Under outstanding weather conditions (well, for January), we were ready to slay the fish Friday and Saturday out on Dunham Lake. I would begin to slay them once I got my ice fishing equipment all sorted out from the last time I fished; about a year ago. The petrified wax worm from '09 really molds to your hook pretty well and trying to tie a line while sitting on a bucket under a lamp can be a tough one. While the stars and half moon were quite a visual Friday night, the fish were nowhere to be seen over towards the north beach. Not even a nibble. It was still cool hanging with Al and Doke, getting the giggles about anything and everything.It was over to the northeast side on Saturday in hopes of getting that first fish of '10. Eric "Von Catchem" had probably the best first hour you could have. He jigged three panfish and pulled about an 18 inch smallmouth from his tip up hole. I managed to get on the board a little while after with a nice sunfish and a less than legal green fish.
Saturday was also the debut of Eric's new shanty, the Quickfish 3. I give it high marks. It is easy to put up, roomy (can fit 3 comfortably), stable, and packs away in a backpack-like bag. With the latter, you have it a little easier walking up Heart Attack Hill at Dunham than dragging something like my Clam shanty. I got the first fish in the new hut, one of the million rock bass that exist in the lake. We probably had about 12 fish total which wasn't too bad. We were hoping to catch or see the elusive cisco fish that are in the lake (cool visual when they swim by your hole) but no luck.
Two weeks until the Super Bowl fishing celebration. Come on out!
Trail Head
