Some of you know about my "honey hole", its a tiny pond, no larger than 2 acres. Low/medium pressure, weedy, full of stunted but aggressive panfish and medium-large bass, some big carp in there. A kid told me a tiger musky got pulled out one time, "okay bud" was about all the thought I put into that. On one occasion I saw a small esox with vertical baring but I figured it was a young pike, maybe dave or woo remember when I texted them freaking out that I saw an esox in "my pond"
I visit this pond a lot in winter because I know it well. I can get people on the panfish here, and as such its usually where I take first timers. I've probably put 10 people on their first ice fish on this pond and love sharing it with them. I caught (through ice) my first Panfish, Crappie and Bass out of this lake.
A year ago, this was where I started my ice fishing addiction. Not sure if anyone remembers but I went out there with a crowbar to break through the ice and a dock demon + lead 1/8oz jig heads.
Well, that experiment has cost me quite a bit more than I was originally expecting. On Saturday, my lake decided to remind me why I got "hooked"

I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news. - JM