BEGINNER'S LUCK!
Little did I know that 2 more like these were still waiting for me below the ice! Ice fishing was new to me but once I caught that first 8 lb. walleye on a jig through the 8" hole, I was hooked! I was using two rods, one with a pickerel rig and the other with an orange jig, both baited with frozen salted minnows.Everyone around me was amazed at my success. My luck this day came in the form of my limit of 4 walleyes all between 6 and 10 lbs all within a few hours. I was using a pencil float on both lines to help me detect the subtle nibbles of the finicky walleyes. This little trick, which incidently, I learned from the PBS's The Practical Sportman, proved to be the difference between bringing back home the fish or the bait! I was so proud, I needed to boast a little so I stopped in at my hunting partner's home to show him (otherwise he would not have believed it) the 4 whopper walleyes I caught in the nearby Red River. When they tumbled out of the bag you should have seen his face! He asked me, "when are WE going fishing?" !!! Funny thing happened the next time I went ice fishing in that exact same spot, (NO, I did not catch 4 more!), all the regulars that witnessed my luck on that memorable day were now all using orange jigs and pencil floats!!!! Glad I could pass my knowledge on to others....YEAH RIGHT!!!
CLICK HERE TO WITNESS MY FIRST BIG GAME HUNT