Day 285 1-28-2010 Thr 80 to go

Day 285-80 to go
1-28-10 Thr
10:30AM-5:00PM

Weather: N9, clear, 6°, 30.52 falling (12:53PM)

Water conditions: 639.7' steady, 20.2kcfs, slightly cloudy, 20" ice (Pool 7)
5.08' steady, 24.8 kcfs, clear, 20" ice (Pool 8)

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 7- Lake Onalaska (weed flats)
Mississippi R, Pool 8 - French Slough

Caught

1. Bluegills (30) 4-8", orange ice jig
2. Pumpkin seed 7", orange ice jig
3. Large mouth bass 14", orange ice jig
4. Crappie 10", Lil Cecil

partners

None

Comments

What a day of fishing on my day off! I had planned on taking my airboat out to do a little exploring, but it was just too cold for a boat ride.
Plan two was to explore the weed flats of Lake Onalaska by truck. My exploration was a little unorthodox; I would drill a hole next to the drivers door, get back in the truck and lower the camera into the underwater world from the comfort of my truck. It took about ten holes and a half-mile distance to find what I was looking for: fish!
The fish were quite active, and I caught and released a good number of dandy size gills. If you look closely at the picture of the bluegill you can even see a bluegill in the camera. The aquatic world did not have just bluegills parading around below me. I saw a good number of bass and an occasional northern with an attitude. I actually had two different northerns repeatedly bump my fish camera with their mouths. I even snagged one by the fin, but with one powerful sweep of its tail it was gone and so was my jig!

Day 284 1-27-2010 Wed 81 to go

Day 284-81 to go
1-27-10 Wed
5:00PM-5:50PM

Weather: W14, mostly cloudy, 12°, 30.08 rising

Water conditions: 5.1' falling, 26.1kcfs, clear, 20" ice

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 7- Lake Onalaska (Half Way Creek)

Caught

1. Nothing

partners

None

Comments

Not much doing tonight! I had one up to the bottom of the hole but it came unbuttoned when it hit the ice.

Day 283 1-26-2010 Tue 82 to go

Day 283-82 to go
1-26-10 Tue
5:00PM-8:00PM

Weather: W17, cloudy, 8°, 30.00 rising

Water conditions: 5.13' falling, 27.7kcfs, clear, 10" ice

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 8- Dresbach Dam (Short Wall)

Caught

1. Sauger (6) 9-12", Jigging Rapala (kept 2)
2. Walleye 11", Jigging Rapala

Partners

None

Comments

I passed one of two tests today for work, so I am treating myself to a little longer fishing time.
With the recent warm weather and rain the open water gap between the dam and the ice has increased approximately one-hundred feet. If you look closely at the background of the picture you can see a sign and some lights from the dam. I am approximately 50 feet from the turbulent open water of the dam.
Fishing was difficult tonight. According to the marks on my locator I had some lookers, but not many takers. I tried many different colors but I was most successful with downsizing my lure size.

Day 282 1-25-2010 Mon 83 to go

Day 282-83 to go
1-25-10 Mon
5:00PM-5:45PM

Weather: WNW12, light snow, 23°, 29.34 steady

Water conditions: 5.15' falling, 28.8kcfs, clear, 20" ice

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 8- Dresbach Landing Bay

Caught

1. Perch 8", Lil Cecil

Partners

None

Comments

I was back looking for crappies in the Dresbach Bay. It was a short outing since I had lots of studying to do for my upcoming test in the morning. I am now confidently convinced that the crappie numbers are low and almost non-existant in this bay.

Day 281 1-24-2010 Sun 84 to go

Day 281-84 to go
1-24-10 Sun
4:15M-5:15PM

Weather: WSW10, cloudy, 34°, 29.24 rising

Water conditions: 5.11' rising, 26.6kcfs, clear, 20" ice

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 7- Lake Onalaska(Half-Way Creek)

Caught

1. Bluegills (6) 4-7", Lil Cecil
2. Crappie (4) 4-8", Lil Cecil

Partners

None

Comments

After a day away from the home waters I got back to Lake Onalaska this afternoon. I drilled lots of holes and caught some fish, but there just isn't much in the dredge holes. I think the winter fishing doldrums may be upon us!

Day 280 1-23-2010 Sat 85 to go

Day 280-85 to go
1-23-10 Sat
8:00AM-10:00AM

Weather: SE10, light snow, 27°, 29.75 steady

Water conditions: 7.04' steady, 15.1kcfs, clear, 20" ice

Location

Mississippi R, Pool 4- Nelson Dike (Pontoon Slough)

Caught

1. Bluegills (6) 4-8.5", Lil Cecil
2. Crappie (1) 8", Lil Cecil

Partners

None

Comments

I was out of town today, so I was fishing an area that I have never fished before. I did catch a few fish, but for the most part they were very negative. The fish were present: The underwater camera revealed that. In fact there were so many fish that it reminded me of one of those Winter slow globes that had been shaken.

Day 279 1-22-2010 Fri 86 to go

Day 279-86 to go
1-22-10 Fri
12:30PM-1:30PM

Weather: ESE9, cloudy, 25°, 29.95 falling

Water conditions: 4.88' steady, 15.9kcfs, clear, 20" ice

Location

Mississippi R, - Dresbach Dam landing bay

Caught

1. Perch (4) 9", Lil Cecil
2. Crappie (1) 10", Lil Cecil

Partners

None

Comments

I was looking for crappies this afternoon and I did not find them. I drilled a dozen holes and never found the mother lode.