Rob
02-14-2012, 06:15 PM
Before I post the report, thx to everyone who replied and/ or sent me a PM reference the conditions up there. Cheers
Arrived at the Provincial Campground boat launch by 8:30 (didn't try driving around the long way to take the trail into Snug Cove from the Seibert rd) and after seeing a huge ice heave that stretched from the North end of the lake almost to the South shore, we drove out.
There's a pretty warn down set of truck tracks (maybe 10 trucks worth) that we followed all the way to Snug Cove (yes, it was a long and slow journey) but eventually we made it to my spot by about 9:00, set-up (2 guys with 4 tip-ups) by 9:15.
I was set-up about 400m outside Snug Cove on the major weed bed/ sand bar (my go-to Fall hot spot) and the ice was easily 30+ inches of clean, clear ice - balls deep on the power auger!
We stayed in that spot for about 2hrs, and unfortunately were not rewarded as i had hoped - 4 flags, one puny pike. Pretty sad.
At 11:30 we made our way to the mouth of the large bay along the North shore, just to the West of Snug Cove, where I know of a nice rocky sand bar and deep weed bed - my second favourite spot for huge Northerns. We were set-up by 12:15 and we stayed until 2:30. Again, JUNK! 3 flags between us and one 3lb pike to show for it.
All in all, the weather was awesome, the ice was clear, thick and good for travel to just about anywhere on the lake, the snow cover was maybe 2inches of crusty snow BUT the fishing was "off." The fish that tripped the flags seemed to take the bait (6-8 inch Sardines) very slowly, move off just a bit (the tip-up barely spinning) and then drop the bait.
Regardless, I won't give up that easily because I know there are pike that push 30lbs in there - I'll figure it out eventually. Hopefully these tips will help someone get out there and have better luck than we did.
Cheers
Arrived at the Provincial Campground boat launch by 8:30 (didn't try driving around the long way to take the trail into Snug Cove from the Seibert rd) and after seeing a huge ice heave that stretched from the North end of the lake almost to the South shore, we drove out.
There's a pretty warn down set of truck tracks (maybe 10 trucks worth) that we followed all the way to Snug Cove (yes, it was a long and slow journey) but eventually we made it to my spot by about 9:00, set-up (2 guys with 4 tip-ups) by 9:15.
I was set-up about 400m outside Snug Cove on the major weed bed/ sand bar (my go-to Fall hot spot) and the ice was easily 30+ inches of clean, clear ice - balls deep on the power auger!
We stayed in that spot for about 2hrs, and unfortunately were not rewarded as i had hoped - 4 flags, one puny pike. Pretty sad.
At 11:30 we made our way to the mouth of the large bay along the North shore, just to the West of Snug Cove, where I know of a nice rocky sand bar and deep weed bed - my second favourite spot for huge Northerns. We were set-up by 12:15 and we stayed until 2:30. Again, JUNK! 3 flags between us and one 3lb pike to show for it.
All in all, the weather was awesome, the ice was clear, thick and good for travel to just about anywhere on the lake, the snow cover was maybe 2inches of crusty snow BUT the fishing was "off." The fish that tripped the flags seemed to take the bait (6-8 inch Sardines) very slowly, move off just a bit (the tip-up barely spinning) and then drop the bait.
Regardless, I won't give up that easily because I know there are pike that push 30lbs in there - I'll figure it out eventually. Hopefully these tips will help someone get out there and have better luck than we did.
Cheers