New Website Address

NOVEMBER 2008

NOVEMBER 2008

NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS:

MEMBERSHIP

2009 Fishing Club Membership Drive Update

We are getting ready to launch some new efforts to acquire more members in the coming year.

• 12 application boxes will be placed around the ShadowLakes property. (With the Associations permission.)
• Members will be provided with application kits for their new neighbors.
• A fishing activity board is complete and will be installed in the AmenityCenter.
• A “Current Fishing Condition Map” is ready for use at next year’s meetings.
• A “Shadow Lakes Fishing Guide” for new members is almost complete.

I do need some help with the Fishing Guide. I need digital pictures of the following species:

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Perch, Red-Ear, Catfish, Walleye, Rock Bass and Trout.

The pictures should be of nice size fish and you should include your name, the lake on which the fish was caught at ShadowLakes, the approximate size and weight, the bait and date of the catch if you recall it. These pictures will be placed on the appropriate page for the species in the “Fishing Guide”. You can email the photos to me at: .

I would really appreciate this help in order to finish the guide before the end of the year.

Many thanks.

Tom Lydon, Membership

DOREEN MAGLONE – FUND RAISING

Doreen has several items for sale, which include:

t-shirts------$11.00 long sleeve------$12.00

hats------$12.00 sweat shirt------$16.00

jackets------$37.00 maps------$5.00

MILITARY CARE PACKAGES

Several packages have been sent out to family and friends. We thank everyone who donated items to make this possible. Following is a thank you note from one of those recipients;

Dear Mr. Raiman and the ShadowLakes Fishing Club,

Thank you so much for the two boxes of goodies and games. There was so much good stuff in them. We really appreciate all of your support. It makes it worth all we do knowing it is for all of the wonderful Americans such as yourselves at home.

Thank You,

Keith and Karen Koca

The original note is posted on the bulletin board. Several packages have also been sent to James Shannon, grandson of Peg Shannon of Fossil Cove.

Motion to adjourn:Tom Lydon / Second: John Kopecky

Meeting adjourned at 10:25AM with 30 members in attendance.

PLEASE PRACTICE CATCH

AND RELEASE

“GAME FISH ARE TOO

VALUABLE TO BE CAUGHT

ONLY ONCE.”

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL JUST DROP ME

A NOTE AT INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS!

OR

You can now view this and other Sportsman Fishing Club news on our website at:

If you prefer to view on line, drop me a note so I can remove your name from the mailing list.

A Mother's Christmas Tale

I have worked for Ebenezer Scrooge all year , A man devoid of any sign of Christmas cheer
I’ve avoided being kissed by the office Romeo , By navigating the office avoiding mistletoe
As the time is ticking towards Christmas day , I could have done with a little help along the way
I’ve dealt with shoppers impatient and rude , But I tried to stay cheerful while I queued
I’ve bought all the presents the paper and bows, I’ve put up with all the countless ho ho ho’s
I’ve got all the groceries and gallons of booze , While you sat in front of the telly and snoozed
I’ve decked the halls, I’ve trimmed the tree, I’ve wrapped all the presents from you and me
I’ve written all the Christmas cards to everyone , Which I hand delivered though I posted some I’ve cleaned the whole house from bottom to top , I’ve washed and ironed till I’m ready to drop
I’ve prepared the veg, I’ve stuffed the bird , I’ve hung the stockings and you’ve not stirred
And the very second I take a minute for me , The first thing I hear is Mum, what’s for tea
So to Santa Claus I make my annual plea , For a special present just for me
Next year I want to escape this stress , So that I too can have a merry Christmas

Getting Ready for Ice Fishing

Author: Dale Helgeson

It's that time of year again. When you wake up in the morning and have to scrape your windows before you drive to work in the dark and you are lucky to see daylight when you get home from work. But there is one good thing about this time of year. It is going to start forming ice. After the ice starts, it is time to break out the ice fishing gear.

Before any ice fishing season you should go through all your equipment and test it at home before venturing out on any lake. This will save you many headaches and cold fingers out on the lake.

First of all, I check my ice fishing clothes and wash them before the season starts. I make sure my long underwear is in good condition as well as all my outerwear. Make sure to patch any holes or replace it before the season because there is nothing like a nice December wind blowing through you outerwear right onto your clothes to put a chill into you. Make sure you have a fishing towel. I prefer to use a golf type towel so I can hang it up in my ice shack so the heater keeps it nice and warm and dries it faster. This is actually a necessity on the ice so you can dry your hand after handling fish or minnows. This will keep your hands a whole lot warmer. Invest in some quality socks. My favorite socks are Black mountains from The Gene Edwards Company. They are fairly expensive but well worth the money. They stay up on your leg even after walking great distances and wick the sweat away from you while retaining the heating qualities. Good quality outwear is a must as well. Try to get something with at least a waterproof lower because of the constant kneeling in the snow and water near the holes. Boots and gloves are very critical too. I prefer Rocky and La Crosse boots. I have owned both and they are both warm and comfortable. Also, pick up a pair of ice cleats especially for early ice when there isn't any snow yet.

After you get your clothes ready and make sure everything is in working order including the zippers and any tie downs it is time for the fishing equipment.

I check all the assemblies of my rod and reel combos. Make sure the reel is securely attached to the rod. Then change all the line on the reels. I use Berkley's Micro Ice line. Make sure the reels are lubed and ready for the season so you don't get unwanted squeaks or reel hitches on the ice. The frozen air will accentuate the problems.

Tip-ups should have their braided line changed at least every other year. Use one that won't freeze up or kink. Then tie some new monofilament leaders. I prefer a 2-4 foot leader. I also make my own steel leaders for northern fishing as well using braided wire. Make extra leaders up ahead of time so you don't have to tie on hooks out on the ice and you can just unclip it and put a new one on. Make sure to use a good swivel for you tip-ups as well. Check the grease in the tip-ups to save it from freezing up on the ice too. Also, check the condition of the flags. If the flags are torn or loose on the shaft, replace them.

Now that your rods and tip-ups are ready to go it is time for the ice shack. If you have a portable shack set it up in the garage or your yards and make sure the sled is in good condition and patch any holes or trouble spots. Check the canvas thoroughly. Patch any holes in the canvas and spray it down with a water repellant spray to make sure that water doesn't leak in as much as possible. Check all the pivot points and tubing as well.

On a permanent shack, you will want to check the runners and make sure they are solid and not rotting or cracked. Check the walls and make sure they are not damaged as well as the windows. Check the floor to make sure there are no weak spots or rotten boards. Replace all broken or week parts of the shack.

Ice augers are one of the most important items in ice fishing. There are several types to choose from. I usually use a spud bar early in the year but mainly to check ice conditions every few feet. Ice can for very unevenly and safety is first priority. I like to use a hand Lazer auger early in the year or when fishing in large groups of pan fisherman because some are offended by power augers even though I don't personally feel they affect the fish even in shallow water. I have drilled hundreds of holes in as shallow as 3 feet and seen fish under my hole right after drilling with my Jiffy power auger. I do use a power auger most of the year because I drill many holes per day to find and follow fish as they move. The main thing to check on the augers and spud bar is to make sure they are sharp. Any blades should be replaced or sharpened before the season start. Power augers should have new gas put in them and a new spark plug and then test to make sure it is running properly. If it is not running properly, take it to a small engine repair shop for a tune-up to insure a year of good use. It is a lot better to know your auger will work before you drag it out on the ice and it doesn't run. I always carry an extra spark plug with me too as they tend to foul out occasionally.

Once your augers are ready, it is time for the rest of your ice fishing gear. Make sure to have your tackle ready to go. Untangle all you tackle and sharpen hooks or replace them with new ones. Also on new jigs, punch the eyes out before putting them in you tackle box to save time and possible cold fingers having to do it on the ice.

Next up is your heater. Check all the connections and test your heater. Make sure the heater is in good working order. If it flames up get it serviced so it will run properly. Another useful tool on the ice is a lanyard. I put a jaw spreader, depth finder, clippers, jig eye cleaner, and forceps on them for easy use. Other useful tools a 5 gallon bucket for your fish, which I line with a garbage bag so I can remove the fish easily after fishing and it doesn't make a mess out of my bucket. Grocery bags work well for this. Check the condition of your bait bucket for leaks or cracks. Make sure your minnow scoop is in good order as well. They are very cheap to replace. I prefer the floating nets so I don't have to stick my hands as far into the water. If you have a Vexilar or Aqua View make sure to charge the batteries and test them before taking them out to the lake. After you have everything ready to go and head out for the lake be extremely careful to be sure that the ice is safe. I don't like to go onto ice thinner than 3 inches. Make sure to test the ice every few feet to insure safe travel especially if you are the first one out.

Remember think safety first, be considerate to others out on the ice, don't leave any trash out on the ice even if it isn't yours, and if you check all your equipment first you will have a safe successful season.

Tip-Up Rigging

Tip-Ups are one of the most popular and effective ways to ice fish. They will catch a variety of fish provided the angler knows how to rig them for maximum effectiveness.

The Line

Monofilaments are not well suited for this type of fishing. Spool up with a quality braided line or one of the special coated lines designed for tip-ups. A 30-40lb test line is adequate. These lines handle easier in cold weather and are less prone to tangle on the ice.

The Leader

For Walleye and other game fish, a mono leader is preferred. To allow the use of a mono leader tie a small barrel swivel to your braided main line. This will allow you to attach your mono leader. Use about a three-foot section of 8lb. test in clear or clear green color. In extremely clear water with shy fish, the use of a fluorocarbon leader can make a big difference. Fluorocarbon line is practically invisible underwater. Use of a smaller #8-#10 finer wire treble hook provides a more natural presentation and will increase your percentage of hook-ups. For Northern Pike use a "quick strike" style braided steel leader. Available in different lengths and hook styles, they allow instant hook-sets with less chance of deeply hooking and injuring fish that may be released.

Weights

Split shot or twist on rubber core sinkers work fine. Use just enough weight to keep the bait in the strike zone. Winter fish are not overly aggressive and less prone to chase bait. Keep the weights closer to the bait (4"5") to prevent the bait from swimming up and away from the fish.

Tip-Up Location

Locate drop-offs and weed lines adjacent to deeper water, which are natural migration points for game fish. Spread your tip-ups along these breaks to find the active fish. When first setting up, spread out your tip-ups to cover a wider area. You can cover more water in search of active fish. Once an active spot is found, you can then concentrate your spread. Setting The Depth Different conditions can dictate where to set your bait. General rule of thumb is to keep the bait within a foot or two of the bottom or above the tops of dense weeds so the fish can see the bait. Let the fish tell you where they want the bait. Walleyes can be fussy at times and want the bait just inches off the bottom. Experiment with different depths until you establish a pattern. Once a productive depth is found, make sure to mark the depth so you can automatically return to that exact depth. Simply attach a tiny clip-on bobber to the line to mark the depth that's most productive.

No matter what species of fish you're after, you can be more successful by regularly checking your tip-ups. Check the bait, change depths and move your tip-ups around to find active fish. Make sure your tip-ups are readily accessible and not too far a distance away. Many times fish will strike and move off with the bait only to drop it a short distance later. By being closer to your set-ups, your hook-up percentage will improve.

December2008Moon Chart

Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday
1
2:47P-4:47P
3:17A-5:17A / 2
3:33P-5:33P
4:03A-6:03A / 3
4:18P-6:18P
4:48A-6:48A / 4
5:01P-7:01P
5:31A-7:31A / 5
5:43P-7:43P
6:13A-8:13A / 6
6:27P-8:27P
6:57A-8:57A
7
7:13P-9:13P
7:43A-9:43A / 8
8:03P-10:03P
8:33A-10:33A / 9
8:58P-10:58P
9:28A-11:28A / 10
9:59P-11:59P
10:29A-12:29P / 11
11:00P-1:00A
11:30A-1:30P /
12
11:04P-1:04A
11:34A-1:34P / 13
12:12A-2:12A
12:42P-2:42P
14
1:18A-3:18A
1:48P-3:48P / 15
2:19A-4:19A
2:49P-4:49P / 16
3:15A-5:15A
3:45P-5:45P / 17
4:06A-6:06A
4:36P-6:36P / 18
4:53A-6:53A
5:23P-7:23P / 19
5:37A-7:37A
6:07P-8:07P / 20
6:20A-8:20A
6:50P-8:50P
21
7:04A-9:04A
7:34P-9:34P / 22
7:49A-9:49A
8:19P-10:19P / 23
8:35A-10:35A
9:05P-11:05P / 24
9:24A-11:24A
9:54P-11:54P / 25
10:14A-12:14P
10:44P-12:44A / 26
11:05A-1:05P
11:35P-1:35A /
27
11:55A-1:55P
12:25A-2:25A
28
12:44P-2:44P
1:14A-3:14A / 29
1:31P-3:31P
2:01A-4:01A / 30
2:16P-4:16P
2:46A-4:46A / 31
2:59P-4:59P
3:29A-5:29A

On behalf of the Sportsman Fishing Club Officers, we would like to THANK everyone who has helped to make 2008 a great year. We look forward to seeing you in 2009 and hope that it will be just as great if not better. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

ShadowLakes

SPORTSMAN FISHING CLUB

24727 W. Amenity Center Drive

Wilmington, IL. 60481