Last North Park Ice Fishing Report for Season

4/13/2009

There may still be a few days left for ice fishing if you're a hard-core fanatic and are willing to fish wherever the safest ice allows, but for the most part the season is over. I could be wrong however, and Old Man Winter may raise his fearful wand and cast an arctic spell over the area to firm things back up, but I'm hoping not. This is North Park and surely we're in for more snow, wind and cold, but I'm ready to battle it with a fly rod in hand. Besides, I want to go out on a good note, remembering this season as one of the best in recent years.

Lake John is still covered with ice except for the very north end which isn't quite fishable yet. The ice cap over John has taken on that gray, stormy cloud color, which normally signals the end, so it won't be long. For all practical purposes, East Delaney is wide open, and the west side of North Delaney is releasing fast. The South Lake has a little open water in the south-west corner but should catch up quickly. Long rod fishermen have been doing well for a couple weeks on the D's, however after a calm night, you can expect skim ice in the A.M.

Gary and I did get out a couple times on Lake John last week, releasing 10 fish one day and getting beat-up the next. Gary didn't let that bother him though, going out Friday by himself and landing 2 fish — a 7 incher and a 7 pounder. If we don't get back out on the hard water, that's the way to end the season. I should have been with him! "Schoolteacher" Mike was under the weather last week and hopefully he'll make it up this week. And you can bet if he does, the three of us will be searching for that last safe ice, but if we can't find any, I happen to know where there is some open water.

Before I close for the season, I'd like to thank "Schoolteacher" Mike and Gary Arnold, whom I fished with the most, for letting me tag along. Without you two guys, most weeks I wouldn't have had anything to write about. I would also like to give kudos to the entire squad of "Carhartt Boys". Not only are you great fishermen, but you can also drink beer and pitch washers with the best of them! I would also like to express my appreciation to the scores of coldfooters that would stop by the Resort just to swap stories. Thank you, I know they were all true. And to anyone else I may have missed — Good fun and good fishing - see ya' next season.