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A reprint from the archives, first published in 2015. And still true.......... DEATH MARCH ON CHARLESTON LAKE So “out4trout” and I have been chatting about where we might lay a beating on some mid-winter perch. Both of us are hungry for a fresh feed of perch fillets, and generally we can do exactly that on some lakes we know. EXCEPT those lakes are under a ton of snow and neither of us owns a snowmobile. O4t is pretty fit and could walk a mile in snowshoes, but me, not so much. And plus, when he tried out his snowshoes a couple days ago on a local lake it was worse than wearing no snowshoes at all. So we had to find a lake with EASY access and not so far to walk to the hot spot. I remembered that a fellow I know had been on Charleston Lake two years ago and just slayed the jumbos. I also recalled him saying that they were right close to a road. So I called him up and asked him if he would share that spot with me, which he did. (Trusting soul, isn’t he!) So we made plans to meet this morning close to the honey hole and from there find a good spot to park where we would not impede traffic. As a bonus, 04t’s young lad would be joining us, and he is a strong young man who could possibly be used as a pack mule…. Met up this morning and a brisk walk confirmed a decent access point, so we loaded up the sleds and headed out onto the lake. Now it is worth mentioning here that o4t is six foot thirteen, and his son is taller by a couple inches. I am a short-ass older man with arthritis in my neck and back, and carrying about twenty pounds that I did not have when I wore a younger man’s clothes. The snow was about knee-deep, and had no body, so each step your foot would slide out sideways. And even though those guys were breaking trail, it took two of my steps for every one of theirs, so I was breaking the “half-trail” and pulling my sled. You know, when you look at “Google Earth” and estimate the distances based on their handy little “SCALE” that they provide, you get a fairly good guess as to actual distances on the ground. HAH!!!!!!!! The evil folks at Google Earth probably deliberately make their scale appear to be much bigger than it is. And for example they probably don’t calculate the curvature of the earth, which over distances like this adds many hundreds of yards to the ACTUAL distance to be travelled. Evil machines and their “FREE” programs, eh? They are just softening us up for the robocalypse. Anyways, MULTIPLE stops later, we got out to a fine-looking drop-off that the Navionics was showing. Of course, when we actually drilled the holes, the water was somewhat deeper than we had been intending to fish. We were aiming at 20 but got 24 FOW. And so we started fishing. For perch. With ultralights and micro-sized baits. About an hour into this adventure, when my breathing had returned more or less to normal, and my pulse was finally below 100, I saw the young lad fighting a fish. It was abundantly clear that this was NOT a perch, and sure enough up came a nice lake trout which was returned down the hole immediately. Not long after that, the scene was repeated but this time a very nice lake trout came topside and straight back down the hole. I was fishing with a 1/16 oz Ice Worm on 2 lb test and a very light rod and BOOM! That’s no perch………….and after quite a tussle another laker came up and right back into the water. Then o4t caught a laker and of course released it, there being no open season on lake trout in Charleston Lake in the winter time. Clearly we had to move, so we pulled up our lines and loaded the sleds for another trudge through that cursed snow and drilled holes in 18 to 15 FOW. I had a bump, and missed it, then o4t caught another laker. OK, so now we decided to head REAL shallow and got onto some green cottontail down about 8 feet. Should be good, right? NOPE. Another hour or two, nada, so once again we moved camp, but at least this time we were headed back towards our vehicles. (Maybe because I suggested that was the direction I was going to go…) 15 to 16 FOW, fish on the flasher, and FINALLY the young lad landed a gigantic perch. Well, five inches anyways. By now the wind had picked up considerably and I was convinced that the perch had lockjaw, so we called it a day. Of course, there remained the death march BACK to shore, and our tracks heading out had already been obliterated by blowing wind. I think I stopped twelve or maybe even fifteen times to catch my breath, but hallelujah finally got back on a plowed road! Five hours, five OOS lakers, one perch, and another tale to tell. I am looking forward to getting back out there once the snow has melted (or after the ICE has melted this spring!) The spot has promise for sure, and I suspect it holds perch – we just did not unlock the secret today, or maybe they were just not interested in feeding. And no pictures accompany this little report, given that the lakers went right back down the holes………… Doug

A while back,I asked about posting on other social media to get my fly,s, and bugs out there. Instagram was suggested,but I could not get a grip of it. l was a FB non guy. Hearing Bull stuff. Well I broke down and joined up. I have joined some really great groups. All fishing related. I have been able to post my creations on most of them and they seem to be welcomed. I have been doing better then I thought and the areas they are going is unreal. Heck,I am even selling state side. It,s not big money. Like I said before,it,s a fun hobby for me now and I get back cost of materials and a few dollars in my pocket. This past weekend,I spend a few dollars I made on a draw. I was surprised to win on my first attempt. This pin is a work of art. Quality is nothing I am use to. Something,I would never buy, as it is out of my budget. Very happy with this. Can not wait for the tribs to break open. Oh like it is said,never forget your roots. I am still a loyal OFC guy.

Not famous , just liked. Big difference. LOL

And to think I knew ya before you were famous !!

https://rockpineresort.com/

Years ago I caught a fish. Thanks to this board I was invited out fishing. We went to a place that’s hard for me to fish in my boat so it was nice to go. I didn’t have much to bring to support the now many trips. So I tried to be a good guy to fish with. I know that sometimes that’s all other people need. Now the important part. On my wall beside my chair there is an 8x10 of the first Muskie I caught on Georgian bay. Must be ten years ago I guess. I just wanted the driver of that boat to know I still say thanks.

I don’t know anything about those reels. But I guess you can’t use it for ice fishing and red is my favourite colour. congrats.

Thats is me to a T as well Doug. Thanks for the story.

yup if pleasant cove isnt a go rockpine would be my number 2 choice. They rent boats too.

Reminds me of some of those years on the Meaford slug hunt.

Classic report!! Was that 7 years ago? Wow time flies!!

spoiling em with indoor plumbing...they will never be the same. Hope you find a great spot and create many memories!

I did not catch this,but a guy that ordered a certain colored #6 silly leg caught it. Nice when they send you back results. video-1644783663.mp4

So Brian was strolling behind some guy that set up an ice shelter only 20 yards away from him. He thought maybe it was some guy he knew, or maybe the guy had no freakin idea that it is RUDE to set up that close. And when he went to knock on the door of the shelter, he stepped into an ice brownie.........😲

You are a karma kind a guy.

Took this picture from my front porch this morning as the sun rose above Clear Lake.

My fish hut is/can be legally towed down the highway as a trailer. Crank-down axles to put the frame on this ice for fishing. I don't have a picture, but I wired all the external lights (For Hwy use) to the onboard 12-volt system with a 4way flasher unit. Installed this to keep me visible at night, when I heard any form of a vehicle approaching. After reading this thread maybe I was giving out the wrong message? 🛑 LOL Dan..

This would be around lunchtime for you when the sun rises wouldnt it? haha Great picture!

I hope that anyone with a hut on the ice in that lake installs a red light on their hut just to taunt him.

I'm fired, I've lost my job, 25 years service, 5 years away from my pension, that's how strongly I disagree with what's happening right now, I've got a 6 year old son and I want him to have the same quality of life I was fortunate to have, I'm dug in, I'm boots on the ground, I'm gonna fight this globalist, new world order crap

it's martial law Harold, unyielding power, all because of a street party with bouncy castles, hugs and honking horns

I've lost my faith in Canada and Canada's gov't and the media they control, just today they enacted martial law and are talking about seizing bank accounts, they do it slowly, calculated and meticulously, the vast majority of Canadians are oblivious to their 2030 agenda, so now we are in a state of martial law when a few cops with ticket books and a few heavy tows could easily solve the blockade, gotta wake up here people

Despite the rules in place, some of just can't seem to be able to comprehend that this is not the place for your political views... HH

if fish is eating minnows have baits that look like minnows if the fish are eating bugs have bug baits

same here!😁

I don’t know why but every time I see the title “ice brownie “ I think the story is going to be about something else