Clear Lake and PCR report

madatter · #1 12-09-2009, 05:00 PM

Got out to Clear and PCR today with mixed results.
Clear was slooow

,1 hit in 2 hours so I packed up and went to PCR.
BTW theres 6-8"s of ice there.
PCR was a whole different story.

Walleye were biting but it was the ling cod that were going nuts....close to 20 of the uglies and 10 eyes in about 2 hours with I don't even know how many misses!!

Ice was again 6-8"s thick.
A little cool when not in the tent but well worth it!!

WayneChristie · #2 12-09-2009, 05:46 PM

nice, kind of makes the weather a moot point, when you catch lots of fish. someones having cod for dinner!!

BTW, if you want to drop some of those Ling off on the way by

goldscud · #3 12-09-2009, 06:22 PM

Did you see any Burbs over 4lb ?

madatter · #4 12-09-2009, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldscud

Did you see any Burbs over 4lb ?

No the size average was not great with the uglies or any walleye I caught.
Seems the walleye are even smaller than they were in the summer.....

Don't usually keep the burbs unless they are a bit bigger but figured they could use some thinnin out in there...and they sure are tasteee

Jack&7 · #5 12-09-2009, 07:29 PM

That looks great! How far out from the shore were you to to get 6-8 " of ice? I am a little disappointed to hear that Clear was so slow...I really wanted to get out there this weekend and give it a try.

Were you set up by the boat launch? I've only been there once before, so I'm not too familiar with the lake.

jesse34567 · #6 12-09-2009, 07:36 PM

mhmmm

TASTY

If only I can convince my dad to get some ice fishing gear.

WayneChristie · #7 12-09-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesse34567

mhmmm

TASTY

If only I can convince my dad to get some ice fishing gear.

get him some for Christmas

fourty12 · #8 12-09-2009, 08:13 PM

Thanks for the update on Clear and PCR. Great to hear that the burbs are goign nutz! Looking forward to catching and eating some soon. What time of day were you catching the burbot? I have only caught them at night. Were you by the campground? Jighead and smelt?

madatter · #9 12-09-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fourty12

Thanks for the update on Clear and PCR. Great to hear that the burbs are goign nutz! Looking forward to catching and eating some soon. What time of day were you catching the burbot? I have only caught them at night. Were you by the campground? Jighead and smelt?

Just south of where the boat dock was and maybe 50 feet out,water could'nt have been more than 12 to 14 feet deep.
Used minnows and smelts,fished mid afternoon but seemed to like the minnows more...

TangoKilo · #10 12-09-2009, 09:41 PM

How are you liking the new Frabill shack?

How/on what were you catching the Burbs?

madatter · #11 12-10-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

nice, kind of makes the weather a moot point, when you catch lots of fish. someones having cod for dinner!!

BTW, if you want to drop some of those Ling off on the way by

Too late!!!

I gotta get a cell phone that takes better pics!!

madatter · #12 12-10-2009, 07:49 AM

On another note I've been PMed stating I should not be using minnows on PCR....a friendly reminder

Now in the regs it states "bait allowed"

Pine Coulee Reservoir
May 15 to Mar. 31 – Walleye limit 0; Pike limit 3 (no size limit); Bait allowed.
Apr. 1 to May 14 – CLOSED

Fishing with Bait
Bait — the definition of bait (see Definitions) includes, but is not restricted to: corn, cheese, marshmallows, meat, maggots, meal worms, earthworms, wax worms, gammarus shrimp, leeches, terrestrial insects, the larvae, pupae or adults of aquatic insects (e.g., stonefly, mayfly, caddis fly), bait fish, parts of fish, fish eggs, scented baits, power baits and all additives that scent or flavour artificial baits and lures.

Bait Ban — means where bait bans are in effect only unscented lures may be used. In some streams, only maggots may be used as bait during certain times of the year to allow anglers to fish for mountain whitefish with less impact on trout populations. In some lakes, only maggots and mealworms may be used as bait to allow anglers to fish for perch and lake whitefish with less impact on pike populations (see Definitions).

Fishing with Bait Fish
Bait Fish means any of the following:

•suckers (family Catostomidae)
•sticklebacks (family Gasterosteidae)
•trout-perch (Percopsis omiscomaycus)
•Iowa darter (Etheostoma exile)
•minnows (family Cyprinidae), except carp, goldfish and the western silvery minnow

So I realize I get confused alot

but minnows are perfectly legit there and the COs that checked me every time I was there this summer agreed!!

Rant over.....

calgarygringo · #13 12-10-2009, 08:08 AM

Yes the minnow reg changed this year for those in question. We still use smelts there all the time too mostly because we can go to stupidstore and buy a big bulk bag way cheaper than buying minnows. We use them instead of minnows at the other lakes we fish as well and they work just as good as minnows. Nice catch, just don't take them all out of our hole.

We actually fish about there in front of the campground all winter once the ice is thick enough to drive out with the shack. We fish the same spot in the summer too but the winter does not produce walleyes in the hundreds
like it does in the summer. Besides we target the burbs late aft and evening anyways.

madatter · #14 12-10-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygringo

Yes the minnow reg changed this year for those in question. We still use smelts there all the time too mostly because we can go to stupidstore and buy a big bulk bag way cheaper than buying minnows. We use them instead of minnows at the other lakes we fish as well and they work just as good as minnows. Nice catch, just don't take them all out of our hole.

We actually fish about there in front of the campground all winter once the ice is thick enough to drive out with the shack. We fish the same spot in the summer too but the winter does not produce walleyes in the hundreds
like it does in the summer. Besides we target the burbs late aft and evening anyways.

So do you catch any bigger uglies outta there?
Size was really not great,even caught a few that were smaller than the eyes!!

calgarygringo · #15 12-10-2009, 08:33 AM

Like the walleyes the burbs are mostly all clones to each other. We have caught the odd bigger one but only a few. Here is a last year clone catch for the deep fryer.

When we go for the big guys we head over to Crawling Valley. There we never catch them this small. Not as many but 7-10 lbs is not unusual. 4-5 lb one from there are more common as well as some nice just keeper sized pike.

nicemustang · #16 12-10-2009, 08:37 AM

Well at least they are in there. Pretty sure the siex of walleye and burbs isn't big because the lack of food in the lake. Too many predators and not enough bait fish. Was talking with someone who is friends with a F&W (can't remember who that was atm) but they were saying F&W is looking into solutions, cause they can't seem to grow any walleye cause of the lack of food. One option was to stock with white fish, I say do it!

jts1 · #17 12-10-2009, 08:41 AM

Ok thats it cant stand it any longer... Got to do it.. Anyone looking to get out and try PCR I am in. Drop me a line and I will head out there with ya.

calgarygringo · #18 12-10-2009, 08:42 AM

Talked to F&W this summer floating on the lake and he said they were thinking that. He told me the problem is the survival rate of stocked whitefish is very low. They do well in a natural spawn rate situation but when stocked they have one of the lowest survival rates. Something needs to be done or maybe they will all stay that way or cannibalism will start as well.

calgarygringo · #19 12-10-2009, 08:45 AM

Jeff
Are you still working or are you froze up for winter. If you have your portable shack ready I may be able to do a weekday next week. I have 3 days off so a construction break day could be in order. Not thick enough to drive out yet or I would drive out. Other option if the ice is clean we can launch the trailer and roll mine out and push it out the last few hundred yards. We have done that when the ice is clear. Too hard to do with lots of snow.

jts1 · #20 12-10-2009, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygringo

Jeff
Are you still working or are you froze up for winter. If you have your portable shack ready I may be able to do a weekday next week. I have 3 days off so a construction break day could be in order. Not thick enough to drive out yet or I would drive out. Other option if the ice is clean we can launch the trailer and roll mine out and push it out the last few hundred yards. We have done that when the ice is clear. Too hard to do with lots of snow.

ya we have been shut down for the past few days so... Lets get it done. Let me know when you are looking to get out there. 403 771 9710 is cell

calgarygringo · #21 12-10-2009, 08:49 AM

I am off Wed to Friday so will check with the boss what she has planned and let you know. Supposed to get real cold again by the weekend so more ice will be in store.

jts1 · #22 12-10-2009, 08:51 AM

AMEN brother. All hail the fishing gods.

nicemustang · #23 12-10-2009, 09:22 AM

I am also off Wed - Fri next week. So if you guys can handle another body, I'm game.

Jeff, what are you doing Saturday?

jts1 · #24 12-10-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicemustang

I am also off Wed - Fri next week. So if you guys can handle another body, I'm game.

Jeff, what are you doing Saturday?

Nutn where we going ??

nicemustang · #25 12-10-2009, 09:27 AM

Check your PM

slingshotz · #26 12-10-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicemustang

Well at least they are in there. Pretty sure the siex of walleye and burbs isn't big because the lack of food in the lake. Too many predators and not enough bait fish. Was talking with someone who is friends with a F&W (can't remember who that was atm) but they were saying F&W is looking into solutions, cause they can't seem to grow any walleye cause of the lack of food. One option was to stock with white fish, I say do it!

Like many others here, I can't believe that F&W isn't considering the idea of perch. They are one of the natural food sources for pike and eyes. Although with the amount of eyes and burbs currently in PCR, I doubt that even the crazy reproduction rate of perch could keep them alive long enough to spawn.

fishpro · #27 12-10-2009, 10:35 AM

I find it interesting that there were no problems with people using minnows as bait, as although the regs don't specify no bait fish allowed on PCR, the lake still isn't listed at the start of the ES1 general regs for the list of lakes where bait fish are allowed. For this reason I think there could still be an issue.

nicemustang · #28 12-10-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishpro

I find it interesting that there were no problems with people using minnows as bait, as although the regs don't specify no bait fish allowed on PCR, the lake still isn't listed at the start of the ES1 general regs for the list of lakes where bait fish are allowed. For this reason I think there could still be an issue.

Incorrect. It has been posted on here before that it was a mistake in the regs, there is conflicting information in the regs book. If you go to PCR there is a sign that says you can use minnows. I can't find the thread but it's documented on here somewhere from Fish and wildlife.

EDIT: I did find the post: http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...hlight=minnows

fishpro · #29 12-10-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicemustang

Incorrect. It has been posted on here before that it was a mistake in the regs, there is conflicting information in the regs book. If you go to PCR there is a sign that says you can use minnows. I can't find the thread but it's documented on here somewhere from Fish and wildlife.

Hey thanks a bunch, good to know.

BobLoblaw · #30 12-10-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madatter

So do you catch any bigger uglies outta there?
Size was really not great,even caught a few that were smaller than the eyes!!

I saw a guy put a 9.5 lb burb on the ice one afternoon last winter, near the bridge.