Shelf Ice Already?

It feels too early for shelf ice, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it has been quite cold and the flows are still abnormally low. That makes me very nervous for my home water over through the last four days of the week. The jet stream is going to dip down a long way and a mass of arctic air is going to establish a bit of a presence for a little while. If there is serious anchor ice with these super low flows on my home river there is going to be a fish kill.

It may surprise you, but my second favorite time my home water is when there is some minor shelf ice. It is not particular productive, but it is beautiful and challenging, and when I do get a fish it is usually bigger than average. Today ended up being a skunk. There was a little bit too much shelf ice. Here are some fish I've caught previous years when the the flows were better, on days when the water temperatures were hovering just above freezing:

I always have a brown or two up my sleeve!

You tired of seeing that second to last brown? I'm not. That is still the second best fish of my career, as my first brown trout over 20 inches. I don't personally believe there has ever existed a trout as drop dead gorgeous as that one. Here he is again: 

Last one, I promise. For this post at least ; ) 

And with that... we will see what I catch tomorrow. Or, as I look at the time now and see that it is almost 1:00 in the morning... what I catch today. Goodbye and goodnight!