December Meet and Greet -- Unicorn Lake

[Tptman]

I should be able to make it! This will be my first Meet and Greet. Now just need to find some of my fishing gear as we are packing to move in January!

[mike o]

I was hoping to make this but I have something I need to do Saturday.

[mchottie]

I'm trying to make arrangements for myself to join, no Stacey.

Temps look near 40* and mostly sunny. Please put me down for fishing and lunch, but will be more of a game-day decision. If you don't see me bright and early at the Bay 50 Shopping Center, i'll probably miss this M&G.

Any benefit to picking up some live? Night Crawler or Bloods?

[Mark]

I'm trying to make arrangements for myself to join, no Stacey.

Temps look near 40* and mostly sunny. Please put me down for fishing and lunch, but will be more of a game-day decision. If you don't see me bright and early at the Bay 50 Shopping Center, i'll probably miss this M&G.

Any benefit to picking up some live? Night Crawler or Bloods?

Michael,

The temps don't concern John and me but the projected winds do. We're watching that forecast closely.

We'll make a go/no-go announcement before the actual event, of course.

Unicorn has a healthy pickerel population. They love live minnows and will usually hit them before a lure or fly. If you're going to purchase bait, I'd suggest minnows.

I hope you can join us.

[Wheatonkayak]

I have never been to a MandG before and am gonna try to make this one. Is this the best place for pickerel fishing in a lake in Maryland? looking for a good place for pullage during the winter season.

[Mark]

I have never been to a MandG before and am gonna try to make this one. Is this the best place for pickerel fishing in a lake in Maryland? looking for a good place for pullage during the winter season.

Great. Glad you can join us.

I wouldn't say it's the best MD lake for pickerel, but it has a high population of them.

I have caught larger pickerel in Smithville Lake:

http://dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pa...mithville.aspx

But I have caught more pickerel in Unicorn.

Note that MD DNR stated in their December 13 fishing report that St. Mary's Lake has a very healthy pickerel population. I have not fished that lake in many years.

[Mark]

Temperatures for tomorrow’s M&G will be in the 30s at the launch and it may be breezy with 10 to 15 mph westerly winds predicted. If the forecasted wind direction is accurate, much of the western half (the launch side) of the lake will be sufficiently calm to fish.

John and I have decided to proceed with the M&G.

We urge participants to exercise caution and to be fully prepared for a cold-water outing in their dress, their experience and their approach to safety on the water.

I will be at the designated caravan site at 0800 for those who’d like an escort to the lake. John will drive directly to the launch and meet those who gather there by 0900.

We look forward to seeing you.

[willf650]

December Meet and Greet -- Unicorn Lake

You are aware there is a 90% probability the pond is frozen over.

I’m 30 minutes north of millington and here is a picture of my local pond which is about 4 times the size of unicorn lake and twice as deep. This is at 1:40 today. All my local ponds are frozen and so are the slow streams.








Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mark]

You are aware there is a 90% probability the pond is frozen over.

I’m 30 minutes north of millington and here is a picture of my local pond which is about 4 times the size of unicorn lake and twice as deep. This is at 1:40 today. All my local ponds are frozen and so are the slow streams.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for your post!

John and I were unaware and didn't consider the possibility of ice despite our cold nights.

I called the Unicorn Hatchery Office twice in the past 15 minutes and there was no answer. That could be telling in itself.

In light of your report John and I have decided to CANCEL tomorrow's outing.

We're very sorry to those who planned to come.

However, looking ahead, John and I offer a trip to Unicorn next Tuesday, 19 December. The forecast shows a definite warming trend between now and then. Let us know if you're interested in fishing Tuesday and we'll work out the logistics to include lunch.

Again, thank you, willf650.

[J. Rentch]

Thanks for the heads up. Sure would not want to drive for an hour and find a frozen pond. Tuesday should be much better. Hope you can make it!

[willf650]

December Meet and Greet -- Unicorn Lake

The ponds around here weren’t covered completely with ice until 2 days ago. The issue is being compounded now due to some decent snow fall and a high today of 30 degrees. As I said I’m in Middletown which is just up 301 from Millington. I would expect their conditions are about the same.






Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thehobielife]

Everyone who was thinking about attending this meet n greet and now Tuesday fishing should consider fishing the CCA Pickerel Tournament for the winter. It includes a year long membership with registration. Pickerel are a lot of fun in the winter and can provide the pull that is sometimes otherwise hard to find.

There are Fly, Kayak and Open divisions

https://www.ianglertournament.com/cc...l-championship

[Wheatonkayak]

Hey- I was planning on fishing ES Tuesday and would love to meet up with you guys. I was planning to go to smithville but unicorn looks great. Question-is there any "must-have" lure? I have all the standard spoons, spinners, top waters, small minnow imitating soft plastics. Anything you guys suggest I definitely have with me? Can make a bass pro run. Thanks for any advice. Hopefully, see you Tuesday.

[Mark]

Hey- I was planning on fishing ES Tuesday and would love to meet up with you guys. I was planning to go to smithville but unicorn looks great. Question-is there any "must-have" lure? I have all the standard spoons, spinners, top waters, small minnow imitating soft plastics. Anything you guys suggest I definitely have with me? Can make a bass pro run. Thanks for any advice. Hopefully, see you Tuesday.

Great. I'm glad you can join us.

I don't know that there is a "must have" lure. Many will work. You probably already have what you'll need.

Perhaps the simplest lure is a 1/8 oz. jig with a Mr. Twister grub:

P1020771 (2).jpg

I also use safety pin style bucktail jig/spinners. The jig is 1/8 oz:

B1.JPG

For flies, it's hard to beat a Clouser Minnow:

P1030209 (2).jpg

I also catch them on foam poppers:

P1020693 (2).jpg

But I've gotten none to rise in cold water...only in the fall and spring. It's probably better to stay subsurface this time of year.

Let's hope the ice is melting!

We plan to be at the launch between 9:00 and 9:30 Tuesday.

[Wheatonkayak]

Great, thanks. See you in the morning!!