Getting Ready for the Big Melt

I've spent a few more days on the ice since my last post.  I dedicated two days to Campau trying for muskies.  The first day got cut short by the 150 snowmobiles that had gathered to drag race down the lake and then by my daughter falling up to her thigh in an ice hole.  The second day was flagless.  I got cold enough that I actually left the ice and watched my tip-ups from my Jeep for about 45 minutes before calling it a day.  I also spent a Saturday with Josh and Elijah trying for pike and gills.  Elijah got a picture with a fat 33-inch pike, and they went home with a nice little mess of gills.  The best part of that day was probably when Mort and my uncle Tim stopped by with hot chili.  Our conversation turned to plans for fishing different parts of the river for catfish and walleye this spring.  I'm starting to realize that I'd trade the last month of ice fishing for an early spring and a flowing river.  With the big warm up that we have coming, I just might get my wish.  Better start getting ready.

In preparing for this fishing season, I've been concentrating on making myself completely water proof.  I bought a pair of water proof hiking boots and I'm waiting for a nice Gore-tex suit to get here from Bass Pro.  I've taken to working an extra shift per week to help pay for this stuff.  That extra shift is usually a 3rd shift, so we'll see how long I can keep this up.  My old camera finally called it quits, so I'm looking at water proof, shock proof cameras.  I think that it would be worth a couple of extra shifts to be able to record my success on camera.  Who's going to believe me when I catch my 30-pounder and don't have a picture?  I still really want a trolling motor for lake fishing and for when I drift and cast on the river.  I probably won't do much more than stare at them in the catalogs.  Probably a next year purchase.  (I said that last year.)  I'm not going to update any rods or reels this year.  Everything is still in good shape.  I'm  set for lures and terminal tackle, as well.  I should just have to pick up mono-filament for my spinning reels and I'll be good to fish.

The preparation is fun.  I look forward to tying my catfish leaders and getting everything organized and ready for my first trip.  I guess it might be a little more fun if money weren't a concern.  There are some pretty incredible fish finders out there that give detailed images of the bottom.  I'm sure that I could up my catch rate if I could see brush piles that are hidden under the water's surface.  A new bilge pump would be a good idea.  The one that came with the boat doesn't have enough power to push the water through the tubing and out the drain hole.  I usually end up scooping the water out with a plastic cup and then sponging the last little bit.  I found a bow light that has a spot light that can be controlled with a remote.  That would be nice for changing spots after dark.  A bubbler for the livewell would save a lot of trouble.  How about those Optima dual-purpose batteries?  Pretty sweet.  And on and on it would go.  I better return to my "Keep it simple" motto.

Last year we had a stretch of weather in the beginning of April when the temperatures rose above 70 degrees.  I caught my first channel cat on April 1.  I could go for another one of those weather patterns.  In the mean time, I'd better put the catalogs away and get the old stuff cleaned, oiled, and organized.  Old Simple is ready to fish.