mcgregor report

[kostianych]

Dec 1 - open 24/7

[aulrich]

Was out on Staurday, first off thanks to the guys already there, we would have been skunked.It was odd we were using what I though was standard lures, wire worms, mircro jigs, nothing. Then I saw a wetaskawin for the first time. So we start tossing out everything we could think of that we had in the box.

Our only mid sized jiging spoon product one hit, but we lost it with that fish.

I got on on a white/chartruse jiging rap and a few more hits till I lost it to a pike, I think it was a bit big, but a decent idea.

As luck would have it some old dollar store(probably kids Christmas gifts from years ago) marabo jigs. again white/chartruse put two more for me and one more for Skunkboy. but as it got dark either the fish were not by us or the jigs just could not get thier atttention. My guess is that the pulse of the spoon was the key then.

I have a couple of DIY lure ideas, i'll keep you posted.

On an interesting note, I have the big costco fish tent and the last couple of times out, it seems like it spooks the fish. First ice last year and this year no fish we caught under the tent, we did not even see them swim by, and even though the water was murky but you could see the fish a lot of the time.

First ice three years ago and it did not matter, mind you that was a cold year and the ice was thicker, some snow, a cloudy day and the day we were out the spawn was in full swing.

Another thing I did not know to try , was to filett them, in that past I was a scale and gut for that sort of fish, like goldeyes, but as we were coming off the ice a guy told me he fillets them and you can get them boneless. as it turns out you handle them the same a deboning a pike.

Smoked them up yesterday, a couple of hours in teriaki jery cure and some smoke, made some tasty fish jerky

Hopefully there is still some ice next weekend.

The ice was iffy/not there near shore a big step or so. Jumped up to 5" pretty quick. some one brought a board for a bridge worked like a charm, i'll have to add that to the early/late season kit.

[jacenbeers]

Hey Aulrich, was it you who came over and chatted with me about what I was using to catch my fish? A guy came and chatted with me and I showed him my Wetaskiwin. If it was you, nice to meet you.

Originally Posted by aulrich

Was out on Staurday, first off thanks to the guys already there, we would have been skunked.It was odd we were using what I though was standard lures, wire worms, mircro jigs, nothing. Then I saw a wetaskawin for the first time. So we start tossing out everything we could think of that we had in the box.

Our only mid sized jiging spoon product one hit, but we lost it with that fish.

I got on on a white/chartruse jiging rap and a few more hits till I lost it to a pike, I think it was a bit big, but a decent idea.

As luck would have it some old dollar store(probably kids Christmas gifts from years ago) marabo jigs. again white/chartruse put two more for me and one more for Skunkboy. but as it got dark either the fish were not by us or the jigs just could not get thier atttention. My guess is that the pulse of the spoon was the key then.

I have a couple of DIY lure ideas, i'll keep you posted.

On an interesting note, I have the big costco fish tent and the last couple of times out, it seems like it spooks the fish. First ice last year and this year no fish we caught under the tent, we did not even see them swim by, and even though the water was murky but you could see the fish a lot of the time.

First ice three years ago and it did not matter, mind you that was a cold year and the ice was thicker, some snow, a cloudy day and the day we were out the spawn was in full swing.

Another thing I did not know to try , was to filett them, in that past I was a scale and gut for that sort of fish, like goldeyes, but as we were coming off the ice a guy told me he fillets them and you can get them boneless. as it turns out you handle them the same a deboning a pike.

Smoked them up yesterday, a couple of hours in teriaki jery cure and some smoke, made some tasty fish jerky

Hopefully there is still some ice next weekend.

The ice was iffy/not there near shore a big step or so. Jumped up to 5" pretty quick. some one brought a board for a bridge worked like a charm, i'll have to add that to the early/late season kit.

[Fishingaddict]

Where on McGregor were you fishing at the campground?

[aulrich]

jacenbeers - Yup that was me, and my son (skunkboy), thanks for the pointers, saved the day for us.

Fishingaddict - if there is only one campground then sort of, I think most everyone was at the dam face that day. One guy did go off by the boat launch but came back. but I am pretty sure I heard augers going from other places.

[Fishingaddict]

Ok thanks for the info

[jacenbeers]

Originally Posted by Fishingaddict

Where on McGregor were you fishing at the campground?

You can also fish McGregor east of Vulcan where the bridge crosses the lake.

[Fishingaddict]

So jacenbeers were you at the dam face and from what I understand you guys were you jigging spoons. how many did you catch?

[Mutter87]

Ice update plz

[Fishingaddict]

At dam face they said it was 5+ inches

[BeeGuy]

Originally Posted by Mutter87

Ice update plz

How's your pole vault?

[ak-71]

It was a bit less yesterday (~4in, didn't measure), but you'd have to swim to get to it in the evening. Very few narrows in the open water along the dam and warm weather wasn't helping it.

[Mutter87]

Originally Posted by BeeGuy

How's your pole vault?

Lol I'll stay home, thanks!

[slingshotz]

Originally Posted by ak-71

Well after couple dudes broke off all the ice where I got in (they took turns trying to swim to the main ice for fishing) - spare clothes became very handy .
Got 3 pikes - let them go and one burb I kept
Whitefish is there but not biting. I had 3 "bites" and every one of them left a scale on the hook, guess it's so many of them that every once in a while they snag even on a small single hook.
Very frustrating, I am starting to wonder if there any form of snagging that is not too illegal, if people manage to catch them at spawn???
Still a good day, decent burb on a 4 lbs line was fun

Was that you on the white bucket next to the makeshift wood bridge at the west end of the north dam yesterday that stayed the entire day?

I did see one or two guys go through the ice near the shore. We found a much more solid ice bridge down in the east end of the dam.

Looks like starting tomorrow night the temps are getting below zero, hopefully by next weekend there's better ice to get on the lake. I might have to bring my belly boat just in case next time .

[ak-71]

Yes it was me. With all the crap I brought with me I wasn't in a mood for looking for another place to cross (wooden board and such). These guys went through and took all the ice with them - so ended up in the water on the way back, about knee deep.
Hope lake grows some ice by the weekend - I have some of these funny looking spoons to try.

[jacenbeers]

Originally Posted by Fishingaddict

So jacenbeers were you at the dam face and from what I understand you guys were you jigging spoons. how many did you catch?

I was at the North Dam but I wasn't using jigging spoons. I was using Wetaskiwin specials. I caught 4 whites through the ice and lost a ton. I also landed a burbot. The five of diamonds was the pattern of the day as well as a yellow one with a red bead.

Here are the whites I landed. I dont have a picture of the burbot.

[Pikecrazed]

id like to get out this weekend and try for my first whita and was wondering if the ice will be good for saterday or sunday what depth to fish what to use where to go what rod/line ive go some a med a ultra lite and two med lights and a bunch of reels with different line on them so thanks for any info

[livinstone]

hello just wondering is the bite decent most winter or just about now also is the burbot bite hit or miss or main just in certaian spots

[TROLLER]

Originally Posted by Pikecrazed

id like to get out this weekend and try for my first whita and was wondering if the ice will be good for saterday or sunday what depth to fish what to use where to go what rod/line ive go some a med a ultra lite and two med lights and a bunch of reels with different line on them so thanks for any info

You want someone to bait your hook as well as show you their favorite spot

[kostianych]

so, how is the ice? is ok along the rocks?

[fish99]

Originally Posted by aulrich

jacenbeers - yup that was me, and my son (skunkboy), thanks for the pointers, saved the day for us.

Fishingaddict - if there is only one campground then sort of, i think most everyone was at the dam face that day. One guy did go off by the boat launch but came back. But i am pretty sure i heard augers going from other places.

i was south of the boat launch on sat no fish and clear water , no white fish spawning there.

[kostianych]

LWF comes to the shallows in February....no point checking them out there yet....

but thanks for the info on the clean water...that is great

[kostianych]

5 inches of good solid ice, but watch the shore line....it`s about 1.5-2 inches and water comming up

left at 3PM, it was dead slow