washington mid-day 12/13

[redrocketangler]

got up early this morning to fish a little before work and i should have stayed in bed. I went out to washington and fished mud bay and out from the north access, caught a few small sunfish and a wind burnt face i marked alot of fish but nothing wanted to bite and the ones that did i didnt even feel it. I tryed waxies, minnows, minnow heads, minnow tails, jigging, not jigging, bobber fishin nothing seemed to work. i did have a school of fish probably crappies come by in the middle of the water column by the north acces but again just lookin.

[MrSloppy]

hows the ice? i was thinking of heading out in an hour or so, but wanted to know if this warm weather had any effect on the already spotty ice. The wife is already yelling and telling me its not safe, but i trust you guys more with the real ice reports

[harvey lee]

I fished Washington with great success today.Started fishing about 1:30 and was back in the truck at 2:30 with a limit of sunfish and crappies.I went out of the north acces and fished in 10 fow.Drilled three holes and the third one was the ticket.Started with one green jig with no luck and then switched to a white ratso tipped with a half waxie and the catching began.I dont think you would to have even used anything on the hook as the wiggle of the tail on the ratso was good enough,as I only used 2 waxies for approx 35 fish.The ice was about 3.5 to 4 inches with some slop on top.All the sunfish were on the bottom and most of the crappies with a few suspended about 2-3 ft of the bottom.What seemed to work best was to drop the ratso to the bottom and then slowly jig it up about 6-10 inched of the bottom and then let it sit,as it took a little time for them to take it.Without a spring bobber I dont think I would have caught a one as they bit very,very light.

[minnowhead]

You the MAN harvey lee, way too go.

[redrocketangler]

harvey had to make me look bad huh...lol

i was using a 1/2 inch jigging spoon and i think that they wanted smaller today. if you would harvey which way do you go out from the north landing more right or left, did you run into that area of ice-water-ice layered,and was that you in the silver station wagon pullin in the parking lot when i was leavin.

are you right about the light bite i couldnt feel anything when i did ice a few fish.

i get my custom jigs and spins kits in the mail probably wed. cant wait to try those plastics under the ice.

[harvey lee]

Today I was approx 200 yards out straigt from the landing.I tried in shallower in the bay to the right in 6-8fow with no luck and then went south to the not so good looking ice and tried it there with no success.Then I went east another 75 feet so that you would be in a straight line with 3rd point and the landing about one third off the way to the point from shore.If you have some ratsos and or shrimpos they usually do well on Washington with the pannies.If one doesnt work and you have fish below,try the other or change color and dont be afraid to fish them with no bait or maybe a spike as the fish will tell you what they want.No,that was not me in the station wagon,as I driva a maroon and silver GMC.If the snow is not so heavy tonight or tommorrow,I should be back out there tommorrow.Also if you dont have a spring bobber on your pole-get one as they will make a huge difference with a light bite. Good Luck-Tom

[Guest]

Harvey Lee, I had a hunch that was you out there today. When you mentioned that you were from Arlington and that you fish this area quite a bit in our conversation, I had a strong feeling it was you. I was the guy in all black, with the trap, that talked to you and was fishing about 15 - 20 yards away. Next time we run into each other I’ll introduce myself.

I C&R'd a bunch of fish today. For every crappie I caught, I caught about four sunfish. I was out there from about 10:30 - 3:30. It was a long day of cold and strong winds with no heat in the portable, but I had enough action to stay warm. I may venture out there tomorrow for a couple hours if the snow isn’t too bad.

[redrocketangler]

Thanks for the deatil tom I appreciate that.

loebs that was me with no portable and the giant chisel about 50 yards from ya with all tan on ill look for your fish trap next time im out and stop by

[harvey lee]

loebs- I will probably be out in the same general area tommorrow around 1:30. If I see your house Ill stop by and talk some more.

[Browning83]

I had a successful day on Washington again. Ended up with a limit of sunnies pretty quick then waited til dark to see if I couldn't get a limit of crappies. Ended up with 8 but probably caught 15. Lite tackle was the key today....with that storm moving in they weren't attacking the bait hard today compaired to days past. The wind was something awful today...but luckly I had a trap to sit in. Harvey were you the one in the single man clam pullover? Well I have the grey/black silverado with decals in the back if you ever want to put a face to the name. Good luck. Rocket I'll be on the ice off and on over the week.

[redrocketangler]

me too, i drive a dark blu dodge reg cab short box and have as clam 5600

-AL

[harvey lee]

Browning 83- I was the (Contact US Regarding This Word) out there sitting in the open,didnt want to drag the house out.Got a little cold in the wind but lucky enough that I didnt have to stay long.I usually fish in a voyager around third point unless im in bakers bay or squirrel nest point.

[Team Otter]

Good information guys and glad to hear there are plenty of you connecting on the ice, both with the fish and each other. That's what it's all about.

[zepman]

Redrocket, That was me in the silver wagon at Washington this afternoon. No fishing just checking ice conditions on area lakes. There isn't a fish that swims in our waters that is worth it for me to get out on the kind of ice we have right now. I admire those of you who are out there and thanks for all the great posts. Be safe.

[Matt Johnson]

Gotta go small guys. I dropped down to a size 12 Marmooska the other day for the crappies and perch. Tipped with a single euro larva. They wouldn't touch larger baits. A spring bobber helped a lot too. Also think shallow, much shallower than normal too, like 3-4 feet even. Now with this snow cover we're going to see I would expect the shallow holding fish to become slightly more aggressive in the near future, however, I'd also expect the bite to move deeper relatively quick as well. Light penetration and oxygen is going to go bye-bye very quickly once we see a foot of snow on the ice But as long as we can keep those shallow waters booming with oxygen and life then we'll be ok, but it won't last long... those big fish will be moving out very soon if this weather keeps up...

[Guest]

I had good luck with Marmooska’s jigs yesterday as well. Size 14 hook with two spike larva make an irresistible meal for the fish in shallow water - bring the forceps though and be quick to set the hook. It sure is fun to haul up 10 - 10.5 inch crappie on a hook you can barely feel in the palm of your hand. It brings back the joys of fly-fishing.

[Guest]

With all this new snow out on the ice, I'm going to have to take a rain-check (or snow-check) on fishing today. When walking on the ice, before today, water would fluctuate with the weight of a body. Now with this wet snow I would guess it’s putting a significant amount pressure on the already thin ice...not today for me. Be careful out there.

[lindylittlejim]

harvey lee or anyone- if someone makes it out on washington today could you let us know how the ice is after this wet snow?? hopefully it wont hurt, but i have a bad feeling. Would like to get down there tomorrow or saturday, but who knows, thanks for any info!

[harvey lee]

lindylittlejim--I didnt go today as to much snow fell and work to do.I plan on tommorrow if the weather permits,will then let you know how things went and ice conditions.