A little something for the gods......

Following the longest night of the year, the dawn weakly rose to the coldest temp so far this year. -7F.
Two fires are ignited as an annual homage to the ancient ancestors
One for the new daylight and one to hasten the second longest night toward the summer solstaice

The second fire is said to be accompanied by vodka
and drumming
and dancing
and toasts to deeds and dramas now past
and to the ghosts
of those we have loved
and those that are yet come

It is time to kindle and toast
 Na zdrowie !!

It's beginning to look a lot like Solstaice

Finally a little snow has fallen
Decoration for the holiday season
Rain preceded the snow

Ridiculous that it should rain near the winter Solstaice in Minnesota 
Oh well, another log on the fire
Another glacier gone

Tough bite

Clear. 22F.  SW wind @ 5mph
The lake is less rumbly this evening.
The fish are here but not real eager to bite.
First bluegills under early ice.

 

Filled with chironomid goodness.

                                    
                                    No wonder the light bite.

On the ice.

It is safe to be out now.
Six solid inches of ice are uniformly distributed atop the pond.

 

With temperatures in the teens, and only 2 inches of snow on the ice, the freezing process is in high gear. The boys and I head out and drill a few holes just before the daylight fails. The lake is noisy and alive - full of expansion music.
Slsssssss - aaaaaah aaah - slssssss- crick crick crick - aaaah - Boom ! Creeeeeekk - bBoom!
Water rises and falls in the holes with each new crack and quake.  The dogs look nervously at each other, at me, toward shore. The whole sheet of ice is on vibrate.  But then a crappie comes up the hole and the youngster is transformed into a dog possessed.
I unhook and drop the 9 incher back down the hole. I have made the dog insane ! A couple more bangs - bBaaaang - aaaaaah - errrrrrrr - clank ! Sounds like beating on a steel drum with a bat ! The spaniel bugs out for the shore.

Craaaaack - reeee reeeee reeeee- slllllsssss- errrrrr - bbBoom! 
No more bites.
The music too loud and sweet.

Oops !

It is perhaps a bit soon................

I don't see a pickup connected to this rig, but then that would be the less buoyant bit, wouldn't it.