Mark Knapp

Right at 30 inches.

Well, without trying to sound too conceited, most people have to work harder for their fish, or maybe it's because they don't work as hard for their fish. Anyway, most people are happy top just get a limit, 10 fish.

These are snapshots taken from the videos of my last trip to Quartz Lake to fish for Rainbows, Char, Silvers and Kings. I caught about 70 fish, including a Quartz Lake slam, at least one of each species. The fish ranged from about 10 inches to 23 1/2 inches, with the four biggest being over 20 inches, three char and a 22 inch rainbow. I caught 10 doubles. The 22 inch rainbow. At times I could see up to 20 fish at a time under the house. Some of the hand tied ice flies I used. It was a fun day. We're allowed two poles while ice fishing but at times it was so busy I could only fish one pole at a time.

I have noticed that when fishing for pike but not for trout. I watch for hook marks but really don't see any. I did catch one trout two weeks ago that was dragging a clump of knotted fishing lines. It had a total of four different hooks all tangled up in there. I had an underwater camera down and I can see that when you let the trout go they shoot out of the area like they're never coming back. I could see up to twenty different trout under my house at the same time. It's a big lake and the schools rove around under there. The lake is very popular and gets pretty heavy pressure (from my standards, up to ten different individuals or groups on a nice Saturday) but most people use the same thing, a jig and power bait. The fish are pretty well educated to that system. I use hand tied jigs that imitate minnows and bugs tipped with home cured bait, shrimp or salmon eggs.

You are welcomed. Thanks for watching.

Wow, nice lists. My goal for the last six + years is to catch each of Alaska's sport fish species on an original fly of my own. They include all of the fresh and salt water species. I'm counting all five species of salmon as three different fish each depending on where they are fished, lake-run, river-run or sea-run. Rainbow and steel head are two different species. My original list consisted of 25 or so species but now it has gotten way out of hand. Depending on how you count it could go on forever. We have about 36 species of rock fish alone. I'm up to around 28 species now, with no end in site. I've been chronicling them in a blog. You can check it out here if you like http://akflytyer.blogspot.com/

Steve, did one of your other kitties become the new lap cat?

I didn't watch either. I had one of the best ice fishing days I've ever had. Caught about 70 fish, they ranged from 10 inches to 23 inches. I had ten doubles, it's legal to fish two rods on the ice here. Caught a Quartz lake grand slam- that's at least one of each, a rainbow, a char, a silver salmon and a king salmon. The four biggest were a 20, 21, and 23 inch char, and a 22 inch rainbow. I let them all go so I don't have any pictures of fish but I did get quite a bit of video. I guess the game was OK too if you like that sort of thing.

It looks nice. The spinning of the loop is the trickiest part. Do you have a wire spinning jig, or did you "wing it" with pliers? Silver salmon are particularly eager to grab larger spinners with orange and silver on them. You may need to make them with single hooks for some waters. Of course, pike will grab them too, especially well with dressed trebles. I have lots of spinner making supplies I could share with you if you'll remind me the next time you come over.

It was thirty below here this Sunday, It was 80 above in the fish house though, at eye level, at my feet it was just warm enough to melt the ice on the floor of the house.

Mark what do the Northern Lights sound like? This is very interesting - Thanks! As the curtains of light move, the sound goes " sh sh sh sh SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH SH sh sh sh sh" It's kind of like wind blowing but it's a "shhhh" sound. It's very light and you can only hear it on very cold days when nothing else is moving. I've only heard it on the trap line where I was hundreds of miles from civilization, where there are no ambient noises from human activity.

That's one of the coolest things ever. I don't see and little turtles though, and maybe a lizard or salamanders. You could do some frogs but then you'd need some frog netting to keep the escapism rate down. Very pretty.

Greetings

I think you are right. Even our tires get flat spots in them at 30 below.

Yep, I know. No photo of the beautiful hen rainbow. But, I have redesigned my vest so I can take some photos. I'm headed back up there on Sunday/Monday. I may stay home and watch the Super Bowl, or ... I may leave early and not worry about it. We Patriot fans don't have a horse in the race, so why watch right? Kidding, I'm just kidding. Haha! I have some new flies just in case the BWO's show up again and they probably will. Will report from the river or when I get home. Thanks for dropping by. I will be looking forward to your report. I love a good story and good pictures of bugs, fish, everything. Best of luck. (I did go fishing (ice fishing) on Sunday, I didn't have a dog in the fight either. One of my best days ice fishing ever. I caught about 70 fish, four of them over 20 inches)

Carpe diem, he he.

I have had no problems with them at all. I haven't ordered the hooks but I do have 5 of the fly boxes. The service was fast, complete and the boxes are really good, IMHO. And they were on sale 1/2 price so that's even better.

Ya know, that raises an interesting question. I wonder if they will act the same a 30 below as they do at 30 or more above. I think I will drive them like an old lady and use them only to go back and forth to church on sunny, summer, Sunday mornings (maybe).

Enjoy steele’s workmanship, they look fabulous and throw even better, well, speaking that is for 7 purchased, so far Sounds like you might know what you're talking about. I'm sure I will enjoy them, I already am although I haven't been able to cast them yet.

He makes me laugh too, and he seems to be quite a craftsman.

Thank you everybody.

I believe this falls under the old saying ... "If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Yep even the materials on that sucker are enough to cause an uncomfortable wound on many of our wallets. The materials are easier for me to get than the average Joe because I live close to the source. I have a small handle-material business, and I supply to many other knife makers.

That one, because it doesn't have any engraving on it takes about 70 hours, starting from making the damascus. The one I'm working on now is almost exactly like that one but it is fully engraved. It will take about 100 hours to complete. I'll post a pic. when I'm done.

Nice fly, nice video. I enjoyed it a lot.

That bottom one's a real bug, aint it? Yes. A better compliment would've been, "I don't see any flies. Just 3 bugs." Well, at least then I would have known if you were just joking or if I was just more observant than you.