Ice fishing

[WHGuy413 2,690]

15 hours ago, Oldskool said:

Those are some great fishing pics.

I'm quite jealous. It's been to warm here. Very little fishable ice.

I’m afraid we lost or will lose most of the ice by the weekend. Hoping a couple of my spots will have enough to safely go but it’s not looking great. 

[AHS 1,440]

On 1/4/2023 at 6:16 AM, Oldskool said:

@stevasaurus the Tunk Lake you speak of is only a 10min drive from the house.

 

I've fished that alot in years past.

The water is still as clear as you said. Unfortunately it has been getting to the point that locally it has been nick named "Skunk" Tunk. The flags are few and faaaaar between. Although there are still some massive lake trout roaming the depths.

Trolling for salmon during open water is still fairly productive.

 

The Flanders Pond mentioned is about 25min from the house.

Ever winter for the last 10 years in February there is a fishing derby held. All proceeds are donated to the local kids camp. 

 

Tight lines everyone......

@Oldskool Isn’t Tunk lake like 190’ depth? 

[stevasaurus 22,762]

@AHS  I think I remember it being 220'.  

[AHS 1,440]

Wow… 220’!! I think I remember a whopping togue (or something!)  caught out of there. There must be some big old fish swimming around down at 220’!!

[stevasaurus 22,762]

This link says 222"

https://www.google.com/search?q=information+for+big+tunk+lake+maine&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS865US865&oq=information+for+Big+Tunk+Lake&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j33i160l3j33i299.18963j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[stevasaurus 22,762]

Another excellent link...

https://lakelubbers.com/lake/tunk-lake-maine-usa/#map

[Oldskool 6,644]

5 hours ago, AHS said:

Wow… 220’!! I think I remember a whopping togue (or something!)  caught out of there. There must be some big old fish swimming around down at 220’!!

I think a few years ago there was a 25 pounder caught there in Big Tunk.

[Oldskool 6,644]

On 1/4/2023 at 5:57 PM, ebinmaine said:

Oh we've met, much to his chagrin. Just not up around his home kickin' around area.  

Oh come on now. It wasn't that bad. lol.

Someday you should make the trip up here though.

[Oldskool 6,644]

11 hours ago, AHS said:

@Oldskool Isn’t Tunk lake like 190’ depth? 

@stevasaurus has it correct. 220ish ft.

At one point in time it was rumored to be bottomless.

[Oldskool 6,644]

21 hours ago, WHGuy413 said:

I’m afraid we lost or will lose most of the ice by the weekend. Hoping a couple of my spots will have enough to safely go but it’s not looking great. 

Im thinking I may have to launch the boat if I want any winter fishing.

[wh500special 2,184]

My wife has issued the edict that someday - when I retire or change jobs I suppose - that we’re moving to Maine. Or maybe New Hampshire.  With the soft and hard water fishing opportunities, ocean, and scenery I’m all-in. 

I’m an easy sell since I’m enjoying this fishing thread, the previous ones, and all of Eric’s hikes plus a friend’s pix of his coastal cottage. 
 

if only everybody didn’t talk so weird up there 😎.   Oh, excuse me, I meant “up they-ah.”

 

Steve

[Oldskool 6,644]

22 minutes ago, wh500special said:

My wife has issued the edict that someday - when I retire or change jobs I suppose - that we’re moving to Maine. Or maybe New Hampshire.  With the soft and hard water fishing opportunities, ocean, and scenery I’m all-in. 

I’m an easy sell since I’m enjoying this fishing thread, the previous ones, and all of Eric’s hikes plus a friend’s pix of his coastal cottage. 
 

if only everybody didn’t talk so weird up there 😎.   Oh, excuse me, I meant “up they-ah.”

 

Steve

Ayuh. Well bub we would be happy to hava ya. 

 

[ebinmaine 67,557]

1 hour ago, Oldskool said:

Oh come on now. It wasn't that bad. lol.

Someday you should make the trip up here though.

Yessuh.  Pit stop upt' that loggin' mooseeum too. 

 

38 minutes ago, wh500special said:

we’re moving to Maine

Steve you c'mon up.  

Me n Trina will guide you along best we can INLAND. 

We just ain't much for ocean people. 

You get to poking around the interwebs you ask HER where to live. She's born n raised not too fahh from heeah.  

 

 

[WHGuy413 2,690]

2 hours ago, Oldskool said:

Im thinking I may have to launch the boat if I want any winter fishing.

Believe me that thought has crossed our minds. We were joking about making floating rings to set out tip ups in so they can float around and still do their jobs.

[Oldskool 6,644]

9 hours ago, WHGuy413 said:

Believe me that thought has crossed our minds. We were joking about making floating rings to set out tip ups in so they can float around and still do their jobs.

I've had that same thought.  Unfortunately we can't do that here.

We are allowed 5 tipups in the ice per person. So a couple of years ago I put in 4. Then 80ft away I was fishing open water from a bridge with a pole. 

[ebinmaine 67,557]

2 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

I've had that same thought.  Unfortunately we can't do that here.

We are allowed 5 tipups in the ice per person. So a couple of years ago I put in 4. Then 80ft away I was fishing open water from a bridge with a pole. 

That's some good quality innovative thinking there.

 

Makes me wonder... Let's say you got 10 IFW officers in a group to watch you do that. What would be the various reactions? 

[Oldskool 6,644]

22 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

That's some good quality innovative thinking there.

 

Makes me wonder... Let's say you got 10 IFW officers in a group to watch you do that. What would be the various reactions? 

With the rings? Well I think they would have a big discussion on who was going to write my ticket.

 

Fishing ice AND open water? They would get a kick out of that. Then one of them would pass me a form to fill out and mail in.

Info on that form would consist of number of fish,species,method of fishing and location.

[ebinmaine 67,557]

15 minutes ago, Oldskool said:

Fishing ice AND open water? They would get a kick out of that.

That's where I was headed with that.

Be interesting to see the reaction of the various types of officers... 

[Oldskool 6,644]

At break time I will respond with a story for a good chuckle. I just need time to type it out.

[Oldskool 6,644]

A number of years ago a very good friend of mine and myself decided to do a bit of ice fishing. Mind you this particular day was blowing approx 25mph and snowing sideways like no tomorrow. 

We arrived at the pond. Slightly hesitant we trudged thru about 24in of fresh fallen powdery snow. After about a 1/2mile walk we started drilling holes and set up.

A few hours go by, we are now looking like a couple of snowme. Out in the weather without a hut and absolutely no flags.

By now my buddy Rich was getting cold and frustrated. The wind was dying out, so I pleaded with him to hang I there.

He says he had to get up and move around to try and warm up.

Good idea I said. While you are out there make your time worth it a draw some snow art.

Rich being Rich decides to write in the snow. 20ft letters mind you. He wrote the big F word followed by the word OFF in the same font.

Shortly after completion we here a buzz off in the distance over the ridge behind us.

With the buzzing getting closer I suggested it may be a wardens plane. 

Sitting,joking around, What would be the chances..

Still no flags mine you.

With the buzzing getting closer, over the ridge flies YUP a wardens plane. 

Making several passes along the length of the pond, getting lower every pass.

Both of us lstil laughing that it was a wardens plane.

I looked at Rich and said I think they are reading what you wrote and may get a visit.

Several minutes go by, the plane still circling we decide to break camp and head for shore.

The moment we set foot on shore the plane landed and headed our way.

60 seconds later 2 warden trucks arrive greeting us as the plane came to the landing. Now a total of 6 wardens were looking us over.. Rich had some explaining to do as the wardens thought his art work was meant for them. As you can guess they were welllll a little on edge.

After a nice conversation and checking our gear and licenses we all had a big laugh over the whole thing.

By the time we all departed we all had made some new friends and we gained some very useful fishing info.

 

As the season went along we ran into those same wardens a few at a time and always had a big laugh over that particular day.

 

The end..........

 

[stevasaurus 22,762]

That's one thing I remember from Maine.  I can't tell you how many times the plane landed on the pond we were fishing and waved us over to check our license and fish.  We were always legal and always enjoyed talking with them.  Maine is one of my favorite states...it has 4 beautiful seasons.  A piece of my heart is still out there.  

[ebinmaine 67,557]

39 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

That's one thing I remember from Maine.  I can't tell you how many times the plane landed on the pond we were fishing and waved us over to check our license and fish.  We were always legal and always enjoyed talking with them.  Maine is one of my favorite states...it has 4 beautiful seasons.  A piece of my heart is still out there.  

 

You stop up anytime.  There's space here at the house.  

 

[stevasaurus 22,762]

I may never leave Eric, but you can bet I will bring horses & my fishing stuff. 

[ebinmaine 67,557]

28 minutes ago, stevasaurus said:

I may never leave Eric, but you can bet I will bring horses & my fishing stuff. 

We have plenty of room for storage and a fishing lake right down at the bottom of the mountain.

 

 

[stevasaurus 22,762]

Most of my pictures from then are on slides.  I have a ton of them.  It's a good time of year to have the time to go through them and I have the equipment to digitize them.  You guys have me wanting to look at them again.  Let me see what I can come up with.  These would be time capsules from the early 1970's.  To be continued...Steve from O'Fallen...stay tuned Mate.