
Sat. nice high of 38˚, sun thru Wed warm with highs up to 50˚, Thursday thru Sunday very nice with 6” of snow on ground and highs in the upper twenties.
Location:
Moose Junction cabin
Bagged:
Mark (Jr.) - doe Saturday PM, Mark (grandpa) – doe Saturday AM, Me – 8 pt. buck Tue AM (on a drive) doe Sunday PM
Partners:
Jake T., Mark T (son), Mark T (Sr.), Donnie ( father in law).
Comments
It was deer season 2012 in the big woods of Douglas County and I was excited. From my previous bow hunting trip to the cabin a few weeks earlier I was not expecting a lot in the way of deer sightings, but I was still excited to be hunting the north woods. It’s hard to explain, but it just is a special type of hunting that I really enjoy. It is not the best deer hunting, but I don’t care I like the ability to go and do as I please on the ample amount of public land.
The first day was a complete bust for me, in fact I only saw one deer in the first five days of hunting and I shot that one. The first day I sat at a location I call the Otter Stand. I sat there the whole day, twenty feet up in the air and I never did see a deer. In fact all I saw was one black and one gray squirrel and a grouse. Mark Jr. and Mark Sr. each shot their deer on Saturday.
The next four days; Sunday through Wednesday was pretty much a bust for us, except for the nice buck I got on Tuesday. This buck was a result of a drive that the two Mark’s and Jake made to me and Donnie. It was the only deer that they moved and I just happened to be in the right location at the right time.
The only other real excitement we had the first five days was that Jake decided to hunt someone else’s stand that he thought they were not hunting. Well the guy that laid claim to the stand saw him in it and promptly came over to the stand and asked Jake to leave. The guy also made mention of the fact that someone had also hunted one of his stands last year and had shot a deer out of it. Of course it was Jake, but he played dumb! Jake did in fact shoot a deer out of the guys stand last year, then he wrote thank you in blood on an empty corn bag and stuck it on the guy’s tree he was hunting out of. I really get a chuckle out of that every time I think of it.
On Thursday morning we packed our gear and headed home, not knowing if we were going to come back again for the last few days of the season. Jake and I had discussed it and we both decided we would be back if in fact they got the snow up there on Thursday night as they were predicting.
A quick check of the weather on Friday morning confirmed that they had gotten at least two inches of snow that night and that sealed the deal. In fact when we got there the snow depth was probably closer to six inches (I was very excited). We got there and were unloaded late Friday afternoon and with about a half hour of day light left I was on the 4 wheeler across the road and heading south on a fast scouting mission. I actually could have shot a deer that afternoon if I would have carried my gun with me.
The snow made hunting wonderful. We were able to see what the deer were up to and where they were hanging out. I saw deer every day and was able to bag a doe on Sunday night with about one half of shooting time left in the 2012 gun deer season.
The deer season was an enjoyable one for me, I was able to bag two deer and I had a very good time. We ate some good food, which included grilled steaks, scalloped potatoes and ham, pork roast, moose chili, moose roast and the usual breakfast fare. I had a very good laugh with Jake and his dad. Jake’s dads 4 wheelers shifting lever had frozen up on Saturday evening and he could not get it into neutral. Mark and Jake looked for something to use as an ice chisel or spud but they could not find anything. Mark was getting a little frustrated and Jake really got to him when he picked up his dads Browning A Bolt and acted like he was going to use the barrel end as an ice chipper. I am still chuckling over that one, and I will remember it for a long time.
I did not deer hunt with my brother Dick at all this year, which was the first time in many years. It was different, I missed hunting with him, but on account of having so many dogs and having no one to take care of them he opted to stay home. I can’t say I missed the dogs being at camp, it was much more relaxing and easy without them.
Observations:
The weather this season went from extreme warm to six inches of snow on the ground. The deer population seemed low at the beginning of the season, but after the snow hit the ground it was apparent that more deer were around than I thought. The baiting of deer definitely has an impact on the deer locations and movements and I hope that someday the practice will be banned. But, until it is, I am going to join the baiting group just to be able to compete with the other hunters for the deer. It really is shame that baiting is allowed: It causes conflicts and poor hunting ethics.
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