Beautiful fish, Randall Now, if only you can keep that rolling into January. A question....how many outings did it take you to ring up 10 fish?All signs point to a tough Jan. to Mar. "open" water stretch. I couldn't believe the amount of ice locking up the rivers this week.
Wow, looks like you had a great close to the year, I haven’t gotten out at all other than walking around the woods.
Thanks Jim, I believe I had 11 or 12 outings in about a 20 day stretch, I averaged about 1 a trip and skunks were uncommon. I was on the water just about every other day , short trips though, no more than 2 to 3 hours at a time or so. I had a streak going of 4 outings landing a salmon, including one day I landed 3 (one of them was very small, 13", I didn't take a picture). I had a similar successful year in 2015, except the fish were spread out over time more, this year, the window was much shorter due to the cold weather/snow and other "flow" factors. Unfortunately, I went out this past Tuesday after a break from fishing and didn't see any more salmon, not to say they aren't there but my guess is they've dispersed and have made their way downstream &/or into hiding. Water temps are already borderline 32*F/33*F. The bite was good right down until water temps dipped to 36*F or 37*F. In 2015, fishing was great right up until Christmas, even landed one the first week in January. Not going to happen this year. No complaints though.
Thanks for the details, Randall. You're still getting out a bunch! I've been out 3 times so far in Dec. for about the length of time you mention. I got 4 fish (all brookies) in the first 2 trips and not a bump on the 3rd. The lack of browns is troubling.Interesting you mention the Winter of 2015-2016! That was a dynamite open water season. I landed 58 trout/salmon between Jan-March in 2016. That was in just 10 outings. Averaging 6 a trip in the "dead" of winter. Crazy Water was under 32* at all spots this week.
have you seen the 10 Day forecast Jim? doesn't look promising for early winter open water, a lot of overnight lows in the negatives . I was debating one last 2017 open water outing for Christmas Eve but I probably won't have the motivation &/or time.
Thanks Chi, we should hit the ice sometime this winter, I want to fish that spot we met up (on the ice) last year, sooner than later.