...ice fishing at Forest Lake

The day got off to a great start. 

Ice fishermen standing around a bonfire on the ice.

The Quickfish 3 on Forest Lake.

Due to ice build-up on the auger blades we couldn't drill through the ice.  So, we put it in the fire to thaw out.  Worked great.

Izzy...the ice fishing hound.

Waiting for the bite.

An ice encased fishing line.

Minus 13 at the parking area.  It was cold.  Charlie and I pulled our gear sleds out of the back of the truck and started for the outlet at the far end of Forest Lake, just about a mile away.  It wasn't long before we warmed up.  About 30 minutes later we stopped, drilled three holes with the hand auger (the power auger was too heavy to haul on this trip) and set the Quckfish 3 on the ice.  We were ready to fish. 

Several other ice fishermen arrived and it wasn't long before more holes were drilled and the first fish was caught.  The search for wood soon began and before long a huge bonfire was blazing.  More ice fishermen arrived and more holes were drilled and tents popped up.  More fish were caught...and so the morning went.

The sun rose above the trees but no heat could be felt.  A few hours passed and several ice fishermen started to talk about leaving.  Had to be home in time for dinner and to make it back to town for the parade and fireworks display in Kenai.  So, slowly the lake was abandoned and the fish world under the ice returned to normalcy.  The parking area was still cold but we knew heaters would soon be blasting and the ride home would be toasty.  That's how it was...ice fishing at Forest Lake.