Steve
Junior Member
Posts: 46
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Post by Steve on Oct 19, 2004 13:53:45 GMT -5
It's getting to be that time of year.  When do you finally call it quits and put the boat in storage?( which for me happens to be in my garage, just something else to make the wife enjoy fishing  ) Last two years i did all my winterizing too early and missed a couple of chances to get out before the snow flys. Are there die hards that live in Michigan and wait till there is ice on the lakes? |
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Post by jcheetam on Oct 19, 2004 14:12:15 GMT -5
I put the boat away in November last year (second week I think). The last time I went out, I launched out of the East launch at Kent and it took 20 minutes to put the boat in (the lake was drawn down so much, there was 2 feet of dirt past the END of the docks). I'm starting to clean the boat out now, and will probably have it picked up sometime next week or so...This time of year is always a depressing time for me  |
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Post by djkimmel on Oct 20, 2004 11:55:23 GMT -5
I usually wait too long. I've broke ice a few time say in the gravel pits off the river (Lansing - they start to freeze before the river does because of the current) and one year on Lake Ovid. I really thought it was shoreline ice and there was open water a little way out.
After going slowly for a while with small progress, I realized the 'waves' I saw further out where just ripples in the ice. You should have seen the way those hunters were looking at me. (Actually, I've had people look at me that way many times over the years...)
That was my first indication my eyes weren't quite as sharp any more as they used to be (and that was a few years ago). I turned tail and followed my ice-breaker trail back to the ramp.
I've broke casting lanes (over key spots) a few times in December warm spells in the Grand gravel pits (here in Lansing) and then came back an hour later to see if I could catch anything in them. I think I hooked a nice smallmouth once and a big pike, but that's about it. Most of the time, I didn't get any bites that I could feel.
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Post by JCOOPER on Oct 20, 2004 21:42:38 GMT -5
I think I am going to wait some time yet. My wife tells me if I give up deer hunting this year I can take a trip down south after thanksgiving! (I think she may qualify as a tree hugger-even though she has no beef with fishing!)
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Post by djkimmel on Oct 20, 2004 21:54:56 GMT -5
I don't know if giving up deer hunting will be easy for you, but I sure like the fishing down south after Thanksgiving thing. You can throw fish back if you don't want them. It's hard to throw a deer back once you get it. It's a lot messier too. I guess it just matters how much you like venison... Maybe you could ask her for this to be a 'trial' year for the idea   |
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Post by JCOOPER on Oct 20, 2004 23:04:59 GMT -5
I dont eat alot of venison, I usually have a "consumer" lined up before the season and just give it away for a couple steaks and couple #'s of burger. I still am not sure yet what I will do. Opening day is a very exciting tradition that I havent missed since I was 12. I have however given up bowhunting for fishing. I used to bowhunt like crazy and have actually still today, shot more bucks with my bow than my gun by almost double!
I always have access to a boat that is ready though, so anyone that winterizes their boat but forsees some nice weather let me know. After a day on the water with me you should be one of the best anglers around. (cause I can show you everything not to do!) ;D
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