minnesota ice fishing

well i made it out on my birthday for opener of pike spearing, i seen 3 fish only got 1. the other 2 were bigger in the 10lb range but wouldn't come in the hole at all. they are real freaked out on how bright it is without any snow on the ice. even a bird flying over scared them off. here are a few pics of my ay out.
the first pic is of the fish i got only 3lbs but good eating.
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/1...rthern2zs3.jpg
the second pic is of the houses from shore, i need to get back behind the point you see in the pic to get the bigger ones, but it's been to windy.
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/1826/icehouseby6.jpg
the 3rd pic is of my decoy in 8 feet of water, if you look the water is real clear and can see the bottom.
http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7...inwaterhe6.jpg
hope you all enjoy.

What the heck:eek: Spearing pike?You need to tell more this sounds fun.I have never heard of it.Do they come up to the bottom of the hole close enough that you could use a bow?Now that would be fun.

Pike spearing is a major event in our area. Most of the lakes around here that have pike allow spearing. Yes they do come close enough to spear. I have seen them as close as just under the ice and as for down as thirty feet. We are usually in 10 - 16 feet of water with our decoy placed about five feet under the surface, depending on water clarity. We use live suckers on a pin as a decoy but a lot of people use wooden, hand painted decoys. Spears are solid steel with anywhere from 5 - 10 prongs about 1 - 2 1/2 inches apart and weighing 10 - 20 pounds. Just wait for them to stop in your hole and drop the spear on their back about two inches behind their head. If you are ever in the Northern Michigan area stop by Jays Sporting Goods in Clare and look me up. I would be glad to take someone on their first pike spearing adventure.

here are a few pics that i have.
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/70/nims32005qp1.jpg
http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1...lenpikeuh5.jpg
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/7...isdoug3vj6.jpg
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8...8decoysxd2.jpg
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/595...7decoysjz9.jpg
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/2...6decoysev5.jpg
hope you enjoy.

That sounds like a blast to do.Slabsrus i dont get up that way much but if i ever do during ice on i will take ya up on the offer thanks.:D
North star the pics were great thank you.

ah, good ol' Ice hunting. Biggest pike are out in the winter. Biggest northern I've caught on hook line is only 18#, I' have 5 fish over 20# spearing with the biggest being 29# Most of the Abandoned mine pits on Minnesota's Iron Range are loaded with big pike.

haven't been up there for a while, but i use to fish the mine pits by crosby-irorton area. lots of big fish up that way, twin lakes out on the kyuna iron range is awsume for spearing and crappies.

got these fish yesterday (12-08-06) was a good day but a little slow. the ice was banging away as soon as the temps hit about 35 yesterday, and with no snow on the ice the fish are real spooked for as bright as it is.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0611.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0610.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0609.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0608.jpg

i should add that this was in 8 feet of water, and you can see the bottom and how bright it is. even being ing the prime spot is slow, but when they come in they just slam the decoy. gives ya a little jump start to the heart when they do that.

was fishing for northerns, and the one northern that came in, was more interested in my underwater camera, since the camera is a big bluegill.

very nice pics north star, that has to be about the clearest water I have seen. keep those pics coming

i have no idea why i stopped here on the ICE fishing section because i live at the beach- MIKE !! hi buddy - i didnt know you came to crappie.com too !!

small world buddy boy !!

here are a few pics from yesterday, we really need some snow on the ice to get the fish out of the weeds more. it's so bright that they are spooked real easy.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0612.jpg
this is a pic of a friend of mine that is in his 70's that just couldn't wait to get out to my house and see what i was getting. the ice vary's from 10 inches to 5 inches and he's on 5 inches. and yes i chewed his arse out for it, the darn water was coming up in my hole. you can see the water forming under his car.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0613.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0614.jpg
i really stress that fishings not worth drowning over, please check ice before you go out.

I'd say he's jumping the gun a little.

it was 55 degrees yesterday, i could hear his car coming as soon as he drove on it, i am about a 1/2 mile from the landing. im glad know one else seen that or they would of drove out to.

That's crazy. His number sure wasn't up.

Bill

heres from today, man under the influence of cold meds, i just could not get a good shot. ended up useing 2 spears on both fish because i hit the wrong area. seen 5 threw at 5 got 2. first pic is of a 5lber, second pic is of a 4lber, the others were the same size.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0621.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...o/100_0620.jpg

Some nice pics. What is the deepest depth that you can still see bottom.

Those are awesome, looks like it could be fun, but I'll stick to my tipups and jig poles. :D

Nice pike! We are just waiting for the ice to thicken a bit before we get the chance at dropping a spear. Will not be long now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by crappiekid24

Some nice pics. What is the deepest depth that you can still see bottom.

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thats in 8 feet of water, but i checked a spot that was 20 feet and could still see the bottom. i dropped a quarter down the hole and could tell it was heads up.

That is very clear water!

Good-looking northern!
Here's my latest painting entitled “You Snooze, You Lose”, of an ice fishing sportsman nodding off (at the wrong time) because of his warm fire. If you enjoy looking at it, please let your friends know about this resource...
http://www.kennethdahl.com/art.php
Thanks
Ken D

Here are 2 more. You can see close up details of all at...
http://www.kennethdahl.com/art.php

The one with the Musky is called "Unexpected Guest"

Awesome artwork there kend!:D

Got anymore??

I am currently working on a piece with a man leaving the lake with a 40-pounder on a toboggan behind his 1964 snomobile. Its gonna be the best one so far, with the sun setting on a frozen lake with 4 dark houses and a log cabin. My goal is to have at least 8 more ice fishing paintings done next year this time. I plan to visit northern Minnesota this coming January/February for some more photo studies. Thanks 4 the comment. Ken D

kool pics

Here's my latest... Called "When Heaven Freezes Over"
http://www.kennethdahl.com/piece.php?id=39

very nice i love your work

JJ

Darkhouse Spearing Print of Fish Decoys (NEW)
http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/t...gHeroes747.jpg
More close-up details at KennethDahl.com