Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 It's still two months before ice out in interior Alaska. The ice is 33 inches thick so we are still ice fishing. I tied some of these things, I thought they looked trouty but wasn't sure. As it turned out, they worked pretty good. The biggest we caught were 17 to 21 inches long. We have liberal limits. We brought home 30, mixed arctic char and rainbow trout. This is what we'll be eating..... and this is what they were eating. All of the fish I cleaned were full of these snails about the size of a nickle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 Oops, I put this in the wrong place. It should be in "Fishing Trips". You guys can move it if you like. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng2 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 Nice catch, do the fish have a hint of escargot taste? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 . No, they don't taste like escargot but some of them of them have weird yellow/green flesh. They all taste the same. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 Have not had char in years. Born and raised in Anchorage. Looks like you had alot of fun. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 Thanks Rick, yes it was a blast. Did I forget to thank you for the brushes you sent? Thank you, haven't decided where to use them yet but I will show you when its done. Watch the mail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mlandry 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 Looks like some really good eating. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 trout eat snails like that in the Ozarks too, but I don't have any periwinkle patterns so far Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2019 tjm, I've been thinking of a pattern too, let me know what you come up with. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 Over here in UK snails can be a real fish fix at certain times, especially as weed dies off and huge amounts of snails are in the surface and moving up and down the water column. A black seal fur body with a grey hackle works as well as anything. Also a dark chenille body for bulk with a dun hackle for the foot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 Thanks Piker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 Judging by your catch Mark, it looks to me like you have your snail pattern, why look any further lol ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 Have not had char in years. Born and raised in Anchorage. Looks like you had alot of fun. Rick Do you miss Alaska? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 Hi Dave G. well, you have a point there. I would say that, the jigs I tied fall into more of the "Trigger" realm than "matching the hatch". That being said, I could adapt one of these to look a little more snail like. Thanks Dave. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted February 27, 2019 With a snail pattern however you might start catching them at a snail's pace. Something to consider. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites