Jigging for lake trout (mackinaw) is an exciting way to catch these big fish. This one, a 36-inch, 20-pounder, came off the bottom in 90 feet of water. What a battle!
Just look at that smile! What a beast of a trophy. And the fish was released unharmed!
He's got a face full of a silver spoon and treble hooks, but was still feisty after the 15 minute fight.
Rainbows as FAT as this one doesn't have to be 20-inches to weigh 3-pounds or more!
We had to brave some really cold weather last winter to fish EC. But it sure was worth it, as the boys show some of their fish to the camera.
On occassion we took some fish home to eat. But keep in mind: we caught a lot more fish than just the ones we kept! These were deep fighting 'bows that were a real kick on light line and short ice poles.
The hook-jawed male posed for a quick snapshot, and was then released to fight another day.
Late summer / early fall is a great time to target kokanee salmon out of Flaming Gorge. We vertical jig over rocky structure in coves along the sheer walls. Nice kokes like this one, a 5 pounder, are a great treat for salmon lovers. These landlocked salmon don't get as big as the sea-run sockeye, but are just as delicious.
One of our "keeper" fish during winter is yellow perch. With an occasional rainbow trout thrown in for contrast, this pile of fish made for a delicious Sunday dinner.
This jumbo perch, a little on the rotund side, couldn't decide which bait to hit. So he took them both! Jon and I were fishing in the tent, with 2 holes cut about 3 feet apart. Hungry fish, huh?
Filleted perch are mild and delicious. Cindy will often make baked beans, cole slaw, and fried potatoes to go along with such a treat.
Beautiful Bear Lake cutthroat trout are a popular target at Strawberry.
Fish over 20 inches and 3+ pounds are COMMON.
No, this guy isn't from Tennessee. Kris is demonstrating how warm it can actually get during early spring ice fishing. And this from a guy who was concerned about getting his feet cold when I first invited him out on the ice!
Big Fish Tackle runs a fun ice fishing contest over the winter. None of us placed, as we can't get out 3 or 4 times a week the way some guys do. But among the three of us, Jon won in '06 - '07.
Kris took this shot and several others on this spectacular morning at Rockport Reservoir. Ice fishing offers unbeatable scenery that most won't see if they stay indoors during winter.
When it's really cold, we pop up a few tents for warmth. On sunny days, the black tent soaks up the heat and makes for a toasty fishing shack.
An inside view of the tent: a Vexilar fish finder, short ice pole, bottle of stink, and a beautiful rainbow. Now THAT's living!
This is a good way to shake off cabin fever. Take some family out and make a day of it.
And as long as I'm with Kris and Jon, I know there's going to be action! These guys can really fish.
I've been fortunate to take 2 trips to Alaska, but this will always be my favorite. My cousin Craig (left), and my uncle Bobby (right), accompanied us. A few years later, my uncle was diagnosed late into cancer, and has since passed away. Good memories ...
This rough looking bunch really laid the wood to silver salmon out of Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska.
It's not too hard to see who caught the biggest fish on this trip!
12 pound silver caught on the Kenai River on medium spinning tackle. What a fight!
Cindy's father with a big 14 pound silver from Resurrection Bay.
I don't just take pictures when we fish, although Cindy says I do. But by default, I have the best camera-phone.
We also shoot quite a bit of video, which I edit on iMovie and burn us DVD copies. And why not, with all this great subject matter?
But I also have the good fortune to do some creative writing for outdoor / fishing newspaper columns of the Ogden Standard-Examiner. They run my articles once a month, every first Wednesday. So you see, it's not "just photos" for us.
Jon is an avid fisherman, excited for the next trip days before it comes along. He enjoys sharing his knowledge, too. And that comes in handy with his Church calling with the young men and their Scout Troop. Jon caught this 36-inch, 20 pound lake trout (mackinaw) in the early morning light at Flaming Gorge. We have plans to return to big lake in October, 2008, to catch some hungry pre-spawn lakers. Nice going, Jon!
Jon is also a "big fish" angler in our family. This tiger muskie hit a small jig on 6-pound test monofilament. And despite those sharp teeth and powerful body, Jon brought this big guy in for a quick measurement (27 inches) and safe release. This makes 4 or 5 muskies for Jon this season; I lost count!
Another Pineview resident is the smallmouth bass. This bronzeback also hit a jig fished slowly on the bottom, and gave a tremendous rod-thumping fight before letting me snap his picture. The fish was released unharmed!
Strawberry Reservoir is another of our favorite fishing spots. Here Jon shows a bright, spotted cutthroat trout!
Another measurable trophy, Kris pulled this huge black crappie out of the brush at Pineview this past spring. A 14-inch beauty, Kris again released the fish after photos.
Lincoln, Kris' 2 1/2 year old fisher-son, will go to the pond and cast with dad until it's too dark to continue. Passersby marvel at the young anglers ability to cast and retrieve on his own. But he's just a chip off the old block, as this Syracuse Pond largemouth bass can attest.
This is a 22-inch, brightly colored rainbow trout that Kris caught from a lake on private land. This big guy went in for filletting, and fed the whole tribe for dinner!
Kris' catches don't require Photo-Shop enhancement, but he couldn't resist a chance to blow away his co-workers with this shot. (Notice the smaller shadow.)
