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I decided to test my luck from shore, so I threw a big rock through the ice about 6 feet from the shoreline, and used this as my ice fishing hole! I'm not sure about the legality of "ice fishing" with two lines this was, so I only fished with one line haha.
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For the first hour or so I was using a small jigging spoon and didn't see any action. After that I switched up to a #8 Gamakatsu octopus hook, squeezed a small splitshot onto the hook for some weight, and packed a small ball of trout Powerbait around it. Not long after I watched a nice size male brook trout engulf the bait and I set the hook. I quickly landed this beautiful brookie!
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Another hour or so goes by and I get another tug on the line. It was a female brook trout about the same size. Unfortunately this one got off the hook between me and the hole and flopped its way back into the water between the ice and the shoreline.
Both trout looked very healthy and I could tell they had been eating well. There was an abundance of either Blacknose shiners or Blacknose dace right close to shore. So I'll have to try to "match the hatch" next time I'm out!
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With snow and rain in the extended forecast I'm not expecting to find safe ice (in Zone 18) for atleast another few weeks. I might need to make a trip further north before then to scratch this itch!
Stay safe out there this ice season everyone!
