This is definitely a strange year, and unfortunately for me, due to the  Covid pandemic, I am unable to take my annual turkey hunting trip this Spring.  Going to be a strange Spring, in many ways, but I will really miss this annual trip.  It's always a great time, usually with lots of turkey action, but equally important, it is a trip I do with my dad and uncle, and get to spend time with family during our annual trout opening weekend family get together.  I think I look forward to turkey hunting and this event equally, and will miss them both alot!  Sure hope things improve soon, and we can get back to life as we knew it! 

Got out for what was likely one of the last, or the last ice fishing trip of the season.  Though we're into April, conditions were still great!  The trail was good, with plenty of snow, and ice conditions were perfect. No slush, minimal snow on the ice (enough for the sled, but not enough to make walking difficult), and there was close to 2' of solid ice.
It was a sunny and beautiful day, and we found some big trout!  I used my Humminbird Helix to get us in the zone; using the autochart live feature during open water, I mapped out a section of this lake in the boat, creating an accurate depth map.  I then set that Helix unit up in a portable ice fishing pack, set it on my lap, turned the maps on, and drove to the exact spot I wanted.  I found the edge of a reef, and stopped right on the contour I wanted.  Then the Helix unit doubles as my flasher, and is highly effective for targeting lake trout.
We got into some great fish, and by length/girth calculations, they ranged from 7 to 18 lbs, great day!!