Ice out fatties

[Skunk City]

Went through the end of ice season depression, cried as I put the auger and Clam away for the season, but the show must go on . Hit a handful of my early season spots and was rewarded with a few solid fish. Nothing crazy yet, still looking for Big Momma. Mostly everything on big plugs. This rain is a Godsend, as it should set things up for a nice few weeks of fishing.

On a side note, Im disappointed to have seen some piss-poor fish handling going on with these fish. While doing my thing, I've watched other guys landing Pike...and it's pretty pathetic to say the least. Dragging fish onto land, letting them flop around on the ground, fumbling to get cell phone out, a minute's worth of pictures, more fumbling for pliers, more time out of the water, then a dirty/exhausted fish being tossed back in the water without being revived. It's not hard guys. Have your sh*t ready to go incase you catch one, grab the fish with your hands, don't let it flop in the dirt, remove hooks, snap a quick pic, revive the fish, watch it swim away! If you can't do that, or are afraid of a big spooky fish with teeth, stick to Bass! End rant.