The usual trio headed north this morning with the temperature 10*. Fortunately the roads were clear and dry, a marked improvement from 3 weeks ago when we were busting snow drifts. We arrived at Spring Canyon about the same time as 5 other boats. Cold fingers slowed us getting the canvas up but we eventually hit the water. We started trolling just outside the buoys with lines in the water by 7:40. We offered flies,hoochies and plugs with no takers. We pulled everything in and headed up lake toward Keller. Our progress was abruptly stopped when ice completely blocked the entire east half of Swawilla Basin. We turned and began trolling back. After 90 minutes we pulled everything in again and discovered a trout on one of our flies. I figured we had drowned him pulling him around for a hour but he swam off when he was given the chance.

I decided to check the ice again hoping the wind and sun may have opened it up but it was still solid, water temperatures were34-35*. We decided to give it one more chance between the launch and the dam. Another hour without a bump had us packing up. One more fight less trout was discovered on one of the lines.

Despite the nearly fishless results it was good to be out on the water. Hopefully the weather will warm up in the near future along with the fishing!

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