Icy Soul

[MJL]

For me, the 2016 ice season has finally come to an end. Ice fishing isn't my favourite type of fishing, but it's way up there just behind my love of autumn steelhead fishing. When the lakes freeze over, it's one of the few times boat-less anglers (such as myself) can explore off-shore areas in search of fish. Sonars and really short fishing rods add to the excitement of hooking and landing large fish through the ice. Add to that, the fact that you have a large, (often crazy) fish doing donuts below the hole while you try to grab it, really gets the heart pumping. I never really played video games as a kid. Watching an aggressive laker on the sonar, shoot up 50 ft from the bottom and chase the lure another 30 feet before smashing it, makes up for all that I missed growing up

 

When I wasn't at work, I was probing the lakes with my friends and trying to catch whatever I could bring in through an 8" hole. The 2016 ice season was more of a grinder for me with a lot of hours of hunting down fish VS actually catching them - Numbers were down for me this season. At least a fish or few made an appearance each trip to avoid the skunk.

 

As usual, I brought my cameras along with the hopes of capturing some interesting shots above and below the ice.

 

Hopping ice sheets by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Open Wide by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

On the Blade by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Below the Ice by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Kick for freedom by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Healthy bend by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Wrapped in the ducer by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

The smell of cucumbers in the morning by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Black and Whitefish by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Perch on plastics by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

At the hole by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Black Crappie by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Icy Gator by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

Splash by Mike Leung, on Flickr

 

 

After literally 7 seasons of trying, I finally caught my first whitefish from Lake Simcoe (and a good many more in the trips after). Definitely the highlight of my ice season

 

 

Hope you enjoyed

 

Mike

[Terry]

great shots

[Cosmos]

Thank you for sharing.

[Sinker]

Those hole shots are amazing. Well, they are all amazing, but I bet we see a few of those hole shots in a magazine at some point. Great stuff.

 

S.

[crappieperchhunter]

Your pictures never disappoint. Thx for sharing Mike.

[AKRISONER]

 

this photo is incredible.

[Joeytier]

Amazing shots, Mikey!

[davey buoy]

Mike awesome shots as mentioned,how thick was that ice????,looked pretty thin to me lolol. Nice going.

[misfish]

Those are great shots bud. Maybe I can get into one of them this fall.

[ckewley]

Incredible photos man, pretty good season I'd say

[smitty55]

Excellent photos. Tks for sharing.

 

Cheers

[Rizzo]

wow those are some awesome photos. If thats a bad season I'd like to see what a good season looks like!

[irishfield]

VERY nice Mike! Glad to see you getting out!

[Old Ironmaker]

I've always loved your pics, fantastic keep them coming. And a good go on the fishing too.

[Rustic-Fisher]

You've got a talent !

Great pics !!!

[spincast]

amazing as always Mike - very nice. We have to do a Lake Erie II (or if O cooperates a day fish closer to home) this year, see if we cant find the target species... or at least something (yes, even a baaaaaa, ok?) worth getting a photo of.

[Freshtrax]

Wicked photos, wish I could do that

[chris.brock]

I did enjoy. Great shots!

[Gnote]

Nice pics! Did a lot better than me this winter lol.

[GBW]

very nice indeed

[Joey]

So cool

[Big Cliff]

WOW!

[manitoubass2]

Wicked shots and nice catches!!!

 

Unreal photos!!!!

[Steelheadphycho]

You have an incredible eye! Always love your creative pics!

 

And congrats on the torpedo of a whitefish!

[ratherboutdoors]

The 'at the hole' shots are awesome! very well done.