I went ice fishing today...

[DaveB]

I took the afternoon off, and loaded the Rover with the (brand new) ice auger, a shovel, a bucket, some worms, a fishing pole and some tackle, got into long johns and my big boots, not to mention about 12 layers on top, and proceeded to get stuck 30 feet out our back driveway into the coulee.

I lowered the air and barely got myself out of the nearly 2 feet of snow... much to my wife's humour...

So I loaded everything but the shovel and auger into the bucket, picked up the bucket and the auger and hiked the .8 km through the 2 foot deep untracked snow, with Oliver breaking trail most of the way. Oliver and I soon decided that this wasn't such a good idea, but since the fishpond was now in site, we kept on slogging, with Willow keeping up the tail, and Pamela safely (and smartly) back at home.

Finally, and rather out of breath, we got to the pond. It had about a foot of snow, 6 inches of slush, then about a foot thick of ice. Once cleared and augered, I remembered I hadn't brought a scoop, so off with the glove and in the water with the hand to clear the ice. then a worm on the line and the line in the water. It was about 9 feet to the bottom where we were. Flip the bucket upside down and wait... and wait... and wait... and its now 4:30 and getting dark. the 20 minutes of waiting seemed like several hours and no fish jumped on the line.

Getting dark now, so gotta go. Packed it all up and slogged out again, following our tracks. Going back up out of the coulee was a slow go. Hike 50 paces, then rest — not for me so much as for Willow. She wasn't worn out, she was digging for small critters under the snow.

Half hour later, back home, and huffing and sweating a good steam.

Seems a great way to get in shape, but I'm going to Superstore for trout next time. :wink: :wink:

Dave

[Rob]

Hmmm... maybe if you had a Unimog you could fit it with downriggers and go trolling like they did on the snowflake chase?

[John]

Sounds like Santa should have brought a pair of snow shoes.

[DaveB]

A Unimog would have definitely gotten in, but likely left more tracks getting out than the Rover did. But at least if it was Pete's we would have had a nice warm fishing shelter...

I looked at snow shoes in the store the other day. That would have made for a real expensive fish, as the average price for a good pair was over $100. I'll have to watch the flea markets.

Sure hope this snow melts for the first weekend in April or camping will be fun.

Dave