Think Positive AKA Change

So it's snowing.........a LOT! It's what everyone is talking about. And, it's what everyone is COMPLAINING about. I've been a firm believer, that if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. So instead of whining and crying about the snow falling....why don't we change the way we look at it. So look at it differently..... :)

It's Northeast PA. It's February. This is what happens. It'll be over before you know it, and then everyone will be complaining on how HOT it is.

Nothing changes, when nothing changes. Have a great day. Be grateful. Enjoy the snow.

Ice Fishing 101: A Tutorial

So I haven't really written anything in a bit, because my life is, well, average. Nothing really too exciting (except baby shower registering, and that's an entirely different post), and nothing really too super to brag about.

Of course, it's the heart of ice fishing season, and I'm out ATTEMPTING to catch fish every weekend. This past weekend was no exception. There is one difference though. The friend that went with me has never hard water fished before. Yep, I had an ice fishing newbie out there with me on Sunday. Let me tell you, it was a learning experience for me as well.

First I have to say, he learned very well. He learned things quickly. He learned patience (no fish biting again this weekend ugh), and I learned my lesson. (Not in a bad way....I had a BLAST)

Going with a new guy, I experienced new things myself....things that I want to share with you......classroom style. Ladies and gentlemen, grab your coffee, and turn up the radio, because it's time for Tom's Ice Fishing 101 class. Here are the do's and don't's of ice fishing if you're going with me.

First thing is: Find a body of water that has ice. Safe ice. (No ice is 100% safe, but safe enough to walk, run, slide, crawl, dance, and jump on).

Once you have found that body of ice.........put your cell phone in your pocket, and LEAVE IT THERE. Don't spend your day Texting your girlfriend/wife. If you miss her that much, don't go fishing. :)

Make sure you have the correct equipment. Here are the necessities. An auger to cut through the ice.

Notice the bait bucket in the upper right as well. (It was super sunny and I couldn't see through the camera viewfinder). Make sure you have bait (minnows are the best). Also to the right in that pic is the spoon part of the scooper. That scoops out the slush from the hole once you drill one. Hence the name, "Scooper". Brilliant!

Next, a tip-up or three helps.
Oh yeah, leave your phone in your pocket. Please.

Next, drill a hole to make sure the ice is safe enough. And to set up your tip-up.

Use the 'scooper' to 'scoop' out the slush and what-not, and set up your tip up with bait. First make sure you don't have any holes in your "dip-net" to get the minnows out of the bait bucket.

Set up the tip up, and wait. That's pretty much it. At least that's how it's been this season.....wait.

Here are some 'extras' for you though if you're going ice fishing with me.

Make sure you bring water. To drink. Lots of water. You will dehydrate quicker on the ice than in the sun in the summer.
Notice it's half empty? I get thirsty. Also, make sure you have a nice HOT cup of coffee with you. There's nothing like sipping a hot cup of joe standing on the ice.

Drinking coffee, and lots of water, nature will eventually call. Luckily I'm a guy, so any tree will do, and no, there are no pictures to go along with that.

I suggest safety gear too....JUST IN CASE. Here, my friend has safety spikes hanging around his neck. This is in case he falls in, he can use these picks to pull himself out.

Luckily, we never had to use them yet (God forbid). (Phone is in his pocket.......for now).

Have good boots. Waterproof. Insulated. Good boots. If your feet get cold and wet....your day is done.
BOOTS.



these aren't boots
Beware of sea monsters. They sneak through the ice and try to grab your phone, that SHOULD be in your pocket.
If you want to bring food, and it's a Pop Tart, I highly suggest you put it in the cooler, or somewhere it won't get broken into a million pieces. Your cold fingers cannot grip small things, and you'll starve to death.

Leave your cell phone in your pocket.


Most importantly, have fun. Enjoy the day. Go for a walk when the fish aren't biting. Be grateful to share in the beauty around you. Inhale the fresh air (no germs in subzero temps). And tell stupid jokes. "Why does Snoop Doggy Dog carry an umbrella?" "For tha drizzle". Ha.

Overall, for me, the most important thing about ice fishing, is just having a good time with friends. Good conversation, fun ribbing, and maybe catch a fish or three. Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything, but I still had the good conversation (when someone wasn't on the phone), and some great ribbing. Plus, I brought a sandwich, not a pop tart so I had a good lunch. :)

I'm debating whether or not to hang up the ice fishing for the season and just chill on the weekends, or stick it out maybe another 2 weeks or so. Who knows, maybe we'll get a nice warm-up and melt the ice so I don't have to decide.

Anyway.....tight lines, droopy nets, stay on top.....and keep your cell phone in your pocket.

New Keyboard

This is real cool. I got a new keyboard over the weekend. It's a brand new one made by Toyota. It's very reliable, and easssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssasaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Coldest day this season....LET'S GO FISHING

Yeah........this past weekend was the coldest so far of the winter. Negative numbers after the sun went down (at my house at least), and just........plain.........cold.

So what does any person do when it's that super cold out? You got it.....GO FISHING!!!!!

Ha.

My friend Eric (Best Man at my wedding and one of two of my oldest friends) shows up at my house on Sunday around 7:15am to go ice fishing. Before you think we're crazy....let me explain something. Yes, the temperature may have been in negative/single digits, BUT there was no wind and not a cloud in the sky. It MAY have been 2F, but it felt like 15F, and that's nice when you're ice fishing.

If you've been following my ice fishing season...you'll know it hasn't been all that good. As a matter of fact, this is the WORST ice fishing season I have EVER experienced. Not that there's not enough ice, just not enough fish. I have no idea what's going on, but my "go-to" ponds and lakes skunk me. They are skunking ALL of us.

Anyway, he shows up and I'm just about ready. (I think it took longer to put my boots on...too many layers, and I'm getting older. I can't lift my legs that high anymore lol). Off we go to a private place in the Back Mountain. When we got there, we had to "gear up", and that takes awhile as well. Especially when it's that cold. I won't get into too much detail, but just imagine what it feels like when you're waiting for your significant other to get ready to go out. We both felt this at one point.......HURRY UP DUDE!!!! LOL.

Once on the ice, the serenity set in. It was an almost PERFECT day to be out there. Like I said before, no wind, no clouds......almost perfect! (If it was actually 25 or 30 F, it would have been perfect). We popped some holes and started setting up as usual. One problem we had to face was the holes freezing back up quick. It felt like a constant battle with the cold weather regarding keeping the holes open. But we managed.

After about an hour or so, I saw something that I have yet to see this year. A flag on a tip-up actually popped up. You heard me....a flag was tripped. FISH ON!!!!! (I hope at least).


Eric was on top of that flag like a lawyer at a car wreck. Then I saw something else I have yet to see this year. A fish was actually caught on a tip-up. ONLY 6 ICE FISHING TRIPS TO FINALLY SEE THIS!!!! It wasn't a huge fish.....but it was a fish!!!!! I HAD to take a picture.

I was sooooooooooooooooooo thrilled. My patience and tolerance finally paid off and I got to experience what I love so much (else) about ice fishing. That moment right there made my day...and if the trip continued the way all this year's trips were, it didn't matter. I saw a fish caught on a tip-up. I was satisfied.

A little bit of time progressed, some food was consumed, some coffee drunk, some water consumed (I had to keep shaking the 2 liter water bottle because it was freezing up), and of course TONS of laughter and joking around, then the magic words. Right from Eric's mouth, "Jenkins, you got a flag". What? I what? Where? How? When? Why? This is sooooooo not the norm this year. I ran to the tripped tip-up, and God granted me what I've been waiting for. What I've been searching for. What I hunt everytime I go out...........a LUNKER. (A lunker for you non-anglers is a real big fish.) My fishing line was SCREAMING under the tip-up, the reel was spinning so fast, the water was boiling around the hole (not really, but that would be pretty cool) and I set the hook. "DUDE, THIS IS BIG ONE!!!!" I think I said that about 5 times, all while fighting this fish. What scared me a bit is that this fish was swimming through EVERY STINKING PIECE OF WEED under the water. I had to pull this fish through weeds, around stumps, through some sort of maze he was going through, all while he was pulling back. It was WONDERFUL. I saw the head and said a prayer this fish wouldn't open its mouth, because if it did, I wouldn't be able to pull it through the hole. He obliged. He kept his trap shut and I landed the fattest pickeral I EVER landed. Not the longest, but the fattest.
This thing was a beast!!!!

My day was MORE than satisfying. I was super happy. We spent a few more hours on the ice, a few more smaller fish, and LOTS more laughs, LOTS more stories, and LOTS more coffee. :)

By the time we exited the ice, it was 24 times warmer than when we got out there. Yes, it was 24F. Now we were sweating. But that's OK, since we stripped off 34 layers, we were OK.

Half-way home, I realized I left my PRESCRIPTION glasses on the roof of the truck. Oh well, they are long gone now. Eric even volunteered to go back and look around on his way home. No avail. They are now with all the odd socks of the world. No biggie. I don't NEED them, and I have a back up pair or two. So this trip cost me a pair of glasses (and some gas $$). And I'm grateful.


If you're heading out fishing...tight lines, droopy nets, and stay on top (if ice fishing).
Thanks for reading, and for listening to Magic 93.