There's not much I love more than days on the ice with the ones I ❤️. Freezing cold, fresh mountain air, sweet fish.. what more could you want? 🤗
When I found out the ice on one of my favorite lakes was safe, my date and I didn't hesitate to book a nearby hotel room and head out. We arrived later that night, went to bed early and planned to get up with the sun so we could get as much time out there as we could.
5am came quick. Before my date on the ice, I had a date with my Jesus. I was called to read this excerpt this morning..
Proverbs 3:13
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
'Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare with her.'
Pray for wisdom, not wealth. Pray for your relationship with Jesus, not your relationship with things that boost your ego. 🙏🏻
After filling my Heart with some heavenly love, I laid my traps out to double check some hooks and packed up.
Depending on the weather that day, which can change pretty rapidly, I decide once I'm out there what the best tip up choice for the day is.
IT'S GO TIME 🧊
Pulling the sled is only not so fun when there's tons of snow to pull it through. Lucked out with only a few inches of ❄️ on top of the 🧊 today.
I picked my grid and set my traps.
I threw on my bathing suit 😳 yes, my bathing suit and watched for flags. After learning about how great the cold is for your body and all of the benefits, I try to get it any way I can. From cold plunges to cold air, I've learned to conquer it instead of crying from discomfort.
Quit making fishing so serious. We're allowed to have some fun if we want 😊
Since the sun was hiding, I figured I had to brighten it up a bit 😁
After my fill of negative temps on my skin, I decided to warm up in the tent.
PSA - don't get too close to the propane heater 😅
Now it was time for the real fun. It wasn't long before the first 🚩
First fish of the day, a good-sized ECP, eastern chain pickerel. Full of teeth and a slime covered coating. I was happy with the size of this guy.
The belly on this fish looked like he wasn't going hungry this winter. It was nice to see a healthy fish come up from under the ice. After a hook removal and a few photos, I sent him on his way.
Pulling a fish up from under layers of ice always gets my blood pumping. It is so exhilarating and an addicting feeling.
Lucky for me, it wasn't the only flag of the day.
It all happened too quick for a video but that didn't take away from the pure beauty and excitement of catching this fish.
My very first TROUT 😍
I couldn't believe it. I have caught a numerous amount of bass, pickerel and perch at this point, but never a trout. Especially where I placed my traps, I didn't think a trout would turn up.
WHAT A BEAUTY she was,
Catching this fish was a blessing. My skill at ice fishing was improving and I proved to myself I could actually do it. I could catch fish this way.
Ice fishing is such a nice switch up from open water fishing. I love being able to 'walk on water.' How amazing the ice covering the entire lake was. The beauty and secrets it holds underneath. Being on the ice breaths life back into me. Something about it is so pure. No hiding behind a big boat, electronics that find the fish for you, dealing with boaters, cast after cast after cast. Don't get me wrong, I love fishing any way I can get it but ice fishing has my heart. If you haven't experienced it yet, I pray you do.
After a fun day, I was BEAT.
We packed up, headed back to the hotel and snuggled up, to do it all over again tomorrow.
Sweet dreams 💕
Thank you!