Ice surprise!

[MCG1]

I had my first ice adventure today. Temps started out at 20 degrees and ended up at 28, 2.5 hours later. The lake bottoms out at 15', but ice conditions didn't allow me to get out past 5' of water. I used small jigs and a spoon-jig combo tip with Gulp Minnow, Crappie Bites, Gulp Maggots, and Pautzke Fireballs. No takers, but the Gulp Minnow 1" was impressive with its life like action. I was testing out Varivas line: 1.2# Area Super Trout Master Limited, 2.3# ES2 EsterLine Lemoni, and 4# Extra Protect Perfect Bass Line. The line performed well. No coiling, smooth fall and retreat. Did not get a chance to test knot strength, the fish were not cooperating. Now, for the surprise. As I was checking my baits at the surface of the ice hole, a small muskrat popped his head out. I was sitting close to the hole, using a 24" ice rod. I'm not sure who was more surprised! Certainly, made a rather ordinary experience and equipment testing session memorable.

[BobC]

Great story! Thanks for the read!
Bob
PS Did you catch any fish or did the muskrat get them?
B

[MCG1]

No fish Bob, but I thought it was a big pike at first when it started sliding up out of the hole! I had a 1/32 jigging spoon and a bluegill fly on 4# test. Anything that size would've put a whoopin' on me!

[Timbertodd]

That would definitely get ones attention

[BobC]

They can be sneaky for sure. I had a big fallen log next to a bank that was an absolute gold mine for two years. Then one day nada. Early one morning I saw a sleek shape cruising down the log and then dive for his home. That whole area was clean as a whistle of fish.
Bob