First trout fishing outing of the winter

Having not done any fishing for trout so far this winter, I decided to try a newly stocked lake for my first trout outing of the winter. Instead of the lodges I normally go to, I decided to try my luck on one of the many public access lakes that have an annual trout stocking schedule. Having been on the lake in the past for bass, I had a good idea of where I wanted to try catching the trout.

The lake I went to was stocked over the weekend, with some nice sized speckled / brook trout, mainly in the 10 to 15 inch class. Hoping to avoid the crowds and the tail end of a cold front, I waiting until Tuesday to make my way up to the lake. To my surprise, the place was absolutely packed with people ice fishing for trout. 

The access to the lake is on a big shallow flat, and just about every one of a good 30 or so people on the lake were set up on it. With over 100 stationary lines around me, I wondered how well I would do with just one jigging rod. 

Didn't take too long, I got my first bite in about 4 feet of water, but I lost the fish at the hole. Next fish came about 1 hour later. Just as I was about to grab it, it spit the hook, and from the tension of my loaded up rod, the lure shot straight back, embedding the small treble hook into my pinky finger past the barb.

With no way of pulling it out back through it's entry point, I was forced to push it through all the way out past the barb, and snip it off. Luckily, I had all the necessary tools on hand, including my reading glasses.

The bite died down for a couple hours after that, but luckily, turned back again by mid afternoon. I finally landed my first few trout of the year.

Some decent sizes, going from 10 to 13 or so inches, and chunky as well. Perfect eating sizes.

As I was catching the trout, a rare eagle kept circling from a nearby tree every time I'd leave them on the ice for too long without putting them in the bag I had brought along. Guess he was trying to take advantage of the trout stocking as well. 

Through the trout fishing was good, the peaceful conditions I had hope for did not happen. Elbow to elbow with screaming kids, drunk / stoned fishermen screaming at the top of their lungs, a bored jerk that kept circling everyone on his ATV, and some nitwit playing some sort of christian themed country music on full blast for much of the day. Not exactly my cup of tea, but with the trout still biting despite the ruckus, beggars can't be too choosy. 

With a snowstorm head for the region over the next few days, looks like I won't be hitting the ice again until next week.