First Ice, First Fish!

[raffensg64]

I may have to drool with envy in the Spring while you guys are hammering fish, but at least I'm the first one with good ice! Definitely the first time I've ever ice fished on Halloween! My local lake, Polaris, has 4-6" of solid ice, due to our overnights lows in the single digits and daytime highs in the teens. I was a bit rusty though, only getting one good, fat 16" arctic char out of 5 takes. Most hits were of the "hit and run" variety, making hook sets near impossible. No problem...I've got like 6 months to figure em out!

[G-Man]

I'm guessing that you're not fishing in Washington State.

[raffensg64]

Not this year, G-Man......Alaska.

[Marc Martyn]

No envy here, Raff

[G-Man]

Well then, we'll expect to see some char, grayling and burbot pics in the near future! Good luck, keep warm and sharpen those hooks.

[Anglinarcher]

Well then, we'll expect to see some char, grayling and burbot pics in the near future! Good luck, keep warm and sharpen those hooks.

Ditto.

Enjoy it up there for all of us bound to the lower 48.

[Marc Martyn]

Wow, I just checked the current weather for Eielson AFB..........-2 degrees. Stay warm Raff.

[raffensg64]

Oh yeah, it's brutal, Marc. I've never experienced weather like this at this time of year, of course. We had all the vehicles winterized upon our arrival. Thankfully we have a heated 2-car garage but I'm having to "plug in" the third one! Honestly, as long as there is no moisture in the air and now wind, it's doable thus far. I can go out in a t-shit/zip up sweat shirt for several minutes. But as soon as a squall moves in with moist air and just a little wind, things change drastically! Anyways, hopefully I can soon provide some pics of spawning phase char. Grayling have headed out of the tribs into the big, deep rivers and I won't see them until next May.

[Marc Martyn]

I was looking at the base website and they had a picture of a young woman airman reading in front of a bank of "happy lights". Do you have yours?

[raffensg64]

Five of them, Marc. One in each bedroom, one at the dinner table, and a large therapy light right beside my recliner!!!

[Marc Martyn]

When summer comes around next year, come on down and we can spend 16 hours in the warm sun on Amber!!!!

[raffensg64]

I managed to talk my youngest boy into an ice fishing trip this weekend. Headed back to our local lake for a few hours. I set up the Eskimo shelter and heater for him so the cold wouldn't ruin the experience! We didn't throttle em, but the boy got first fish, most fish and biggest fish honors. It was a hoot watching him play and land these 15-18" arctic char on a light action jigging rod! These char are very colorful as they are in their spawning phase, which occurs during the winter and under ice. Man, that's hard living!