Reflections: 2012-2013

This time of year is always bittersweet for me.  It concludes ice season here in Iowa, but it also brings about the warmth of spring and influx of outdoors activities.  I find myself taking time to look back and reflect on the highs and lows of the previous ice season.

The 2012-2013 ice season started off eerily similar to the previous year's season with a lack of ice in the state of Iowa.  The roller coaster of emotions were certainly flowing as the prospects of putting in another 3,500 miles of travel, just in the state of Iowa to find good ice, didn't appeal to me again.  Being a new father and spending that much time away from my family didn't seem too appealing either.  Thankfully, with the support and understanding of my wife and family, I was able to fish 16 of the 19 weekends between the first weekend of December through the first weekend of April.  With my career, I am only afforded the opportunity to fish Friday afternoon through Sunday; so fishing on the weekends is pretty much what I'm able to do.

My travels this season found me fishing in three different states (Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota).  I also logged 43 trips on the ice to 21 different bodies of water; eight of which were new to me.  I was very pleased with these figures as my total trips eclipsed last year's totals and I was able to fish some new bodies of water.

I only competed in two tournaments this year and started with a disappointing finish at the Recycled Fish Okoboji Open, finishing 14th out of 50 contestants.  West Okoboji has always seemed to treat me pretty well in the past, but this year it just wasn't in the cards.  The prospects of sight fishing gin clear water and catching bull bluegills keeps me coming back each year, though.
  

The second tournament I competed in was the Recycled Fish Big Creek Open.  This is a team event where the team with the largest five crappies and five bluegills takes first place.  My fishing partner, Todd Reed, and myself formed a solid game plan from our pre-fishing and ended up taking 2nd place out of 25 teams.  We were both very pleased with our placing as it out shined our previous finish there (7th out of 36 teams) two years ago.

I love catching bluegills through the ice, especially big bulls.  Bluegills fight hard, are plentiful in our waters, and are relatively easy to figure out.  Despite all my time targeting them through the ice, I have never topped the one pound mark on a certified scale.  This year was finally my year to do so!  I caught not only two pound plus bluegills, but I came within a half an ounce two other times.  It was pretty nice to check that goal off my list! 

16.02 Ounce Bluegill

1.01 Pound Bluegill

15.6 Ounce Bluegill

15.7 Ounce Bluegill

I was also able to check two more species off my bucket list which I have never caught through the ice.  I caught my first smallmouth bass on North Waubay Lake in South Dakota in early April.  I was also rewarded with my first yellow bullhead on Rock Creek in late February.  It's always exciting to add new species to the list of fish you have caught through the ice.

Gorgeous Smoothie!

I also rejuvenated my love for catching walleye through the ice this past season.  Walleyes and I don't keep the same hours and the lack of good walleye waters in my immediate area find me not taking the time to target them very often.  It was a welcome change of pace towards the end of the season and I was rewarded with my personal best walleye through the ice.

Gorgeous 18" Big Creek Walleye

18" and 19" Oak Lake Walleyes

New Personal Best Through the Ice (22" Oak Lake Walleye)

So overall I would consider this past season to be one of the more memorable years I have had on the ice.  I was able to complete some goals I had set for myself, fish some new waters, and spend time on the ice with good friends.  I would like to thank my sponsors Clam Outdoors and Sportsmen's Direct for helping me achieve some of those goals; without their assistance, it would have been much more difficult.

With that said, that puts a wrap to another season.  See you on the ice in December...