How we spend our time

When it comes to fishing, I'm like most fathers on our website. The only thing I like more than catching big fish is when my daughter catches them instead!

As most of my friends know, one day during the week I try and do something special with my daughter. It gives my wife the opportunity to go off and do things without a "tag along" and it gives us the opportunity to be together and expierence things that other kids simply don't get the chance to do. Too often I see kids affixed to video games, TV's, and so on. I was not raised like that and try my best to ensure that my daughter isn't like that either. Looking back on some of my previous posts you will see that a majority of pictures contain my daughter.

Prior to her going out with me, I never took a camera. I fish by myself alot and simply never saw a need to bring one with me. Now, with the help of a camera phone, I am always assured I have mine with me. It is filled with photos of my daughter enjoying the outdoors.

I learned this summer that the State of Michigan purchased some privately owned farm land to put back in to state hunting and fishing opportunities. With the help of ariel photographs I was able to find out that this land contained a lake approx 80 Acres in size. This lake interconnected with a river chain and two other smaller lakes that I have previously fished.

Loading my ice sled with a popup shanty, flasher, two fishing rods, bait, and my daughter riding on top, I pushed off for what turned out to be a nearly 1 mile walk down an old farm lane and across an old alfalfa field. If I could have gone by way of the crow, it would be less than 1/2 a mile. Hitting this lake I was surprised to find that it contains many drop offs.

Although I was unable to get on a ton of fish, we did manage to catch 5 Crappies and 2 blue gills. It doesn't seem like much until you look at the overall size and health of these fish. Four of the Five Crappies were 10 inches long with the biggest being 12 inches. The Blue gills (although they appear small next to a crappie) were actually 8 3/4 inches (1/4 inch shy of the Michigan Master Angler award). This lake holds alot of promise and i cannot wait to explore it further. I was glad my daughter got to accompany me on the first trip to this lake. Wished we could have stayed longer than two hours, but it was a school night.

Attachment 115280Attachment 115281

I would also like to let everyone know to "BE CAREFULL". Although we have had favorable weather to produce ice, the ice is NOT responding in the south central like we would have thought.

As people may or may not be aware.... When ice begins to melt (as it did during last weeks warm up) it will melt from the outside in. The reason for this is the earths natural "R Factor". The ice closer to shore is subject to warmer ground tempuratures that radiate from it. As a result, the ice begins to melt from the outside in. This week we received cold weather that "Should" have produced ice. We then had several inches of lake effect snow that came down. This is where I pass on my knowledge to others.

When you look at the ice and you see snow out in the middle but no snow on the ice close to shore, there is a good reason for this and safety should be taken. The reason.... Imagine the ice melt happening last week. Open water close to shore, ice out from shore about 20 feet. The tempurature stays above freezing for several days and then begins to freeze again. With that, snow comes. As the snow is falling, it is accumulating out on the "floating" ice, but..... when it hits the water, it melts. That snow will not accumulate until an inch or so of ice begins to form.

Take a look at your local lakes and you will see this currently (in the lower Michigan area). I check the ice with a spud. Yesterday, the ice on several lakes I attempted was very very shotty. In fact, I walked out on one section and simply dropped my spud and it went through (yes I carry a spud). I know the ice would have been more than safe out where the "snow" was, but I was not going to chance getting to it.

I hope this helps people learn, know, and understand what it is that happens when the ice deteriorates and then reforms and "Why" the ice is less safe close to shore (especially after a warm up and cool down). Stay safe!

Great report and congrats on doing a good job

Nice goi'n Rich.

Nice fish Rich! I gotta remember to open the mouth to get that extra 1/8th an inch when I need it! rotfl

Darn, wish I would have thought of that with the gill! The Crappie was actually gulping air. My daughter loves it when we bring the fish home after they are on the ice. Especially when they do their magic and come back to life after thawing them. Heck, I'm still amazed myself.

On a good note: So I tell my daughter that her blue gill is less than 1/4in from being a master Angler. "What's that" she says. I said that each fish grows differently and the DNR rewards people for catching great representatives of each species..... "What's a master Angler Award". It is a piece of paper that becomes an "award" for catching a fish that few people get the opportunity to catch..... "I don't need an award to know I'm a good fisherman"....she says.... "I don't need an award to know I caught a good fish either"........ No you don't Abby!

Those are some very pretty looking fish!

Great report and your daughter is a very lucky girl to have a great dad

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

"I don't need an award to know I'm a good fisherman"....she says.... "I don't need an award to know I caught a good fish either"........ No you don't Abby!

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Did she get those smarts from you daddy? Ask her if I can quote her. :biggrin

Whit yes, smarts...god i hope not. She said you can use her words too. Fish dinner with home made cole slaw last night.

Snow plowing today and then i might just find some fishys