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Post by rgang4 on Jan 7, 2012 15:31:34 GMT -5
Finally got back to fishing today ;D! Headed to the Retreat Meadows to do some ice fishing for perch and pan fish. As with any first trip there was a small problem. The CT river has been drawn down for dredging around the dam but today the water was up leaving about a 10 ft. gap of open water from the shore to the edge of the ice. Luckily a friend of mine was there with his Crawdad to ferry us out to solid ice.  Justin Spraske of Justin's CT River ferry service He put my gear in the boat and I walked the planks. Fishing was good for all and most species of fish were well represented. Some were released as required by law;    Others were kept for the table;  Thanks to Kayliegh and Devin for posing with my catch today. Kayliegh also posed with one of her Dad's;  Saw a few Master Angler white perch caught today;  The biggest was 15 1/4". These fish used to be abundant but have been rare recently. Yellow perch are much more common in this water body. Here is a 13" VMA yellow perch;  Going to have a nice fish dinner of perch, bluegill and crappie for dinner tonight  . |
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Post by rvq on Jan 7, 2012 16:55:46 GMT -5
Some serious good eating stuff there.
Bob
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Post by rgang4 on Jan 7, 2012 18:16:50 GMT -5
Some serious good eating stuff there. Bob Had a great meal of perch, bluegill and crappie. Like you said some serious good eating. |
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Post by schodackbassman on Jan 7, 2012 18:57:53 GMT -5
Those looked like some pretty nice bass too!
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Post by rgang4 on Jan 8, 2012 16:34:23 GMT -5
Roy - try to encourage those people to enter their fish into the program! That's great to see! You bet Shawn! I explained the program to the guys who had fish of qualifying size and said I'd help them enter if need be. Most impressive were the white perch. The guy holding the two got three that would qualify, the best being 15+ inches. We used to get lots of fish that size and the best would top out at 17". Suddenly the population crashed and the fish that remained changed their habits. I am going to email the pic's to the fishermen right now. |
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Post by Brian on Jan 10, 2012 17:53:23 GMT -5
Good going! You've raised the level of excitement for me about ice fishing this year. I don't care much for the "Meadows" but those white perch have got my attention. Wonder if they are a result of Irene flooding? I did buy a new Eskimo auger yesterday. I finally gave up on my 25 year old OPE (Strikemaster) auger  . I loved that Mini Mag. |
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Post by rgang4 on Jan 10, 2012 19:23:44 GMT -5
Good going! You've raised the level of excitement for me about ice fishing this year. I don't care much for the "Meadows" but those white perch have got my attention. Wonder if they are a result of Irene flooding? I did buy a new Eskimo auger yesterday. I finally gave up on my 25 year old OPE (Strikemaster) auger . I loved that Mini Mag. Brian, not sure what you don't like about the Meadows but its a good place for quality perch and panfish. The whites surprised me for sure. Have not seen any that big for sometime nor have I seen more than one here and one there. By the time I left no less than four had been caught. At least 12 bass up to five pounds too and a pike about 36" was said to be caught but I did not see it. Crappie were present too, but fewer in numbers but as big as 12.5". Guess who caught that one? Yup, can't break that 13" mark. I do think the flooding has something to do with the fish located in the setbacks. As we saw this fall there was no weed and not alot of baitfish on the main river. Going back to September big perch were being caught in the setbacks from Hinsdale to Brattleboro. Eskimo makes a good auger. I don't think you'll have any complaints. Frenchy's Bait sells and services the Eskimo brand. If anyone wants to buy one give a heads up and I'll get a price quote. He had a great deal on a used one last week. |
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Post by Brian on Jan 12, 2012 23:01:02 GMT -5
Good going! You've raised the level of excitement for me about ice fishing this year. I don't care much for the "Meadows" but those white perch have got my attention. Wonder if they are a result of Irene flooding? I did buy a new Eskimo auger yesterday. I finally gave up on my 25 year old OPE (Strikemaster) auger . I loved that Mini Mag. Brian, not sure what you don't like about the Meadows . It's just not my cuppa. Too busy, too close to the road, kinda small and shallow, lots of pressure. Is it a good place to fish? Of course. I just prefer quieter waters. |
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Post by rgang4 on Jan 13, 2012 16:42:00 GMT -5
Brian, not sure what you don't like about the Meadows . It's just not my cuppa. Too busy, too close to the road, kinda small and shallow, lots of pressure. Is it a good place to fish? Of course. I just prefer quieter waters. Yup, that is exactly what I thought you'd say and that is all true. You would find it much quieter during the week though. If I ever get my shanty out you are welcome to it. Its insulated but not sound proof! |
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. I loved that Mini Mag.