Sylvan Lake Report

[Zip-in-Z]

Thought I would start A Sylvan Report tread & intend to keep it going over the ice fishing season!

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Zip-Z



Dec 15th - Beauty day, went for a ride & took the camera to see what the ice & snow conditions look like. The local paper says we got over 80 cm/31 in. since Nov. Started at the town site across from the old A&W, no parking lot, no skating rinks, no X-Mass tree just lots of snow and flood water & no one fishin here.

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Went over to Norglenwold - Sylvan Drive, two trucks were parked on the side of the entrance and no one was brave enough to try the 12-14" ruts with flood water at the lake shore, if you don't have an ATV or sled, plan to hike out like these guy's.


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[Zip-in-Z]

Sun was shining, it was melting, decided to check out the other end of the lake. There were 3 vehicles on the ice, most people walked out, guys said there was between 5" to 12" of solid ice and some flood water in area's. I walked out, took my rod, camera, caught 2 whites, lost one in hole & one came home for Mrs.



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I don't plan on driving out under these conditions, just not worth the risk for a fish. Cold front came in and I departed, hope you enjoyed the pic's.

Zip-Z

[Alberta Bigbore]

Congrats on that white. Those are some great pics. Hopefully it gets better as the season goes on.

[StrayArc]

It was an awesome day out there for sure! Thanks for the tips on the wire worms, As we pulled away my son said " oh shoot, i didn't even ask that nice man his name" haha.

[BPman]

I will be ( walking ) out off Norglenwold tomorrow and will report tomorrow evening unless I am otherwise busy treading water....

[SNAPFisher]

Experienced similar conditions on the South end of Gull near Aspen. My sentiments exactly, not worth the fish.

[fish_fan]

Thanks zip. I would have never known how to get there without your posts. If only people would advertise the rest of the fishing spots in alberta as well as you do. I will never understand why there arent more threads like yours. Glad that we can always count on you.

[David Henry]

Thanks for the helpfull update, I live 4 miles from the north end of Sylvan and was planning to get out on the ice during the Chrismas holiday. Conditions look dangerous for vehicals alLthough your pictures show some brave driver out there. D.H.

[.270fan]

Thanks zip. I would have never known how to get there without your posts. If only people would advertise the rest of the fishing spots in alberta as well as you do. I will never understand why there arent more threads like yours. Glad that we can always count on you.

Pretty sure that Ice fishing spots are no big secret...just look for all the tents and shacks. Unless Sylvan lake itself is the big secret...:thinking-006:

This is a very helpful thread in early ice season and I for one appreciate the effort the OP put in.

[binnzer32]

Not sure if fish fan is being sarcastic, if so pipe down and relax. Its public info.anyone could find access points.If not my apologies. I like zips posts. I fish Sylvan a bit and nice to know what your getting into before driving 1. 5 hrs

Thanks zip

[diamonddave]

Thanks zip. I would have never known how to get there without your posts. If only people would advertise the rest of the fishing spots in alberta as well as you do. I will never understand why there arent more threads like yours. Glad that we can always count on you.

LOL!! That's awsome!!
Have you ever been to gull or sylvan? There is a reason they both have locations refered to as shanty town...

Way to go Zip you let the best kept alberta secret out of the bag, now there will be 910 trucks and shacks out there instead of 905.

What were you thinking trying to be helpful and all, give your head a shake!!:snapoutofit:


Insert all the sarcastic icons you can find here....



Thanks Zip, Saved me gas and time, appreciate the info.

[JFK]

Thanks Zip great report:)

[briverb]

Thanks for the report. Crazy looking ruts out there for sure. Wow.

[fish_fan]

I was serious.

We need more threads that show albertas best fishing spots. Not that Sylvan is albertas best. Wab or gull probably beat it hands down. But we need more threads on How to get there, gps locations, records of fish caught, techniques for that site. Etc. Im kinda ****ed off that the top fishermen on this site, those with a real passion for the sport, guys like Wayne for example, dont provide this type of detailed information. It would sure help grow the sport.

Keep up the good work zip! :47b20s0::47b20s0:

[BPman]

Three of us walked onto the ice about 09:00 off Norglenwold: access through my buddy's yard. I began drilling a series of 5 holes in a line perpendicular to shore and starting about 100 yd offshore to target 8+ ft depths and on out to about 18'. So my local friend walks along with me to check ice thickness while the other clears the first hole and puts down a line with Wetaskiwin Spoon, what else? Before I have the 3rd hole drilled he has a white on the ice and by the time I finished the 5th hole he is releasing his 3rd white - geez. By noon, I still hadn't had a bite but between the other two we had 6 whites on the ice, had released or lost another 6 or 8 and had landed a 42" X 17" pike. After lunch we landed another 3 or 4 whites, lost several and released 3 walleyes - never changed lures all day. We quit at 4 PM. We also had 2 tip-ups rigged with big herrings but never had a sniff on either one. All fish came from 3 adjacent holes in 8' - 12' depths.
As for ice conditions, we were 100 - 150 yds offshore and there was a good 12 - 14" of hard blue ice with 2 - 3 " of slush then about 3" of snow on top where I drilled. If I had confidence it was the same all the way to the public access, I would have no hesitation to drive on, but... There was evidence of several quad tracks and snowmobile tracks where we were fishing - probably from last weekend by the way they were blown over. "...just the facts, M'am, just the facts."

[WayneChristie]

I was serious.

We need more threads that show albertas best fishing spots. Not that Sylvan is albertas best. Wab or gull probably beat it hands down. But we need more threads on How to get there, gps locations, records of fish caught, techniques for that site. Etc. Im kinda ****ed off that the top fishermen on this site, those with a real passion for the sport, guys like Wayne for example, dont provide this type of detailed information. It would sure help grow the sport.

Keep up the good work zip! :47b20s0::47b20s0:

I'll tell you whut Im a gunna do. you cover the 400 to 600 bucks a month I spend on gas looking for my spots and fishing them, and I will give you a location or two, so it can be decimated and fished out just like Clear lake and the PCR burbs, cause everyone was so upfront and eager to share them with the whole province via the interweb. sorry, no offence intended but thats just the way it is. everyone wants a handout. I learned from experience, and am still learning every time I hit the water. there are enough tips, locations and all sorts of other info on this site and the dozens of other websites about fishing that all you need to add is some footwork . All the time we hear people bitching and moaning about the ratio of anglers to fishable water, so when someone finds good fisheries and doesnt want to share them, can you blame them? and if that ****es you off, so be it. as for introducing /growing the sport, FYI I get more enjoyment out of handing off or helping a kid or even a grownup catch a fish for the first time, than I do catching them for myself. doesnt mean Im giving out or publishing my special spots. some of those were shared with me by friends who know I dont pass the info along for the masses to overrun. sorry for the rant OP, great job with your report, you will save lots of people from getting stuck or making a drive for nothing. and fish fan, I still dont think you were serious, and if you were, you need to rethink your thinking

[Richmuiz]

I'll tell you whut Im a gunna do. you cover the 400 to 600 bucks a month I spend on gas looking for my spots and fishing them, and I will give you a location or two, so it can be decimated and fished out just like Clear lake and the PCR burbs, cause everyone was so upfront and eager to share them with the whole province via the interweb. sorry, no offence intended but thats just the way it is. everyone wants a handout. I learned from experience, and am still learning every time I hit the water. there are enough tips, locations and all sorts of other info on this site and the dozens of other websites about fishing that all you need to add is some footwork . All the time we hear people bitching and moaning about the ratio of anglers to fishable water, so when someone finds good fisheries and doesnt want to share them, can you blame them? and if that ****es you off, so be it. as for introducing /growing the sport, FYI I get more enjoyment out of handing off or helping a kid or even a grownup catch a fish for the first time, than I do catching them for myself. doesnt mean Im giving out or publishing my special spots. some of those were shared with me by friends who know I dont pass the info along for the masses to overrun. sorry for the rant OP, great job with your report, you will save lots of people from getting stuck or making a drive for nothing. and fish fan, I still dont think you were serious, and if you were, you need to rethink your thinking

I totally agree with you Wayne I moved to alberta three years ago new nothing about the fishing here and got a fishing lake guide and started going to lakes figuring out what works and finding out how the fishing is I'm not going to sit at the computer waiting till someone says ok it's good to drive on the ice or this is how you access this lake I go figure it out my self make the drive put in time. It's so fusterating hearing guys ask how much ice there is go get up off your chair and find out why should other people have to do it for you

[BPman]

Wayne is absolutely correct. Many of us have spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours doing our homework and paying our dues so we can sometimes have better than average success. Those who ask for all this for free have no idea of what effort has been put into educating ourselves. A classic example is the guy who is new to hunting so he gets a knowledgeable buddy to take him to a favorite, secret pheasant cover then a week or two later the buddy finds the newby has been back with other friends and cleaned it out - or the newby who never reciprocates by inviting the "expert" to share a hunt at a cover he may have later found on his own. That's the reality for those of us who have been doing this for decades - we were all newbies once apon a time.

[Zip-in-Z]

I’m pleased to read that a number of members found my info & pic’s useful. The purpose of my first post was to provide fellow anglers with some idea of the snow & ice conditions on a number of the well known lake access points on Sylvan. Every year for the past 6 years I’ve see someone go through the ice and fortunately all have escaped death. This year we have some of the worst snow/ice conditions that I’ve seen, please use some caution and common sense before you drive out on the ice at this early time of the season, you don’t what to be the first to go through. Even the locals are staying off the lake & not hauling their shacks out, what message does that send!

For those of you who take exception to the contents herein or future info provided in this thread, keep your comments to yourself, enough said!

I don’t have a problem sharing information, techniques, what worked or didn’t work and perhaps this info will assist others on having a fun day fishin with friends and family. Yesterday, I was fortunate to meet StrayArc and his son who was about 4 years old. His son came over for a visit and we got to chatting and suddenly I almost had my rod pulled out of my hands, after I set the hook I gave the rod to the little guy and asked him to help me catch this fish, the drag set light and line was being spooled out, after a short time I seen it was a big White, perhaps 18-20” that just wouldn’t come up into the 10” hole. I pulled up on the 4lb line trying to get this fish into the hole and then the line snapped and it was gone! The little guy was so excited to have caught and fought that fish and not at all concerned that we lost it, for me it was a rewarding experience.

Today I planned to meet up with Bwackwabbit and try RR23, showed up at about 3:00 pm, no one was out on the ice, had the lake to myself. Walked out & took my portable shed, got my camera set up about 10 feet behind me, was in 5 fow. I normally cut two 10” holes side-by-side & fish 2 rods. This helps me eliminate non-productive presentations when their a foot apart and the fish are only interested in one for whatever the reason.

Tied on a red wire worm/red bead and a brown wire worm with beads. Caught my first White in 3 minutes or less which turned out to be the biggest, got 4 more within the hour. The brown wire worm caught 4 to 1 over red today. Had a few Walleye about 1 ½ - 2 lbs come for a visit and a couple small pike were bugging me, too! As well, a small Burbot about 3 lbs or so brushed by my camera, fun to watch. Had lots of activity around 5:00ish, but it was too hard to see my presentation and ended up spooking more whites until it was too dark to see.

Dark brown with gold glass bead worm worked for me today with 4 lb floro carbon line, tied so the worm sits vertical, the Whites just swam up and inhaled it no sniffin, bumping or turning at the last minute. I make my own worms & these are from the brown wire from Cat6e cable and components from Wholesale Sports. I have a vise but don’t use it for worms the forceps that clamp work great. It’s rewarding to catch fish on home grown creations, the investment is cheap, give it some consideration.

The slush from yesterday was semi frozen, however, there’s still flood water under the snow. We need more cold weather to improve the current conditions.

Full Moon over Sylvan .... more to follow !

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Zip-Z




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[Kyle]

I was serious.

We need more threads that show albertas best fishing spots. Not that Sylvan is albertas best. Wab or gull probably beat it hands down. But we need more threads on How to get there, gps locations, records of fish caught, techniques for that site. Etc. Im kinda ****ed off that the top fishermen on this site, those with a real passion for the sport, guys like Wayne for example, dont provide this type of detailed information. It would sure help grow the sport.

Keep up the good work zip! :47b20s0::47b20s0:

Why don't you get off your ***, fill up the truck and go learn what fishing is all about. If you had a real passion for the sport you would be out there trying to figure out where the hot bite is happening not mooching info off others. Not everything is handed to you on a silver platter...

[bobalong]

Why don't you get off your ***, fill up the truck and go learn what fishing is all about. If you had a real passion for the sport you would be out there trying to figure out where the hot bite is happening not mooching info off others. Not everything is handed to you on a silver platter...

LOL.......with you all the way on this one!

[Isopod]

Why don't you get off your ***, fill up the truck and go learn what fishing is all about. If you had a real passion for the sport you would be out there trying to figure out where the hot bite is happening not mooching info off others. Not everything is handed to you on a silver platter...

Humanity generally advances by working together and learning from others. Except on this board, where sharing is taboo, and mocking anyone who asks for help is standard practise. If you don't want to share info, that's okay, but please don't then post pics and statements about "look what I got but I won't ever share with you".

If you aren't willing to share, keep it all to yourself... your secret spots and your successes. My two cents.

[boomstick]

great report and pics zip , keep em comin lol. I,m takin my daughter and her friend there on Thursday for their first time , should be a blast . maybe we,ll see u there . I,ll have my camo hunting tent set up for the girls ,so if u see us drop by .

[deanstroyer]

i may be missing something, but it seems people are upset that others want to fish the same lake as you? like cmon the boat launch @ sylvan is not some super secret spot, im sure there is a better honey hole on that lake somewhere but your not fishing it. why ? because no one wants to go further than they have to. I could give someone all the gear they needed to fish and set them up in a very productive spot and watch them get skunked. you cant learn how to fish over the internet. most of the people looking for places to go most likely have kids and want to get them interested in the sport, and if the kids dont catch fish there is not much chance they will want to go again. its like people who have fished a lake for more years than others feel like they have more rights to that.

[diamonddave]

You guys gotta pay more attention, fish fan is being a troll. He lives in or around Sylvan Lake. Check out all his other btchn and whyning threads, whenever some posts a thread about a lake. Not sure why he comes on here if he doesn't want to learn something or contribute with information? Oh yeah to be a troll....

[Zip-in-Z]

Three of us walked onto the ice about 09:00 off Norglenwold: access through my buddy's yard. I began drilling a series of 5 holes in a line perpendicular to shore and starting about 100 yd offshore to target 8+ ft depths and on out to about 18'. So my local friend walks along with me to check ice thickness while the other clears the first hole and puts down a line with Wetaskiwin Spoon, what else? Before I have the 3rd hole drilled he has a white on the ice and by the time I finished the 5th hole he is releasing his 3rd white - geez. By noon, I still hadn't had a bite but between the other two we had 6 whites on the ice, had released or lost another 6 or 8 and had landed a 42" X 17" pike. After lunch we landed another 3 or 4 whites, lost several and released 3 walleyes - never changed lures all day. We quit at 4 PM. We also had 2 tip-ups rigged with big herrings but never had a sniff on either one. All fish came from 3 adjacent holes in 8' - 12' depths.
As for ice conditions, we were 100 - 150 yds offshore and there was a good 12 - 14" of hard blue ice with 2 - 3 " of slush then about 3" of snow on top where I drilled. If I had confidence it was the same all the way to the public access, I would have no hesitation to drive on, but... There was evidence of several quad tracks and snowmobile tracks where we were fishing - probably from last weekend by the way they were blown over. "...just the facts, M'am, just the facts."

BPman, great update & congrat's on your day. I drove back to the launch area just off Rustic Rd this afternoon to have a look, it appears one truck with monster tires drove to the edge of the ice seen the flood water and decided to turn around & took off, no one was fishing there today.

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Zip-Z

[Zip-in-Z]

The forecast was +5C, the “to-do-list” was put on hold, packed up my stuff and went for a drive. Stopped here to have a look at the lake access, it was cloudy & the pic’s don’t do the 18-20” ruts any justice. To get down or back up you need a Quad, Sled or a 4x4 Farm Tractor! From what I could see only one truck was on the ice and you could see the flood water in his tracks just off the shore line, I’m sure he needed a tow to get out. No one fishin out here yet!

Tried the same spot as yesterday on RR23, what a difference a day can make, seen a few Whites or the same one that just hung around until he got caught after 1.5 hours of staring down the hole. A small pike came for a sniff, but wasn’t interested in my offerings. Tried all my favorite worms, a number of small jigs and small spoons, this was the only worm that produced a skinny White that got released. The color in the Pic’s not great, it’s bronze/yellow. Packed up at 3:30 had enough.

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Zip-Z


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[K born]

i may be missing something, but it seems people are upset that others want to fish the same lake as you? like cmon the boat launch @ sylvan is not some super secret spot, im sure there is a better honey hole on that lake somewhere but your not fishing it. why ? because no one wants to go further than they have to. I could give someone all the gear they needed to fish and set them up in a very productive spot and watch them get skunked. you cant learn how to fish over the internet. most of the people looking for places to go most likely have kids and want to get them interested in the sport, and if the kids dont catch fish there is not much chance they will want to go again. its like people who have fished a lake for more years than others feel like they have more rights to that.



I agree! I have a young son who loves fishing!!! Especially when he is catching fish, no one wants to sit out on the ice and freeze there ***** off and then have a cranky disappointed kid that no longer wants to go out anymore! If you don't want to give advice, then don't! Don't whine and complain, cause I'm sure someone showed you a "special spot" or what lure to use, or give advice on how to catch fish! So passing on information is away to keep traditions going, and where I'm from that's more important than any honey hole! Food for thought! You don't have to give info if you don't want to, just like you don't have to take any advice given! But don't bitch just because someone is looking for a little help!

[K born]

So thank you to all who have given information on lakes, techniques, and just tips for better fishing!

[Zip-in-Z]

great report and pics zip , keep em comin lol. I,m takin my daughter and her friend there on Thursday for their first time , should be a blast . maybe we,ll see u there . I,ll have my camo hunting tent set up for the girls ,so if u see us drop by .


Tks for the feedback ... sent you a P.M., need a rain check!

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Zip-Z

[boomstick]

hey zip , is that the new candy cane wire worm for x-mas in the last pic that I,ve heard so much about on the news . lol. brown n white works good too

[ogre]

Thanks Zip-in-Z for the pictorial update on Sylvan conditions and successes, along with other contributors' input. I'd still wait a bit longer for the drive up to Sylvan. Maybe see if I'll be fortunate enough to meet you on the ice in the new year. Tight lines and stay safe, everyone.

[Gust]

I readjusted the contrast on one of the pics, to see what snow ruts will be out there,, with yeaterdays melty winds, and todays freeze and snow, it could be a day of digging and towing and more digging and less fishing.

[Zip-in-Z]

I readjusted the contrast on one of the pics, to see what snow ruts will be out there,, with yeaterdays melty winds, and todays freeze and snow, it could be a day of digging and towing and more digging and less fishing.

Hey Gust .... nice trick. Did the same with my favorite pic from the RR20 lake access road .... this is the right "Rut" the left was the same depth/width, you could of used them for shallow graves. Another A/O member reminded me that's there's a natural spring near this location so be careful.

Should also mention that the town or a contractor dropped off a very tiny Dozer (didn't think they made a D1) at the Main Beach lake access area across from the old A&W .... looks like someone will be busy moving snow & flood water over the next few days.

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Zip-Z

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[Zip-in-Z]

A/O has lots of followers ... the update made the local news.

http://issuu.com/blackpress/docs/i20131219064439459/13?e=1205826/6098930

The Sylvan "Take it Off" campaign/registration should be embraced across the province, it would be nice to see "0" shacks abandoned on Sylvan on April 01 2014! Great article Steve.

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Zip-Z


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[D.Archer]

I was out at the northwest end of the lake. I drilled holes about every 75 yards. It was 5 1/2 inches of clear hard ice and 5 1/2 of white ice. I stopped at 200 yards because it was 2 1/2 inches of clear hard ice and the rest was white ice. There was flood water and it looked like it had busted up and then froze again. I walked out to check this and don't recommend driving on that part of the lake.

[Zip-in-Z]

Participated at the A/O Fish-off at Brownlow’s yesterday, today it was back to Sylvan, seen the C/O’s at the town site main beach area doing his thing. Drove over to Norglenwold boat launch could see a number of guys out on the ice but only one brave soul drove on. There were a number of vehicles parked at the road access on the lake shore you couldn’t get past these guys, it was worst that at the shopping mall, decide to go back to RR23.

Lots of activity for a Monday, it was above freezing, there were 12-15 vehicles on the ice, so I decided to drive on and join the crowd. Guys were putting up their shacks and we had a small plane land next to us for a visit, ice was approx 14“ thick ( 12“ dark/ 2-3“ white). Found a spot that looked promising and got set up around noon. There were a lot of Whites hunting but not all that aggressive they appeared interested but it was an hour of trying different presentations that finally produced my first fish. Caught 3 Whites kept the largest and released the others; all three were on the same wire worm. One of my creations a #14 small hook in brass with brown glass bead had a small Walleye clamp down on a yellow Wire Worm with a red bead. I was shallow next to a weed bed with tall tube weeds in 5 FOW, I could see the fish moving back & forth, I finally matched something that looked appealing, my guess the minnows they were chasing see the pic’s. The White also had a number of Caddis larva, don't they look yummy? Didn’t see any Pike, Perch or Burbs today.

Bought a new chair for the shack, this one is worth recommending, it’s called a Directors Chair got it at Cabella’s & you sit much higher and don’t bend over as much staring into the hole, also like the side table, the other gadget is the remote camera tripod, I set it up about 10 ft behind my hole, the fish aren’t camera shy and you can pan the entire area when your board. Only con is when it’s super cold, you need to go out to break the ice in the hole, or put a 5 gal pail over it to prevent the hole from freezing.

Here’s a few pic’s from today .... enjoy!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z


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[Zip-in-Z]

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[Jughead]

Great to meet meet you today Zip. Your advice gave us the confidence(foolishness) to put the shack on the lake today. Keep the posts coming and stop by for a warm-up.

Jug

[1bluZebec]

Good stuff man great info and pics.

[wags]

Great information, and photos as well!

Would you be willing to educate what the stomach contents are there? Kinda looks like caterpillars, and possibly caterpillars still in their cocoon. I'm not sure they're those at all, just looks like. I didn't realize bugs still lived in the water during the winter, but I also don't know much.

Also some baby perch?

Thanks for posting.

Cheers,
Jay

[boomstick]

awesome report zip , thanks again . my plans went south so regrouping for a family trip on boxing day , hope to see you there . I,ll have the camo hunting tent set up .

[Bigtoad]

Great information, and photos as well!

Would you be willing to educate what the stomach contents are there? Kinda looks like caterpillars, and possibly caterpillars still in their cocoon.
Those are the caddis larvae that he was referring to. They make a case out of reed stems or debris and poke their heads and legs out and crawl around in the weeds.

I didn't realize bugs still lived in the water during the winter, but I also don't know much.
Insect larvae live in the water through the entire year. Dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, mayflies, caddis flies, mosquitos, chironomids... you name it.


Also some baby perch?
I'm not a minnow expert but I'm assuming a fat-head minnow of some kind...

Cheers.

[wags]

Those are the caddis larvae that he was referring to. They make a case out of reed stems or debris and poke their heads and legs out and crawl around in the weeds.


Insect larvae live in the water through the entire year. Dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, mayflies, caddis flies, mosquitos, chironomids... you name it.


I'm not a minnow expert but I'm assuming a fat-head minnow of some kind...

Cheers.

Thanks Bigtoad,

I missed the part where he mentioned the caddis. And interesting regarding all the bugs, thanks for the information!

Cheers

[Zip-in-Z]

Those are the caddis larvae that he was referring to. They make a case out of reed stems or debris and poke their heads and legs out and crawl around in the weeds.


Insect larvae live in the water through the entire year. Dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, mayflies, caddis flies, mosquitos, chironomids... you name it.


I'm not a minnow expert but I'm assuming a fat-head minnow of some kind...

Cheers.

Hey Bigtoad .... excellent explanation on the bugs, as well, I'm not sure about the minnows it had in it's gut ... Fat-head or perhaps Mud-minnow.

Pleased you enjoyed the pic's ....

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z

[mikebossy]

hey thats awesome, and great pics, guess i'll have to tie some up on inch long jigs, thanx for the text
not sure if you know this, so i'll add it, and hopefully it will be of help to many, the wireworm that has been THE whitefish bait of the last 40 years is an imitation designed to imitate chironomid larvae, otherwise known to flyfisherman as midge larvae, it was 'invented' by a young Edmontonian named Roger Sabourin, think around 1978(he invented it when he was a young adult, 18ish, and sadly died in a motorcycle accident a short time later, rip)(story acknowledgement to the late(?)Reg Denny here), to replicate easily the midges he found in wab lake whitefish stomachs from icefishing trips back then, brilliant simple imitation, the reason different colors can work so well is there are many different colors of midges in nature, more importantly though is because they are a midge imitation they should be fished on a horizontal plane, hook shank parallel to the bottom and the ice surface, thats when they look most natural and edible to fish , they rise and fall in the water column throughout the day, if a whitefish swims by/near your wireworm at a different level in the water column you can have a great chance of catching him by slowly dropping it to bottom then bringing it back up to the same level and/or higher than u saw the fish at, that still looks natural and i've caught many whitefish this way, have a Merry Christmas

[Gust]

the fry kinda look like tiny burbot, but burbot fry should have occurred much earlier. Put the pic on a "What's this?" thread on General Discussion and maybe some of the bio's who don't look at fishing forums might give their two cents.

[kinwahkly]

hey thats awesome, and great pics, guess i'll have to tie some up on inch long jigs, thanx for the text
not sure if you know this, so i'll add it, and hopefully it will be of help to many, the wireworm that has been THE whitefish bait of the last 40 years is an imitation designed to imitate chironomid larvae, otherwise known to flyfisherman as midge larvae, it was 'invented' by a young Edmontonian named Roger Sabourin, think around 1978(he invented it when he was a young adult, 18ish, and sadly died in a motorcycle accident a short time later, rip)(story acknowledgement to the late(?)Reg Denny here), to replicate easily the midges he found in wab lake whitefish stomachs from icefishing trips back then, brilliant simple imitation, the reason different colors can work so well is there are many different colors of midges in nature, more importantly though is because they are a midge imitation they should be fished on a horizontal plane, hook shank parallel to the bottom and the ice surface, thats when they look most natural and edible to fish , they rise and fall in the water column throughout the day, if a whitefish swims by/near your wireworm at a different level in the water column you can have a great chance of catching him by slowly dropping it to bottom then bringing it back up to the same level and/or higher than u saw the fish at, that still looks natural and i've caught many whitefish this way, have a Merry Christmas


X2 so true, it took me a while also to figure this out, most of my fish with the help of a flasher start with the wire worm on the bottom then a slow or jig motion up the water column as to where the fish are cruising, sometimes they take it on the fly and some times you have to hold it still and they will take a stab at it.

[wrenchmonkey]

I've been at rr23 5 days since it opened . Fishing has been good. I'm finding the whites are aggressive in about 4-5 feet of water for the first and last hour of light . Catching them mostly on yellow with orange bead wire worm as well as black and green wrap. Do well on the eyes from 10-3. Averaging 16-25 a day in 18 ft of water , dead sticking a minnow on the bottom.

[Zip-in-Z]

Most every business in town is closed today, however, the Norglenwold boat launch off Rustic Road is open, Santa must of been good to these guys/gals/kids ... Shanty Town has risen!

Merry X-Mass from Zip-Z

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Ho-Xo-Ho-Xo

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[Thundercatcher]

Is that on thé main street where thé beach is?

[bwackwabbit]

Is that on thé main street where thé beach is?

I'm gonna be fishin' Sylvan on Friday if you are around you are welcome to join and I can show you a few spots.

[Thundercatcher]

Cool, i was thinking of going there friday

[Zip-in-Z]

I'm gonna be fishin' Sylvan on Friday if you are around you are welcome to join and I can show you a few spots.

I'm planning on getting out as well ... while Mr Tom was in the pot this afternoon, had to sample some X-Mass cheer and wired up a few new Christmas color creations ... it's fun making your W/W's, however, it's even more rewarding catching Whites, Eyes and if you can find them in Sylvan, Perch on your home grown presentations. Can hardly wait to get these wet.

Turkey sandwiches for lunch for the next few days .... yum-yum!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z


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[bwackwabbit]

So wayne christie one of the most respected fishermen on this site is basically saying. Only a nut job would popularize his fishing spot.

To truly love fishing means you have a concern for the impact of your presence and acts related to fishing.

Thumbs down to zip man for his NEEDLESS AND SELFISH promotion of a fishing location. Thumbs up to his love of the sport.

Just so we are clear he is posting about a location that on warm weekends in winter has a population that rivals the town that bears the name of said lake.
If you hadn't noticed they are landing small aircraft at this spot so hardly a secret by anyone's definition.

I understand Wayne's position and respect his right to have an opinion. He has worked hard not to follow the beaten path...

Zip took pics of that path for you! Not one in the same at all.

[Zip-in-Z]

I imagine the malls were just nuts today, that’s if you could find a parking spot, all those bargain hunters looking to wear out their C.C.’s.

Today I was out on the ice at the crack of light; there were already two other groups on RR23 drilling holes and getting set up. Put the shed up, camera down had my W/W’s all tied up, all I had to do is clean out the hole & I’m set. I was still dark out; hard to see the bottom, let some line out closed the bail & bang, hello Mr. White. Got my 5 in an hour or so, after that it was C/R, had lots playing with me & missed a number of them, perhaps 14-15 fish before 11:00. See the pic of what hooks worked today.

The first hour was the best, after that more people started coming out and then it started to get a bit nuts out there. The Whites were moving around a lot but showed little interest, after trying a number of different presentations I pulled out a tiny dimpled brass Wetaskiwan and got a few to come over for a closer look, but they wouldn’t take it until I dropped the hook on the weeds and let it sit, then the White makes a U-turn & inhaled it. Got a few more using the same technique, they wouldn’t touch it unless it was lying down!

Fishin is like real estate, location-location-location, after talking to a few other guys around me they said they didn’t see many and only caught one White. Another fellow said he caught a small walleye; we were all in 5-8 FOW over weeds.

I decided to move to deeper water & away from the crowd, got set up in 15 FOW, seen some big Whites roaming around and a few decent Pike came for a visit, I didn’t have my Pike equipment so they lost interest & moved on, caught 3 small walleye and seen a few more moving around. A word of caution, I dragged my shack out to this location, there was flood water on the ice and that's only 9" of ice in the last pic with no white ice, I wouldn't recommend driving past these shacks.

On my way home I met fellow member Broomstick & his family, they were having a fun day and enjoying a Barbie, nice people!

A few pic's from today ..... enjoy!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z

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[wrenchmonkey]

Hey zip, I was out there today too. First one on the ice. Found the same as you lots of whites for the first hour in 4-5 ft. Did well on them. Once it got busy I moved deep 25 ft . Caught one pike, 13 walleye. Fun day. Thanks for your posts I enjoy them .

[maverick_8teen]

Takin the fam out to the cabin tomorrow, probably won't hit the water till sat am but if she can get off work early enough and were out there soon enough might just give it a go. Not sure I'm brave enough to drive on yet. Hoping it ain't too cold nor too slushy so I can take my youngest for his first time. It will also be my brother in laws first time fishing the hard water. Hoping for an all around good trip.

[Gust]

After seeing all those lime green grub from the guts of the other fish, I'm sure there's going to be a shortage of green wire and beads.

A bit off subject, but a pike we cleaned recently had a salads worth of weeds in its gut,, I'm sure they need roughage too.

[kinwahkly]

I also use the glass beads from Michael's.

[Kim473]

Wow, the ice is about 12" or so and so may trucks so close together.

[maverick_8teen]

Well here we are, north side of lake @ the cabin. Wasn't planning on getting on the ice today until i got a call, the wife was off work by 8am. With plenty to do figured might still get an hour or 2 or daylight and by the time we got here there was time in the day to put a lure in the wAter. Long story short the gas auger aint cooperating. Never got to run it last year, never even fired er up.

This weekend is the first go(this season). I can get it goin, after a few pulls and then some, but she won't run full throttle, maybe 80% @ best. Guess it's enough to drill a hole but worried she won't run tomorrow am. My brother in law and my nephew are coming for the first time out on the ice, don't need to disappoint. Well till tomorrow...

[Zip-in-Z]

Planned to meet up with member Bwackwabbit and a newbie to A/O who was looking for some new area to fish. Decided to go back to RR23, I was the first one on the ice today at the crack of light. Put up the shack, only ½” ice on yesterday’s holes, used the axe, dropped the camera down, fired up the propane heater and I was set. W/W’s went down, hard to see the bottom in the dark, expecting to see fish and nothing and more nothing. O.K. try the camera, looked around and there were 2-3 Whites just cruising, nothing like yesterday morning when the fish were very active during the first hour after sunrise. We got 4 Whites and decided to move to deeper water around 10:30. Yesterdays worm colors didn't produce, caught 3 on dark brown glass bead/black wire wrap, see pic.

We got set up close to where I was yesterday in 15 FOW on a sand/gravel weed area. There was 2 or more inched of flood water and approx 9” of dark ice. The newbie couldn’t make it, but Bwackwabbit’s fishin buddy Bill came along and out fished the two of us. Bill caught more Walleye & Pike on small smelts that both of us combined, as well he lost more than either of us caught ... talk about frustrating! Took a pic of Bill, perhaps you know him?

See the grey truck in the pic, he was 100 paces from us, also on 9" of ice, guess that can hold a truck, went he left the ice was cracking and the water in my hole was moving ... scarey!

About 2:30ish the cold front came in the wind picked up and the fog moved in, the temp dropped 10 degrees, it was 3:30 time to go, it was miserable & the fish disappeared.

Here's a few pic's from today ... enjoy!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z


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[BPman]

After a really slow morning at Gull, arrived at the east end of Sylvan about noon and tried to drive NW to our spot off Norglenwold. Got about 400 yds NW from the existing shacks and almost got stuck in the snow/slush so with tails between our legs did a wide U turn and got off the lake ASAP.

Hit our usual spot about a mile from there around 1 PM and drilled in 7' - 14' depths for whites. No action deeper than 10' but 8' was the honey hole depth for us. Before the fog and snow/wind storm hit at 3 PM and we packed up a few minutes later, my partner and I landed 8 whites, lost 7 more and released 4 walleyes so a good afternoon. Couldn't buy any interest on my herring tip-up for pike...

In the interest of being helpful, I will say all we used were Wetaskiwin spoons, brass, copper and flour chartreuse - our usual colors. Pound bottom a few times then hold still 2 - 4" above bottom until the lure stops moving. They usually grab it as it rises off the bottom or once it stops. Good luck.

I hope to spend New Years Eve out there christening my new shack... what beter way to end a year and/or start the new year!

I really enjoy the whole AO forum so am wishing all the contributors a safe and successful New Year!

[Zip-in-Z]

After a really slow morning at Gull, arrived at the east end of Sylvan about noon and tried to drive NW to our spot off Norglenwold. Got about 400 yds NW from the existing shacks and almost got stuck in the snow/slush so with tails between our legs did a wide U turn and got off the lake ASAP.

Hit our usual spot about a mile from there around 1 PM and drilled in 7' - 14' depths for whites. No action deeper than 10' but 8' was the honey hole depth for us. Before the fog and snow/wind storm hit at 3 PM and we packed up a few minutes later, my partner and I landed 8 whites, lost 7 more and released 4 walleyes so a good afternoon. Couldn't buy any interest on my herring tip-up for pike...

In the interest of being helpful, I will say all we used were Wetaskiwin spoons, brass, copper and flour chartreuse - our usual colors. Pound bottom a few times then hold still 2 - 4" above bottom until the lure stops moving. They usually grab it as it rises off the bottom or once it stops. Good luck.

I hope to spend New Years Eve out there christening my new shack... what beter way to end a year and/or start the new year!

I really enjoy the whole AO forum so am wishing all the contributors a safe and successful New Year!



Great Report .... BPman, keep those hooks sharp & all the best in 2014!

Today (Dec 28th) I noticed 2 trucks on the ice across from the old A&W just past the area where the skating rinks were last year. Didn't see anyone fishin, perhaps they were just stuck in the slush & snow.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Zip-Z

[rocpilefsj]

Planning on heading out early tomorrow am, see if I can't nail me a few whitefish. Have never fished sylvan lake before, can't wait. Got my jigs and some maggots and if the whitefish aren't biting I will see what I can catch on my trusty tip up. Thanks for all the info fellas, this thread is great!

[BPman]

Yo Zip:
Best regards to you too. Watch for "The Green Hornet": c'est moi!

[Zip-in-Z]

Went out after lunch, decided to give Norglenwold a try, got to the access road just of Rustic Rd and this is what welcomed me. Decided to walk out and spoke to a young fellow who was hauling his gear back to his truck. He said he caught 1 White but should have got more, they weren’t all that active. He was a bit concerned getting back out, the ruts were deep and his truck was light. I tried to enhance the pic of my hat, the ruts were 12-14 inches deep and most vehicles were dragging bottom getting to the ice.

Changed my plans .... off to RR23, there were a number of vehicles out on the ice; the access road was beat up but nothing serious. Drove out to the general area I was fishin over the past few days, got set up, put the camera down and no fish hanging around. Put on a flashy Wetaskiwin and after ½ hour a white finally came into my hole to have a look, it wasn’t interested in my W/W’s so I tried my Caddis tube house creation, that got him excited, it was swimming in circles trying to pick up the presentation off the bottom, thought it had inhaled it, set the hook & missed, that was the only fish I seen over the next hour and half, got skunked today!

Packed up at 3:45 it was snowing, windy & flat light, you could barely see the vehicle tracks to get through the drifts, stepped on it and finally got to the road, noticed some serious flood water just off the access area, it wasn't there when I arrived nor last week, stopped to check it out & took a few pic’s, this area is deep & dangerous, wouldn’t want to be stuck in there overnight.

Anyone going out in the morning, as soon as you get on to the ice make a sharp right turn, don’t do straight or left towards Palm Bay, otherwise you may be in trouble.

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Zip-Z

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[maverick_8teen]

Well as far as the trip went it's wasn't anything worth bragging about. Didn't get out till late am, the auger didn't preform well and didn't catch anything. Seen a nice size pike swimming around but didn't like what my brother had to offer and left before He could change it up. That said there's about 12 inches of good ice. I was the first brave soul to drive out on but didn't want to go to far, ended up walking the rest of the way. Few hours later someone pulled out on the ice with his shack...guess I would have been fine driving on.

P.s. Trying to add a pic. We were only in about 5FOW in that pic. It won't let me add more, have to play around to see how to.

P.s.s we did move the tent to about 12FOW which is where we saw the pike.

[Zip-in-Z]

For those who live in town, wasn't that an awesome fireworks display last night ? To bad the contractor slept in and got started a 1/2 hour late! Nevertheless, it's the New Year, decided to get out for a few hours this afternoon, -1C, some sun and very few people fishin, as well a slow day the guys next to me had a few small Whites they caught in the morning using yellow & orange power bait on a W/W & jig and departed about 2:00ish.

Got set up in a different area in 4 FOW over 16” of dark/white ice, sat there for over an hour before Jake the Snake came to have a look at what was thumpin the bottom, it wasn't pots nor pans just my brass bell! Got rid of him and started to see a few Whites, all small but they kept me staring down the hole, finally got one about 3:30, the pip-squeak went back, had a few more hanging around but not at all interested in any thing I had dangling down the hole. It was getting close to Happy Hour, time to go home & have a rum & coke!

There’s still some serious flood water just off the lake access area on RR23, one guy went around and got stuck in the deep snow, his kid tried pulling him out using the sled, that didn’t work, he had some help from a passerby. Others were hauling out their shacks, kids were laughing & having fun, after 38 years of workin, I finally found a job that's fun .... guess that's what retirement is all about!

Some pic’s from today ... enjoy!

More snow & freezing rain in the forecast .... time to start thinkin about a trip to Cancun!

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Zip-Z

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080470_zps0dd21494.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080472_zps8a617a6e.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080468_zps23ad3e35.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080475_zpsbc1f76d8.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080476_zpse1e1a734.jpg

Doug Ford rescues Rob Ford ... a TO. thing, it could be worst, if ?

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080478_zpscc666161.jpg

That's 16" of ice & say "She sells sea-shells on the sea-shore in 4 FOW x 3.


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080484_zps512063c3.jpg

Herring bone's in the sky ... more snow on the way!

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080485_zps8d2f37d1.jpg



Happy New Year .... to all A/O members, tight lines & sharp hooks in 2014!





.

[1bluZebec]

Nice pics love the fords.

[Zip-in-Z]

Nice pics love the fords.


Yup ... the tow strap broke after one last pull and flew back, lucky the hook didn't hit the kid or go through the windshield!

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Zip-Z

[BPman]

Set up our new shack over 8 FOW Tuesday afternoon and saw no fish in the last hour or so. New Years Day fishing was slow - we saw only one walleye but caught 4 whites in 12' depth so will be moving out to deeper water next trip. Still too much slush along the east end for trucks to get around. Even snowmobiles and quads were bogging down some places west from the Sylvan Lake town site public access point.

[Zip-in-Z]

Set up our new shack over 8 FOW Tuesday afternoon and saw no fish in the last hour or so. New Years Day fishing was slow - we saw only one walleye but caught 4 whites in 12' depth so will be moving out to deeper water next trip. Still too much slush along the east end for trucks to get around. Even snowmobiles and quads were bogging down some places west from the Sylvan Lake town site public access point.

Hey BPman ... just wondering about ice thickness were you're anchored ?

Hopefully the flood water will be frozen over in the next few days .... -32C with the wind should help .... stay warm !

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Zip-Z

[laker taker2]

We were out there as per the last report. It was our kids making all the racket.....great day. Got 2 small walleye on tip ups with 6" smelts! Hungry buggers! Saw 7 white fish on the camera but I have no idea how to catch them. They paid no interest in the small offerings I used. No sign of any pike at all.

[lakerman]

Good thing I had snowshoes to stay on top of all the flood water saw a few trucks playing in the slop and not walking around bring your rubbers.Fish were not cooperative 3 whites and a walleye the whites were around not in large numbers as in the past, all released. The highway around leduc is sheer ice, and down to one lane, the flipped over trucks should give you an idea slow down!:angry3:

[BPman]

Hey BPman ... just wondering about ice thickness were you're anchored ?

Hopefully the flood water will be frozen over in the next few days .... -32C with the wind should help .... stay warm !

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Zip-Z

We were about a mile NW from the public access and there was a ood 12" of hard ice such that I would not hesitate to drive on it if the slush under the snow didn't reduce traction so badly. Yes - we need a really hard freeze before traction will improve. We saw a couple of trucks that looked like they might have been stuck.

[Gust]

Where does the flooding seep up from,, or is it just melt of the snow from the snow?

[Zip-in-Z]

Where does the flooding seep up from,, or is it just melt of the snow from the snow?


I believe this question has been asked previously .... there are a few good answers herein, you may recall this thread.

"What causes flood ice ?" .... http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=75091&highlight=flood+ice%3F


http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=75091&highlight=flood+ice%3F


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Zip-Z

[Gust]

I believe this question has been asked previously .... there are a few good answers herein, you may recall this thread.

"What causes flood ice ?" .... http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=75091&highlight=flood+ice%3F


http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=75091&highlight=flood+ice%3F


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Zip-Z

I actually posted on that thread but I had never witnessed REALLY bad flood water till last year,, and now parts of that thread make more sense.

[Zip-in-Z]

Last time out my electronics were tired and packed it in before I was ready to go, I bought my last battery in 2009 for my Marcum, did a quick search and found "The Battery Doctors" in Red Deer, dropped in and spoke to Earl today, he was most helpful and sold me a better quality battery than I previously had and gave me a discount for buying two. I'm recommending him/his business if you need a battery.

All powered up & ready to get back on the ice, forecast looks promising over the next few days ... I'm thinkin it's time to go exploring to some new/old spots .... more to follow.

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Zip-Z

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080551_zps2b95550a.jpg

[Survivorman]

Error

[Zip-in-Z]

Got out for a few hours, back to RR23, the lake access is bumpy but O.K., the ice road is beat down, on occasion I was scraping the bottom of my SUV, wouldn't want to break a new trail, you could see guys who went off the main track where in deep snow, slush and signs of being stuck. It was a nice sunny morning, but only 5-6 vehicles out and fishin was slow. Caught 2 small Whites, in 6 FOW, both released, one was less than 10", could of used it for Pike bait, his partner wasn't much bigger, dark W/W with glass beads.

Decided to move deeper found a nice gravel sand weed area with lots of small clam shells, great looking spot, sat there for 2 1/2 hours and caught 2 small pike that went back. Seen a small Walleye, but wasn't interested, a few big Whites were hanging around but never stopped for a moment to have a look at anything I had down the hole.

The ice at this area was weird, 10" dark then 4" water then 3" of solid white ice = 17". I imagine if your truck broke through the 3-4" of white ice you would be spending the night or getting someone with a winch to get you out ... see the pic's.

Packed it up and decided to see what Norglenwold - Rustic Road look like, there were a few trucks out, deep snow, if this is your tent it needs fixin and if you ventured off the main path here you would be stuck like the Dodge.

Would be nice to have that Deere 870 operator clear a bit further than the end of the road. It's going to be a tough year, you can't get to some of your honey holes unless you have a sled or quad, having a permanent shack this year will also be a challenge getting out to.

A few pic's from today .....


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Zip-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080570_zpsedadb9e0.jpg

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[TylerThomson]

best answer I have found for dealing with flood water is chains. took my wife's jeep through 6 inches off site and 10 inches off flood water with a set best money I have ever spent and the jeep it's a stock Cherokee diesel.

thanks for the great thread and pictures never fished that area before our for whites either. would love to learn how one day.

[DiehardFishingMan]

Thank you for your update. I really enjoyed your post

[BPman]

Spent today on Sylvan @ Norglenwold. No more ice than last week but the slush seemed worse. No truck or quad tracks and only one snowmobile track from a few days ago. Some places there was 4" of water over top of the hole and other places the ice was 2" above the water so very variable over short distances. Really hard walking in the deep stuff. No wind and mild so a nice day on the ice but fishing was slow: 3 anglers for 5 whites and a few got off the hooks. Best action was in 10'ft depth.
Still beats staying home and doing chores... can always do them "tomorrow".

[Zip-in-Z]

Went out to Norglenwold for a few hours, there was only one other group out, the access road off Rustic/Sylvan Drive is beat up and of course ruts, once you get on to the lake you can at least drive to the were the shacks are beyond that was pretty deep snow with flood water & frozen ruts.
Found my spot that was good last year, 6 FOW on top weed bed that drops off to 15 FOW , got set up on the drop in 12 FOW over sand/weed bottom.

This area looked real promising, put the camera down and could see some Whites moving from deep to shallow, there was one that was huge, never seen a White that big in Sylvan. Tried everything, no action in 1.5 hrs, decided to move up the drop to 6 FOW, and dropped my brass W/W dark bead, got a small White & it went back, sat there for the next hour and nothing. Dragged my shack back to deeper water, those big Whites were still teasing me but not interested, had enough.

My Marcum 825C was working fine until I moved and dropped the camera back down turned it on and all I got is the “Blue Screen of Death” tried a few different things but still no picture, need to call Marcum, have any of you experienced similar problems ?

I had a chat with the other guys out, they caught 1 small Walleye in 8 FOW, that’s all, when I was packing it up at 3:30 a few more guys drove on with big trucks and then two young guys with a small car made it on to the lake, then came out the shovel, they barely made it back up the road scraping bottom all the way, interesting to watch.

Some pic’s ....

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Zip-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080584_zpsf7c235b1.jpg

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http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080586_zpsb9be1b47.jpg

[Zip-in-Z]

Went back out to RR23 today with member Bwackwabbit, some guys appeared to stay out over night in their trailer, we were the first out at the crack of light, what a beautiful morning, no wind, no snow & the sun came and so did the people. We got set up away from the crowd in 12 FOW over a weed/sand/gravel area and were seeing lots of fish, (Whites, Pike, Walleye & a Perch, no Burb’s) but none all that interested in our offerings.

Bwackwabbit’s small silver jigging spoon finally got a few Whites excited and we started to hook a few, as well as some small Walleye and Pike. Then my dark W/W and the Brass W/W with dark bead got a few more Whites to commit, unfortunately, we both lost more than we iced today. The Walleye today were more interested in picking up a dead smelt than taking a jig & minnow, the Pike didn’t like either, nor a big fat stinky hearing, don’t understand why.

By 3:30 the wind started to howl, a storm was coming so we departed, while we were driving out it was near white out conditions, the ice road is one lane & will be difficult to travel for those going out tomorrow. Kept two Whites for the Mrs for dinner had a good day fishin.

Some pics to share .... are you in the crowd ?


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Zip-Z



http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080597_zpsaebe1563.jpg

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http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080603_zpscbc4add8.jpg

Norglenwold Today .... just as crazy as RR23

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080605_zpsa13badb8.jpg

[Gslice]

lol sorry for the roadblock

[Zip-in-Z]

lol sorry for the roadblock

Hi Gslice .... How was you day fishin ? Trust you made it home safe & sound, the roads were terrible.

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Zip-Z

[Gslice]

Fished from noon to 3:30. I caught 13 whites, saw a big burbot and had 2 walleye bites (missed 1). My 2 other buddies caught 3 whites and the other caught 1. good bites throughout the day in 10FOW. When the hurricane arrived, it didnt seem to have much of an impact on bites. But the 80km/h wind was blowing all my things away so we decided to call it. We were north from the boat launch, so no wind protection from the trees ;)

Road conditions when leaving was terrible. High wind and low visibility. Not sure how much snowfall accumulated, but if I were to guess, I would say its still drivable.

[huntnhooks]

loving the pics of your hook creations. thanks. ill give back when i can.

[Zip-in-Z]

Fished from noon to 3:30. I caught 13 whites, saw a big burbot and had 2 walleye bites (missed 1). My 2 other buddies caught 3 whites and the other caught 1. good bites throughout the day in 10FOW. When the hurricane arrived, it didnt seem to have much of an impact on bites. But the 80km/h wind was blowing all my things away so we decided to call it. We were north from the boat launch, so no wind protection from the trees ;)

Road conditions when leaving was terrible. High wind and low visibility. Not sure how much snowfall accumulated, but if I were to guess, I would say its still drivable.

Hi Gslice .... we noticed you & your crew were close to our location & then moving all over the lake, I've had a lot of success being mobile & hunting fish in the shallows, too. Well done, the next time I see you out there, I'll stop by & say Hi!

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Z-Z

[Chukman]

Great lake to ice fish on. All my buddies want to visit in the winter, some during the upcoming free fishing weekend. So take a kid fishing and get 'em hooked for life.

[Zip-in-Z]

loving the pics of your hook creations. thanks. ill give back when i can.

Tks ... for the feedback, I have a number of "go-to" W/W's & other hook presentations that I use during the course of the day. I fish 2 rods 24" apart in my portable, on occasion I've caught Whites on a W/W dead line when I'm tying on a new W/W, after a while I've narrowed down what works for me at Sylvan. Lately the brass with dark bead or the dark black with 2 dark beads (as per the pics in this thread) have attracted more interest & bites than my other colors at any time during the day. I made these from components (beads/wire) I purchased from Michael's the art supply store & hooks from any fishing store. Saturday my hooks must of been dull as I lost a number of Whites & one nice Walleye just under the ice trying to get them in the hole.

Member bwackwabbit gave me a few of his custom W/W to try out, his are a bit different than mine, so once I have the opportunity to conduct some field trials this coming week, I may have a few new creations to share and of course with include pic's, too.

Huntnhooks .... look forward to your future post.

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Z-Z

[Zip-in-Z]

We got about 4 inches of heavy wet snow this morning, around noon it stopped & the sun came out, it was melting a bit & then the wind came up, instant white out conditions. I was planning to try Norglenwold again on Tuesday, that drop off area and see if those big Whites would be interested in some new W/W creations. Drove out around 4:30 to see what the access road looked like, the wind had calmed down and the road didn’t appear to bad at the entrance so I proceeded forward, there were tracks/ruts from a truck that were blown in a bit so I thought “I can do this”, that was a big mistake, my GMC SUV got hung up before I even got to the ice. I tried shoveling myself out but the combination of warm weather and soft snow with no traction defeated me. I was wet, tired, mad at myself and beat up and finally called for help.

Richard from Richlen Towing in Sylvan (403 -887-5932) came out in 15 minutes, cost me $60.00 which was more than fair & reasonable for his effort to rescue me and I finally got home around 6:00 pm, the Mrs. was happy to see me.

Richard's outstanding service was greatly appreciated, I recommend you keep his name & number handy in the event you need some help while out & about in Sylvan.

I don’t plan on breaking any new trails in the morning.... Beware if you’re the first out tomorrow!

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Z-Z

[1bluZebec]

Feels nice catching a fish on a hook that you have made or tied. I'm still working with mine that I've made to see which ones work best. I do one hook in multiple sizes aswell. So far I've had my best luck on the copper with oily blue bead. The perch will eat it up too. I've caught them on quite a few different colors and combinations.

[Zip-in-Z]

Stayed off the lake today after yesterday's beating, my tail between my legs, I decided to go out to see if anyone got on to the ice at Norglenwold this afternoon.

Took these at 2:30 I could see three different areas on the rut road that people took out their shovels. I'm wondering if Sidekick got out on his own or needed help .... have a look. The snow was soft and deep, everyone was dragging bottom, getting out would be a challenge, to say the least.

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Z-Z

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080613_zps84881eb7.jpg

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[briverb]

Thanks for posting pics of the conditions. Great indicator to ensure I have my come-along, tow straps and shovels. Hahahaha.

Keep 'em comin'. :)

[BPman]

Got some bad news this morning. My buddy at Norglenwold and I built our ice fishing shack in early December and put it out Dec 31 about 100 yds in front of his house. Got 2 days of fishing in it. This morning it was really windy there with gusts estimated at close to 60 mph. At 07:30 it was okay and 15 minutes later he looked out and it was gone..... the wind picked it up and rolled it down the lake so now smashed to bits. By the marks in the snow it was airborne a few times for a hundred feet or so. Apparently even the individual plywood sheets are broken, as are the 4' X 6" skids. On the positive side, nobody was in it at the time! Apparently we might be able to salvage the door and window for souvenirs.
We caught only one fish in the shack during it's 15 day life span on the ice - darn!
Can't even make good firewood from the scraps.
Might have made for a cool video....

Oh well - back to the tent for the rest of this season.

[BPman]

Open message to the whitefish at Sylvan Lake: "... I'll be back..."

[Zip-in-Z]

Got some bad news this morning. My buddy at Norglenwold and I built our ice fishing shack in early December and put it out Dec 31 about 100 yds in front of his house. Got 2 days of fishing in it. This morning it was really windy there with gusts estimated at close to 60 mph. At 07:30 it was okay and 15 minutes later he looked out and it was gone..... the wind picked it up and rolled it down the lake so now smashed to bits. By the marks in the snow it was airborne a few times for a hundred feet or so. Apparently even the individual plywood sheets are broken, as are the 4' X 6" skids. On the positive side, nobody was in it at the time! Apparently we might be able to salvage the door and window for souvenirs.
We caught only one fish in the shack during it's 15 day life span on the ice - darn!
Can't even make good firewood from the scraps.
Might have made for a cool video....

Oh well - back to the tent for the rest of this season.


Hey BPman .... some report, I stayed home today, was sippin my morning coffee, the spruce tree's were shakin, the wind was howling, the I heard this major crash-boom-bang .... all the snow on the Sylvan Lake G&CC club house roof came tumbling down just like an avalanche we lost 3 sections of our condo fence. That was some major wind we had today, on a positive note, the snow has significantly melted and it may be easier getting around on the ice again.

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Z-Z

[BPman]

Regardless, I will be back there this weekend but it should be warm enough to sit outside, which is my preference anyway. Bad habits die hard.
At least the G&CC roof didn't collapse from all the snow!

[Bernie420]

Slow afternoon in palm today. Two small (average for sylvan) walleye and no other fish seen. In about 5-7 fow. Anyone else have luck or was it just a slow day?

[Zip-in-Z]

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get out and post any updates nor pic's due to a recent death in the family, traveling to Wpg for a funeral ... very sad, wish there was a sad face that would be appropriate under the circumstances, give your Mom a hug & tell her you love her, and make her smile while you still can ...... life's to short!

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Z-Z

[BPman]

My buddy and I spent about 2 hours each day last Friday and Saturday late afternoons off Norglenwold but not much action as we got only one white and lost 2. Slush seemed to be firming up a bit but still marginal for anything other than snowmobiles.

Returned yesterday for the whole day but fairly slow with 2 walleyes and one white released and 4 whites catch and cook. Highlight was a pike of about 18 lb after going more than 2 weeks without a take on the big herring setup. There seems to be a trend toward deeoer water over the past 2 weeks or so: our whites are now coming from about 12' depth and the pike from 18'. We saw only a few fish pass under the tent hole, over 12' depth.

Good news is the slush seems to have firmed up a lot as the snow has settled and no longer insulates the slush from freezing. Water wasn't coming up through the holes either so no longer contributing to creating more slush. Should be drivable by next week and maybe even this weekend - but I won't be the first to try it, regardless... Good luck.

[Zip-in-Z]

Got back from WPG, weather was brutal, -43C with the wind chill, no place like home. Went out to Dickson trout pond yesterday with the guys, caught a few Rainbows and enjoyed the day. This morning they said it was going to be windy & cold, not even close, got out to RR23 around 10:30, very little to no wind, -12C and a big bright blue sky, the sun kept my shed nice & warm.

There was really no one out fishin this morning; I was the 3rd vehicle on the ice. There was 23” to drill through (16” dark & 7” white), got set up in 5 FOW, over a sand weed area that I fished before, seen a few Whites and one Pike that wanted my dark W/W, but got blanked today! Departed about 1:30 there were 9 groups on the ice when I left, that tells me it's been slow.

A few more guys were hauling out their shacks & others were moving them around. The snow has basically vanished, the surface slush was frozen, the lake access road was in good shape. I imagine you’ll start to see a number of guys heading out to new areas over the next few days.

Stopped at Norglenwold, it looked like a diagonal parking lot with a number of vehicles fishin down the sand/weed shelf, perhaps the Burbs are doing their thing & the Whites aren’t far behind, something to check out next week.

Some pic's from today ....

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Z-Z

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080677_zpsef14a2f2.jpg

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Norglenwold area .....

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http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080689_zps7663f8a0.jpg

[Zip-in-Z]

Got my to-do-list completed & went out at 2:30 this afternoon, came across Big Foot who was injured & off his footing, dragged him back & covered up the owners gear, tied him back down, hope he stays put & the owner appreciates my rescue efforts! Wish the owner had his name & number on the outside of his tent, it would of made it easy to reunited them.

I GPS'd a spot I had some success earlier this month, no more slush or flood water, it's all frozen, there was about 8" of white ice & 15" or more of dark ice. Had a few nice Whites suspended and almost motionless, reminded me of Lake Trout just hanging in the distance watching. The sun was going down, the fish activity picked up, had a small Pike bugging me, then a few small Walleyes came into camera range & kept going, around 5:00ish the Whites moved in, caught one on a brass W/W and at the same time the other one inhaled my tiny jig/minnow head .... got me a double, iced one lost the other just under the ice. Had a few more Whites come in for a look but kept going, so that's when I called it & packed up.

The ice was burping, belching, cracking & making all kinds of strange noises, a sign of cold weather and stress cracks, that normally helps increase ice thickness. Car said it was -22, when I was departing, the ice was shivering, too!

A few pic's from today ...

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif


Z-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080706_zpsed05bfeb.jpg
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080707_zps7af0226a.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080712_zps8cd7d22e.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080714_zpse0c28734.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080713_zps7ec32bbe.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080710_zps7bdd6701.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080716_zps0f9b9485.jpg

[Zip-in-Z]

Hola Amigos ... practicing my Spanish ... off to Cancun tomorrow for 3 weeks.

Cerveza .... esperar ... dos cervezas, por favor ... abrazos & besos !

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Adios Amigos ... volver en tres semanas !


Z-Z


.

[bwackwabbit]

buena suerte y líneas apretadas!

Amigo!

[briverb]

Have not made it out there this year yet. Finally going tomorrow with the pooch. I am assuming after that cold snap, it should be fine to drive on at most places?? Driving on at RR20 as usual. How are the ruts?

Bringing the tacoma.

Truck and dog have been dying to get back out on the ice. :)

If you see a short guy through a red ring to his dog, pop by with your pooch. She is 15 months old and loves people and dogs.

[Zip-in-Z]

After 3 weeks in Mexico, it was nice to get back out on the ice again.

Was on Gull on Saturday, seen lots, caught a few Perch but no monsters so Bwackwabbit & I decided to try RR23 today. What a beauty day, sunny, +8C, we started in 5 fow moved to 18 fow and didn’t see many fish so we decided to try a bit deeper on the sand bar north/west of all the shacks. Drilled a test hole, dropped the camera down in about 20 fow and had a Burb attach it. Drilled a few more in the area, more Burbs surrounded the camera. Got set up and we couldn’t believe it we were on top of a sand gravel hump with a huge numbers of Burbs doing their mating ritual thing followed by too many Whites to count, include a few Walleye and a couple of Pike, it was fun to watch. Unfortunately, very few were interested in taking a hook, pieces of minnows/smelts got a few to commit, but the show was amazing! I took a few pics of the Marcum, Bwackwabbit said he took a video from his camera and would post it later. Lake access is great in comparison to Norglenwold.

Plan to go back later in the week to try this area once again, enjoy the pic’s.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z



http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090036_zpsf64da6a2.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090027_zpse39538ad.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090021_zpscafbce53.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090016_zps1dcec9a8.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090025_zpsdc3f68e3.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090028_zpsf3967b1d.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090034_zpsa582e6cc.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090003_zps10ad00a4.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090006_zps1a1f6e20.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090007_zpsc40b6f34.jpg

[bwackwabbit]

Fun day for sure!
Beat the heck outta the Skunk @ Gull on Saturday...

Looked for fish for a day and a half and then "We Found 'Em!"

http://youtu.be/i1U_XHm8UUw

http://youtu.be/GjtQTHezCac

[Zip-in-Z]

Bwackwabbit ... that Burb video is amazing ... it's X-Rated Burb Porn!

The Whites in the second video aren't camera shy when it come to Burb treats!

Well done, I'm impressed .....

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z

[bwackwabbit]

Thanks Zip! For the comment and a great weekend.

The FishPhone is proving to be my best purchase this season.

[Fishhunter]

Awesome just gives ya buck fever doesn't it. Thanks

[Rabdo]

wow bwackwabbit, those are 2 amazing videos!! thanks for sharing

[Zip-in-Z]

Went out to Norglenwold in the late afternoon, what a beauty day, sunny +9 C, very little wind & no one was ice fishin, decided to try a spot I GPS'd out on the open lake that I found with a sand/gravel bottom next with a weed bed in 21 fow & did very well last ice season. Drilled a test hole, was quite surprised to find 24“ from the bottom of the hole to the water with 1.5” of flood water, WTF! Got set up about 3:00 pm and stayed for a couple hours, managed to catch 3 small walleye, had a few Whites come for a visit but not all that interested, had Mr Pike show up, about 5-6 lbs with a big belly, hung around for a while but couldn’t convince him to take a jig & minnow. Packed up around 5:30, there were a few trucks out when I was leaving and lots of puddles near the lake access, tomorrow’s another day.

Here’s a few pic’s from today, enjoy!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090061_zps2b4873c7.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090063_zps098d593f.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090064_zps60df6079.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090068_zps792f1478.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090070_zpsbecc1324.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090076_zps2d52217b.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090079_zps378da2ed.jpg

[Gslice]

Fun day for sure!
Beat the heck outta the Skunk @ Gull on Saturday...

Looked for fish for a day and a half and then "We Found 'Em!"

http://youtu.be/i1U_XHm8UUw

http://youtu.be/GjtQTHezCac

what's the underwater camera you use and how do you like it in terms of battery life?

[bwackwabbit]

what's the underwater camera you use and how do you like it in terms of battery life?

I use a Vexilar FishPhone and love everything about it.
I usually fish full days and have never gone below 1/2 battery life yet.

[Zip-in-Z]

Went back out to RR23 with Bwackwabbit to see if the Burbs were still in doing their spawning thing, we got to watch the sunrise & were quite surprised to see all the people on the ice. Got set up and we weren’t disappointed, lots of Burbs stacked up & the Whites were all over them. Fishing was good until about 11:00 then it slowly declined as well, the people started to depart. Bwackwabbit was super lucky today, his last Burb got twisted around his camera cable, however, he still managed to get in on the ice. Then he watched his rod & real go down the hole so he goes out to his camera remove starts pulling up the cable, one of the trebles on the lure caught the camera head so he was able to pull up his outfit, unbelievable! Check out the yellow color of his lucky fish. We hung around hoping things would pick up in the late afternoon/evening, but that didn’t happen. Lots of guys hauled off their shacks, overall it was beauty day, we caught some fish, had some fun and enjoyed the warm weather.

Some pic's ....

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090081_zps52047ce2.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090082_zpsceb68d21.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090080_zpsdf3a9680.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090086_zpsbc800097.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090095_zps6aaa463d.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090097_zps21e870cf.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090098_zps2b87fe90.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090099_zpsf0f424aa.jpg

[Isopod]

Was also at Sylvan on March 15. Shocked how crowded in the morning, then people thinned out starting around lunchtime, and by late afternoon it was pretty empty. My buddy landed a whitefish late-morning (released), then we saw lots of fish but not many showing interest, until I got a burbot on a tip-up in late afternoon (released of course). After 5 pm there was a bit of a run, with my buddy catching a nice pike on a tip-up (released), and me catching two whites on wireworms (kept).

[bwackwabbit]

It was a beautiful day for sure!

The rod and reel that went down the hole was a St. Croix/ Frabill inline combo worth about $120 w/line and lure! When I pulled up the camera to find the one hook from a treble on my lucky FOD, I almost dropped to my knees...lol.

Got called in to work a night shift after that and no one believed my story I'm sure...lol.

[iliketrout]

Zip/Bwackwabbit,

How thick was the ice? Just wondering if it will be safe for a trip this weekend...

Thanks!

[honker_clonker]

I was out there on the weekend too and there was over 40" everywhere I drilled. If I wouldn't have had my extension I wouldn't have gotten through in some areas I tried.

[iliketrout]

Awesome, thanks!

[Zip-in-Z]

Went out to RR23 late this afternoon, wanted to see if the spot we found was still attracting Burbs who were having fun on the weekend, doing their thing. Bwackwabbit was planning on joining me after work, told him I would have all our holes open ready & waiting.

The ice access is in great shape, much better than last year, no huge ice ridge to maneuver around. As you can see almost all the shacks are off this end of the lake, guys are more responsible this year. Opened up a few holes from the weekend, ice is still over 30”, got set up around 4:00pm dropped the camera down, didn’t see much Burb activity, guess they were pretty much done.

Decided to sit outside on 5 gal pail and enjoy the sun, dropped down my candy-cane yellow/orange W/W, hit the bottom adjusted the line, got a White. This color combo produced 5 whites for me and today I had lots of action & still managed to miss at least 5-6. Bwackwabbit was huntin big game fish & was having some fun with a bunch of Walleye that were hanging around & some shy Pike, unfortunately, I had to go at 7:00pm, here’s a few pic’s from today. Bwackwabbit stayed & said he may update further.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090123_zpsf0417128.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090121_zps6cdffe38.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090124_zpsa1291988.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090131_zpsc3c9a92e.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090128_zps5abcdaf3.jpg

http://http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090129_zps2d6823d3.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090129_zps2d6823d3.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090130_zpsaddd9495.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/ww1_zpse29c4edd.jpg

[bwackwabbit]

Thanks for getting everything ready Zip!

I fished from 5:30p-8p and totalled 4 walleye and 2 burbs also missed 2whites.
My friend "Bill" got a nice jack...lol.

"Bill's"
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/3A365CBD-29A2-4831-B01F-69525B81D577.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/3A365CBD-29A2-4831-B01F-69525B81D577.jpg.html)

A few of mine...
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/531E628C-524E-4A0C-B99B-0E5997A9632D.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/531E628C-524E-4A0C-B99B-0E5997A9632D.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/B7B1014E-12BA-4229-8B57-E1E5EF00B5C7.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/B7B1014E-12BA-4229-8B57-E1E5EF00B5C7.jpg.html)

Beauty evening! Had the lake to myself after 7:15.

[Zip-in-Z]

Well done Bwackwabbit .... next week we'll do this again & will stay till dark!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z


.
Bill sure does produce, good pal to have hanging around a hole !

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1080421_zps4d55fe85.jpg

[bwackwabbit]

Well done Bwackwabbit .... next week we'll do this again & will stay till dark!

Deal!

[Zip-in-Z]

Went back out to RR23 this morning with Bwackwabbit & Burbhunter667, a few guys were out, it was a slow bite day, caught a few fish & of course lost lots, too!

The ice conditions haven't changed from last week, 30" plus & solid. The lake access had some slush/melt that froze, no issues, a number of small cars were out & about. I stayed until 5:30 while Bwackwabbit was big game hunting & had his sights on Pike that eluded him all day!

Here a few pic's that tells the rest of the story.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z



.
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090204_zpseea07b29.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090205_zps0eb3812b.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090215_zps6068169d.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090209_zps8ab9f015.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090226_zps3ec8d4c2.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090230_zps024991dd.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090241_zps681949f4.jpg
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090250_zps3de65e43.jpg
.

This Candy Cane W/W is a hot one for your collection!

.
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090252_zps55983cb4.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090259_zps8c5c5b61.jpg

[bwackwabbit]

Tough fishin', good company and beautiful weather sums up the weekend.

A few pics...

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/8F8465D2-D07D-4A1B-9F70-3A3CDDB751B3.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/8F8465D2-D07D-4A1B-9F70-3A3CDDB751B3.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/9CC2FB4C-21E0-4D57-9F6F-3052A0073794.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/9CC2FB4C-21E0-4D57-9F6F-3052A0073794.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/E4394D0B-EE9D-4156-B55A-667C226156A7.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/E4394D0B-EE9D-4156-B55A-667C226156A7.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/F9A01E9C-6DAF-4CA0-B1B9-1A166BAA91D0.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/F9A01E9C-6DAF-4CA0-B1B9-1A166BAA91D0.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/A2FBB9CE-0EA6-4AFB-9DE8-C945CFE20C22.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/A2FBB9CE-0EA6-4AFB-9DE8-C945CFE20C22.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o501/bwackwabbit/Fish/7259C063-8B05-4E22-8061-744B6F5392C8.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/bwackwabbit/media/Fish/7259C063-8B05-4E22-8061-744B6F5392C8.jpg.html)

[Zip-in-Z]

Had some work to do today at the Sylvan Legion, finished around 4:00 pm then went for a drive down RR23. A truck was just driving off the lake and I had a chance to chat with the fellow.

This was his fish story ... he was out in the mid morning & fishing in 18-20 fow using a brass bottom thumper with a yellow wire worm tied about 2ft higher. He caught his 5 Whites and lost one about 3 lbs just under the ice trying to get it into the hole. He had lots of seniority, I believed him, he said he'll be back tomorrow looking for the one that got away! As well, he mentioned only 3 other groups were out today.

He's a few pic's, there's at least 10" of snow on the ice, Gramps said he was happy he had 4WD!

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif

Z-Z


http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090275_zps709fa25e.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090280_zpsb625013a.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090285_zps67c8c98b.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090278_zps87c8d4a0.jpg

http://http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090284_zps7c200d51.jpg

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090284_zps7c200d51.jpg

[Zip-in-Z]

Since I started this thread on Dec 15, I thought it would be appropriate to close it out with a .... Thank-you .... to all those members who took the time to post a reply and share some techniques, stories, and comments over the ice fishing season.

As mentioned in one of my earlier posts, the purpose of this thread was to provide fellow anglers with some idea of the snow & ice conditions on a number of the well known lake access points on Sylvan. Every year for the past 6 years I’ve see someone go through the ice and fortunately this year that didn't happen even though we had some of the worst snow/ice conditions ever.

Furthermore, I don’t have a problem sharing information, techniques, what worked or didn’t work and perhaps some of my and/or other members updates helped others on having a fun day fishin with friends and family, that's what sportsmen do. With 133 posts and over 14,000 views I'm hoping the foregoing was achieved. I trust you enjoyed some of my pic's, I intend on starting a new thread next ice season, keep an eye out for the Black Pearl flying the Jolly Roger & stop by & say hi!

Wish you all have a great open water season .....

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/hi.gif


David ...... aka ... Z-Z


,http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a515/ZIP-IN-Z/P1090305_zpsd932d26f.jpg

[lakerman]

Thanks for keeping it going, this last sask.pirate spent 6 days out there this hard water season and got zero whites on the ice, which would be all put back if my luck was better, walleye and burbs with a few small pike 2013 ice fishin was a bust at sylvan but thanks to the good lord I enjoyed every second!:love0025: