Did you know if you leave your eggs out overnight because you forgot to put them up after collecting them in the coop that they will freeze and crack? It is all good, those were headed for compost anyway. It’s just wild to see frozen eggs.

After being cooped up in the house for over a week with the flu and snowbound in the ice, I’m doing the same thing today minus the flu part. I hope all are well during this freeze. I know not everyone is snowed in still, but my driveway looks like an extreme bobsled run. Just let go of the wheel and hit the gas. We are bored to death. Please send help or more gas for the Jeep. The hooding has been fun.

Unless you want frozen fish sticks on your line it’s a little rough out there. Fishing is easy, catching could be a bit rough but fish never stop eating. I saw some yellow perch (online) caught over in Maryland, looking fat. That is a great eating fish.

If you can scare up a store owner, call them up and see what is happening in their area. These folks are bored to death, too, so they would love to talk fish. Drop by and do some shopping. All the shops just got back from another large tradeshow. There are lots of new products coming to the market. I’d start looking at all the Fishbites Fight Club products and other soft plastic baits they produce. They have quite the arsenal built up over the years and the smaller softies work great in our waters. The larger six-inch curly tail grubs are amazing for flounder and striped bass. They also have a new offshore artificial bait cut in large chunks for game fish. Look for Fishbites EZ Pro in crab, shrimp or squid. Also check out their new surf rig — it’s very well made.

Now since it was five degrees this morning, it got me thinking about catch and release. If you are going to catch and release any fish in these temperatures, you have to release the fish in the water. Otherwise, its gills will instantly freeze, especially in single digit temperatures. Anything under freezing is a problem for fish gills. The colder it is, the worse it will freeze and faster.

So how do you release a fish in the water when it is that cold out? Yup, your hand is getting wet, but better your skin — which can handle it — than their gills. You can use decent waterproof gloves or neoprene. I usually just get my hand wet and then dry it off. My gloves are much warmer not wet. Most fish this time of year anglers are harvesting so we tend to not get wet dealing with a hooked fish. Just pop it off the hook and drop it in the cooler.

If your guides are building up too much ice, a little ChapStick can help. But dipping the rod into the water and melting the ice off the guides works the best, especially the saltwater. Also I’d use monofilament over braid in this cold. Braid freezes fast and can get damaged easily. You aren’t dropping monsters right now anyway. Cheaper monofilament is easier on the pocket, too.

If you want to catch some fish in the surf, head down to the Outer Banks. There is whiting and red drum action. It is right cold down that way, too. Check in with Frank and Frans for a fishing report.
The deer hunter out back has been dumping rounds all day, I guess in preparation for opening day for Jan. 18-26, which is general firearms and might explain that sound. Or someone is poaching again — it’s hard to tell out here. Sometimes the new folk will dump their whole clip at a trash can for a fox.

More snow is coming, and the temperatures are going to really crash the beginning of next week.
Be careful outdoors for long periods — it is dangerous on your skin.