Wednesday afternoon my son and i headed to the cottage for some Nip hardwater action. Temperature when we arrived was -20. Got up at 730 on the 9th (Thursday) grabbed a quick breakfast and headed to Bowmans to grab some minnows. In years past we have always gotten on at Wades Landing/Fish Bay Marina at the very southern tip of the lake and rode to where we were headed from there. The last few years we have been fishing the Manitous a lot and that was our plan for this trip. From Wades that is over 20 km and with basically no snow on the lake Thursday plus a rather bad outcome last time i tried this we decided to drive to the Government dock in North Bay and get on there. Only a 10 km ride from there.

We got on at the dock and rode about 7 or 8 km on almost completely bare ice. Checked my sliders once in a while and they were fine - studs and scratchers were doing their jobs. At this point there was a pressure crack running north/south. Crack was only one foot wide at this point so just found a spot with low edges and crossed.

We set up the popup but the ice was so hard we were unable to get the anchors in for the pop-up. We instead ended up tying off to the snowmobile and the toboggan and poured a small amount of water on the skirt in places to strategically freeze it in. The setup:



Ice thickness was 13 to 13.5 inches of hard black slippery as F ice. At one point drilling holes i started to spin around the hole instead of the auger spinning. Ice was very loud all day with the odd small quake.

Fishing was good all day. Combo of walleye, perch, pike and ling:



Had to measure this guy back at the cottage as my board is only 30 inches long:



Only one walleye in the slot on Thurday. Typically walleye were around 14 inches:



Thursday on the ride out the crack was basically unchanged and crossing was easy at the same spot. Friday (10th) morning it was -19 when we left. Crack was again basically unchanged and we crossed at the same spot as the day before. Popup setup was same with no anchors but tied off and carefully frozen in. Ice was crazy loud all day. Frequent quakes and water erupting from the holes regularly. We could also feel definite movement and actually saw 3 small cracks appear like lightning bolts in the ice on the floor of the popup.

Fishing was better than the day before with more numbers and again a combo of perch, pike, eyes and ling. Only one slot eye though.

This guy just squeaked into the slot at 15 7/8 pinched tail:



Typical perch:



Shot of the floor showing new cracks:



Friday evening when we pulled up to our crossing point at the crack it had completely changed. We were greeted with a 2 foot wall in front of 6 feet of open water and 6 feet of mushy looking stuff beyond that. I got out my super dupper flood lamp and scouted a 1/4 mile on foot for a spot to cross. Finally found a spot that had no/minimal ridges but was still 6 feet wide plus 6 feet of mush. Lined up the snowmobile told my son to hold on and pinned it. All good.

Saturday (11th) was much warmer at only -6. Arrived at the crack and in the daylight found a place to cross the 6 feet. Fishing improved again and numbers improved even more. Again a combo of perch, pike, ling, eyes and even one bass. One more slot eye.

Typical perch:



22 inch eye:



Those destined for the freezer:



Return trip Saturday was easier as there was finally snow on the ice and because it was Saturday it was busier and was able to follow tracks to the preferred crossing spot on the 6 foot crack. Did however see a large group of people with SxS and ATVs scratching their heads trying to figure a way across.

Heck of a hard water trip! That will make for a bunch of awesome fish fry's.

Gosh. only -6 degrees Saturday! Surprised yall kept yall's shirts on! Just kidding from someone who thinks 55 degrees feels like the Arctic Tundra. Looks like you and your son had a great time and really scored on the fish. Love the pictures and stories!

Heck of a trip, sir. As always, thanks for sharing.

Better man than I

Ain't that the truth for me. I didn't want to do much outside the last few days with what I think was cold and windy in Texas.

Nice mess of fish, we enjoy your adventures!

This pick of you reminds me of an old tv series Grizzly Adams.

Lots of good eating there!

Pretty interesting. Never been on ice think that would weird me out till I new what was doable on it.

Mixed dinner tonight of Burbot and Walleye with fried potatoes and peas:



Fourth feed off the catch so far. Taking a break after this as have had fish 4 out 5 nights in a row. Still have enough for 2 or 3 more feeds like this.

Next 4 or 5 days are lows of -30 and highs around -20. I like the cold but getting too old for a bunch of days like that - gonna wait it out a bit until it warms up a touch. Plus side is it will make a bunch of high quality ice that will be resistant to thaws. We already have more ice now than at any point last winter. Soon be time to put the extension on the auger. Haven't had this much ice in about 10 years. Lots of people driving their trucks around on the lake which always baffles me. I am a crazy F with the snowmobile but not so much with the truck. Pressure cracks are unpredictable no matter how cold it is and with a snowmobile you can always pin it to win it and skip across - truck with tires or even an ATV - not so much.

Looks like some fine dining right there, which is your/y'all's favorite fish to eat?

Would have to be walleye with perch a close second.

stay safe on that ice. Nov. It got a few inches thick here
My bro (oldest) twas out thar. Started ta walk ta his shelter. & every step was cracking.
Been in to many years (30+) not complaining. Enjoyed family & friends thar & hog
hunts, but missed me ice fishing. Me nerves were a shambles, but since me bro already out thar.
He been on ice roughly little over 55yrs. Figured it twas safe. With no snow, it slick, & was out
thar in tennishoes, No snow & thin ice, you could see bottom roughly 61/2ft & the fish could
unfortunately see us. So wasn't best fishing.
Whin ice like that , (i call black ice) real tough ta get the t steaks ta get a grip. They just spin,
finaly get a grip, then bust up, bro has the drill auger they make an adapter that the T fits for drill.
He with a friend have been on the ice with no pegs in, snow on flaps, & wind picked up
as it offen has & shelter blew over them & found it in a field.
Was in for Christmas & had heard a few trucks had gone threw while thar. We've had another mild winter.
Very little snow, but the below freezing Temps ta ice lakes over. Under ground springs are worst part.
Stay Safe,

Used to go watch the ice boat races in Kansas, they got up to 50mph.

Brrrr! Congrats, to cold for me.