Finally, Real Winter Weather! WE HA!

[wildcatter]

Like it says, sitting here in SC Mi. at my home away from home at the Lake. First time I been able to get on safe ice and walk on water in 3 years here! Best news is, it gonna last, a couple weeks anyways.

I was up @ 4am yesterday feeling like a little kid in a candy store, that in itself is worth more than money can buy, @ 70. Gorgeous weather 7* and high skies, with that huge chandelier in the ski last night this Wilderness retreat was perfect.


I was on the ice and had 3 tipups setup before 6:30 am. But as great a morning and gorgeous as it was, not one flag by 12:30 pm.


So it was time to wrap em up at 15* and get of the ice for a real breakfast out in the wild, grilled sausage, w/free range eggs over easy, and toast browned in butter, with OJ and camp Coffee, ya just can't have that at Cracker Barrel!


5am and 19* this morning with light snow and 10 to 15 mph winds, now we're talking Pike fishing weather! Time to head out and get them 10" Suckers swimming on them tipups for one more time before me and Carter, my trust German Short-hair head 45 minutes back home in Ohio. Hopefully with at least one 42 to 48 inch Pike fore Fridays super?

But one thing was proven, there all good days at this age, just some are better than others! God has blessed me again, as he does every day in a different way, it's time to go see what he has in-store for me today! Hope everyone is having as good time as me, finally enjoying the first real winter weather we live in the North for, I dam sure am!

 

[Ringostar]

I miss the ice fishing with tip ups. I don’t miss below zero temps though. Now I just hang out and watch deer and elk in my yard. I had a herd of over 30 elk walk through yesterday. Some trade offs are worth it.

 

[RabbitSlayer]

Looks like a frozen hell. Warm regards from Las Vegas !

 

[Fast14riot]

'Bout froze half to death this morning getting to the truck and it was 39° with a layer of frost on the windshield. What's all that white stuff everywhere? Topped out at a nice, brisk 61° here today.

 

[Sniperhandle]

It was 6 degrees here this morning, We have not had ice on Panguitch lake, I bet it's froze now though.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Youngest sent a picture of her out for an early morning walk in central Minnesota at 3*. I would have sworn I taught her better.
Cold enough to freeze the balls off a pool table!! (forget the brass monkey reference)

 

[Hino895]

Nephew sent me pictures the other day of him and his daughter in their ice fishing tent.
All bundled up in heavy outfits.
Smiling and holding up little small perch.
Nope I’m too old to be that cold.

 

[Dave M.]

Like it says, sitting here in SC Mi. at my home away from home at the Lake. First time I been able to get on safe ice and walk on water in 3 years here! Best news is, it gonna last, a couple weeks anyways.

I was up @ 4am yesterday feeling like a little kid in a candy store, that in itself is worth more than money can buy, @ 70. Gorgeous weather 7* and high skies, with that huge chandelier in the ski last night this Wilderness retreat was perfect.
View attachment 1623406
View attachment 1623408
I was on the ice and had 3 tipups setup before 6:30 am. But as great a morning and gorgeous as it was, not one flag by 12:30 pm.
View attachment 1623409
View attachment 1623410
So it was time to wrap em up at 15* and get of the ice for a real breakfast out in the wild, grilled sausage, w/free range eggs over easy, and toast browned in butter, with OJ and camp Coffee, ya just can't have that at Cracker Barrel!
View attachment 1623412

5am and 19* this morning with light snow and 10 to 15 mph winds, now we're talking Pike fishing weather! Time to head out and get them 10" Suckers swimming on them tipups for one more time before me and Carter, my trust German Short-hair head 45 minutes back home in Ohio. Hopefully with at least one 42 to 48 inch Pike fore Fridays super?

But one thing was proven, there all good days at this age, just some are better than others! God has blessed me again, as he does every day in a different way, it's time to go see what he has in-store for me today! Hope everyone is having as good time as me, finally enjoying the first real winter weather we live in the North for, I dam sure am!

Where at in Michigan?

 

[WyleWD]

Hmmm........ no fish fry pics. WD

 

[wildcatter]

Not one flag in two days, on the best Northern Pike waters in the States! I say that because 5 years ago, although in February I put 8 Pike on the ice MYself, over 38" 3 wer over 42 with biggest just under 44". No Public access and no comercial access on the three lakes I'm on. This was a great time, just proof every day is good, just some are better than others, but make no mistake, there was no places on this earth I would have rather been the last two days than this!! GODS, COUNTRY, for sure!

Maybe 10 houses on these lakes total, everything is back in channel's well off the lakes. They are all surrounded by timber from up top to the where the march begins down in the bottom of the valley these lakes lay in. The closest paved road to any of them is over 1 mile, to my camp I'm 1/2 mile from the gravel down in thru the marsh to the middle lake, the smallest of the three.

Everything is spring fed, with no farm runoff, everything 1 mile to the north drains into another watershed, and everything to the east and west drains into the tributary to the St Joe river are lakes start at the overflow, just a very small creek you can step across. great bluegill crappie and Pike fishing, only because those that would not understand living off their land is why we have what we have, and why we only take what we eat period. There are huge bass as well, if that's your bag, I treat them like carp, the nuisance they are and just throw them back when they intrude on my baits.

Even those that live here back off the lake are gone this time of year, probably someplace like Florida or some other God forsaken place the wanta-bees frequent this time of year, I am thankful for that! The wife worries about nbo one being around and with all the springs how something could happen. But this is God's Country, and even I was a little worried getting on and off in a couple places 50 yards out from dock getting to the deeper water where it was good ice.

I saw not one person for two days, the only thing I heard was a few planes fly over at high altitude! there is one Old guy that lives here year round just off this lake on a channel that cuts off the channel to the south lake up on the east side of our Lake, but doubt he would ever notice if anyone was to need help, and certainly never hear me if I did. But I carry my CCW in an easy to get to coat pocket in case I need to try and get someone's attention. The Last place in Michigan I know of this deselate on the lower peninsula?

 

[ballisticdaddy]

We are getting a cold snap this weekend here in CO but not looking forward to those below zero temps!

 

[GotRDid]

 

[GotRDid]

 

[wildcatter]

Hmmm........ no fish fry pics. WD

Nope No FF, but some dam good times! First Ice, and with all the springs Wayne it was a little iffy gettin acrost are lake, several wet patches and the biggest problem was I had to take the new barrel and reamer to Fred for my new 257 AI Tuesday, that was the day for Pike! Snowing windy nasty day, the nastier the better! Then Wednesday we had the storm blow out about 4am, and by sunup High ski's, and dropping temps. But I knew this was not good fishing weather, but after 4 years of no ice, I jumped at the first chance to get away from everything and everyone!

I will head back next Thursday, we got 3 days and nights of below zero, to single digits,, that will make ice good enough to go anywhere I want and then I'll pick the days I want to fish. I only keep a couple Pike a year out of these waters, why I get so many over 36" and very few hammer handles. I just like being up there with nobody else around, nothing but wildlife.

I had the Bald Eagle make and appearance both days, land and watch me from one of the distant trees before leaving again. then Wednesday had a Coyote come out of the brush about 150 yards or less east of me, and cross into the brush by the north channel. No gun except my 38 snubby I take mainly to try and get the only ones attention around the lake this time of year, in case I would need help, and he's a widower my age. I just hope we don't turn back to them above freezing temps for at least another month, I truely live hear because I love this chit!

But even in the summer and fall this is what I get off my deck in this peaceful getaway!


This is just a few that I had the big Canon 1DX setup with the 300mm F2.8L at the time to get, but daily it's a wildlife mega magnet. My Big Gills I pull off the North Lake, fly rod only, but this is no doubt my HAPPY PLAce year round. When I found this place, I sold my Lake Erie Charter and Camper and never looked back, I just have no use for those crowds today!!

Hope all is get'n better, I been keeping you and yours in my prayers! Hope to see you come April!

 

[wildcatter]

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I'm sending you some even better next week, Enjoy!! I am! I can dress for this, and don't have to sit inside to enjoy it,,,

 

[GotRDid]

I'm sending you some even better next week, Enjoy!! I am! I can dress for this, and don't have to sit inside to enjoy it,,,

 

[Dave M.]

I’ll ask again, where in Michigan are you at??? Sounds like you are describing the Portage area, but if so, I can certainly take you to some more remote parts of the lower peninsula in Michigan if you want. People don’t realize how remote parts on Michigan are. We have a ton of land for only having 9.9 million people. We aren’t Montana, Wyoming or parts of the Dakotas remote, but does it really make much difference if you are 10 miles from the nearest person or 40 miles. They are both too far to matter and you are on your own to fend for yourself. They are talking about bring wolves to the upper portion of the lower Penn in Michigan, if they do; I plan on shooting every one I see, legal or not.
Dave

 

[Ringostar]

My parents had a second home on a lake in central Wi. When my sons were young, we went there a lot of weekends. In winter I would drill lots of holes right off shore, and set up tip ups. Extra holes for them to bounce around jigging. I would make a fire in the pit on shore, set up a lawn chair and beer in the snow next to me. My sons had a blast catching perch and gills on their jig poles, and chasing flags for pike on the tip ups.

 

[wildcatter]

I’ll ask again, where in Michigan are you at??? Sounds like you are describing the Portage area, but if so, I can certainly take you to some more remote parts of the lower peninsula in Michigan if you want. People don’t realize how remote parts on Michigan are. We have a ton of land for only having 9.9 million people. We aren’t Montana, Wyoming or parts of the Dakotas remote, but does it really make much difference if you are 10 miles from the nearest person or 40 miles. They are both too far to matter and you are on your own to fend for yourself. They are talking about bring wolves to the upper portion of the lower Penn in Michigan, if they do; I plan on shooting every one I see, legal or not.
Dave

Sorry Dave but that isn't close. I have fished and hunted Michigan Indiana and Ohio for over 50 of my 70 years. I also don't hunt and fish on my time off, being retired since 1991 this is MY LIFE! I do it daily, hunt fish shoot, and ride the Harley. But trust me, this is the absolute most private wild area on the Lower Peninsula!! If you understand that, you understand why I will not disclose it, especially on social media!

I found this place thru a friend that bought a cabin on these lakes. Not farm ponds! These are all spring fed, no inlet, only an outlet, no runoff except the 1.5 miles of woods from the north, anything north of that, flows NE to another drainage. Everything east and west of this valley flows into the tributary that is the outlet, or overflow of these three lakes. All three are over 40" deep, and sand and gravel bottom. Dammed linking them as a chain accessible by channels.

I'm sorry but there may be larger areas, non as wild or secluded from the public with the wildlife and waterfowl per acre, and the average size of the fish, as here! I will assure more resident living within 20 miles of these lakes are unaware they are here, as there are that know of them. The are only visible by the air, without trespassing. Over 2 mile wide, and over 5 miles in length.

But I'm sorry and I am sure you are understanding why I won't disclose the location, if you don't understand that, your one of the reasons I don't. I've seen to many places private and public destroyed by the masses, who only care to live for today once they find these special places. From Manistee to Grayling, the bridge to Grand rapids, from two track road beds to pavement, I've beat most of it in the last 30 years, it's just what I do. Mushroom hunting to varmint and big game, National and State forest, to private. I spend a lot of time on the U.P. as well, for one reason, it is the only other place with surroundings like this. These pics are taking from my deck, and are all within 300 yards of my deck,

 

[Dave M.]

Sorry Dave but that isn't close. I have fished and hunted Michigan Indiana and Ohio for over 50 of my 70 years. I also don't hunt and fish on my time off, being retired since 1991 this is MY LIFE! I do it daily, hunt fish shoot, and ride the Harley. But trust me, this is the absolute most private wild area on the Lower Peninsula!! If you understand that, you understand why I will not disclose it, especially on social media!

I found this place thru a friend that bought a cabin on these lakes. Not farm ponds! These are all spring fed, no inlet, only an outlet, no runoff except the 1.5 miles of woods from the north, anything north of that, flows NE to another drainage. Everything east and west of this valley flows into the tributary that is the outlet, or overflow of these three lakes. All three are over 40" deep, and sand and gravel bottom. Dammed linking them as a chain accessible by channels.

I'm sorry but there may be larger areas, non as wild or secluded from the public with the wildlife and waterfowl per acre, and the average size of the fish, as here! I will assure more resident living within 20 miles of these lakes are unaware they are here, as there are that know of them. The are only visible by the air, without trespassing. Over 2 mile wide, and over 5 miles in length.

But I'm sorry and I am sure you are understanding why I won't disclose the location, if you don't understand that, your one of the reasons I don't. I've seen to many places private and public destroyed by the masses, who only care to live for today once they find these special places. From Manistee to Grayling, the bridge to Grand rapids, from two track road beds to pavement, I've beat most of it in the last 30 years, it's just what I do. Mushroom hunting to varmint and big game, National and State forest, to private. I spend a lot of time on the U.P. as well, for one reason, it is the only other place with surroundings like this. These pics are taking from my deck, and are all within 300 yards of my deck,
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I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life and I know the area you are describing. I’ve spent my entire life hunting and fishing in Michigan and I know it well. I once thought I found the most remote unnamed lake ever in the lower peninsula, only to catch a DNR tagged 47” pike. Quite a day. The DNR told me he was tagged 17 years prior when he was only 31”. That’s eating good. I especially know the SW and NW areas of Michigan, and currently reside in SE Michigan. I have no need to know where you are at, it’s just nice to see people enjoying the great space and resources we have in Michigan. I’ve done quite a few hunting trips in the UP and that is some remote land. I’ve always said that if you were wanted by the law, Alaska or the UP of Michigan would be great places to disappear. People don’t move to those type of places to meet people at the Sunday market.