ice fishing 12/17/11

We just got back yesterday from our much awaited and long anticipated ice fishing trip. I may have been more excited about it than the whole Christmas schbang. We hit up Mantua since it is one of the first to freeze that I know how to fish. We brought along a fishing skeptic (a dude in our ward that almost doesn't believe in fishing) and he went home a skeptic. We all caught fish except for him. He got bites but was unable to bring them to the surface. We ate many sunflower seeds which I was expelling when this picture was taken.



We got to test out Molly's snow gear in full force - snowpant bibs, double layer coat, mittens, superman hat, and of course, moonboots. Her and Sara came fishing starting about 11 and did just fine for the hour and a half they were there. Her cheeks were a little chilled but she wasn't complaining and seemed to be having fun. She got to fish all by herself (with dad closeby)



got pulled in the sled by everybody, and had tons o fun with Jon (the skeptic).



Keith came and got a squirmy one.



And Dave who previously had only caught a bluegill that I would categorize as "fun size" was able to snag a couple 9 inchers.



Ice was about 7" thick and it was a new record for early ice fishing for me. In the past I have never gone before Christmas. We came back that afternoon and had a fish fry with Keith and nobody got sick. There will be many more ice fishing excursions and this was a good start!