Author Topic: Whats first????? (Read 3416 times)

perchnut · « **on:** Sep 19, 2007, 08:12 AM »

So we all pick up a new toy or so in the 'off season', but what is the first thing that you will do to officially 'start getting ready'. Do you make a list? Get out all your gear? Start checking IS every day? Tune up the auger? Whats that first step in getting ready for the upcomming ice season. Frankly, I cant believe Im on this website every day now and I probably have a good 3 months till fishable ice if im lucky. I need to move north!! For me, I go up in my garage, get down my box of 20 some tip ups and go through them all making sure they are ready to rock and roll...from there, I check the jig poles, etc etc.....So whats the first thing you do??

icy mike · « **Reply #1 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 11:57 AM »

I generally put everything away at the end of the season so when the next season rolls around all I have to do is load up and go. I always monitor IS for new info and products, but the basic set up has not really changed in years.

jr_the_dj · « **Reply #2 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 02:17 PM »

I grab all my gear, including clothing and put in in a pile. Then I go through everything one by one making sure everything I have is ready. If its not I have a notebook that I write down everything I need and off to the store I go

Then I check IS once an hour for the next 2 months to see what it going on.

I started getting ready 2 weeks ago and I only have a few little things left to get. I will be ready for whenever we get the hard water.

Pork Rind · « **Reply #3 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 02:50 PM »

1-get it out and fondle it(ice fishing gear,get your minds out of the gutter

)

then piece by piece check it out the like jr off to the store I go to get more things to use or carry

Then have the big prayer for ICE to stay awhile

adkRoy · « **Reply #4 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 03:52 PM »

The night before I go out for the first time I untangle all the tip-ups (don't know how they get tangled over the summer

) and get out the other icefishing gear.

esox13 · « **Reply #5 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 04:27 PM »

I go through everything at least twice. Then I open all the goodies I bought during the off-season and put them where they belong. I keep a running list of anything I could possibly need while going through my stuff. Once everything has been gone through I strip the line off all tip ups and jig poles, clean and grease everything then respool. I put on all new leaders/hooks/harnesses/jigs where needed and then pack everything so all I have to do is put it in my truck and go.

Then I pour over web sites and pre season sales to find the equipment from my list or any great deals. Once I acquire it I introduce it to the rest of the team and put it away until black ice. This is definitely not a casual hobby of mine.

Wissota Bear · « **Reply #6 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 08:15 PM »

Whats that first step in getting ready for the upcoming ice season? IceShanty.com

Seeing all those pictures of gills on the ice and eye's pearing out the hole gets me right in the mood.

jayswimmer09 · « **Reply #7 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 08:30 PM »

well my first step is always to visit ice shanty. its automatic for me

gaudetskie · « **Reply #8 on:** Sep 19, 2007, 09:46 PM »

First I set up both portables in the basement (Eskimo Grand Caravan & Clam Jr.) Then Change the gear lube, and run a little Seafoam and gas through my 1973 Airdisam (the neighbors love that

) And then I wait like a drag car for the green light!!

GAMBELL · « **Reply #9 on:** Sep 20, 2007, 04:51 PM »

I ordered some more tip ups last week and got all my gear out. My neighbors thought I was crazy setting up my Clam Yukon and cleaning the cob webs out of it. The next thing I'm going to purchase this season is a Aqua View camera.

roverowner · « **Reply #10 on:** Sep 20, 2007, 07:53 PM »

I bought a new storage builing this summer, so today I spent a couple hours getting my stuff all lined up on shelves and getting things ready.

vancouvercanuck · « **Reply #11 on:** Sep 21, 2007, 01:30 PM »

clean the tackle box
start the auger

Mainehazmt · « **Reply #12 on:** Sep 21, 2007, 03:49 PM »

Quote from: esox13 on Sep 19, 2007, 04:27 PM

. This is definitely not a casual hobby of mine.

and can be costly toooo lol

holehawg · « **Reply #13 on:** Sep 21, 2007, 06:52 PM »

the stocking up of the beer & venison supply...

madpistoleer · « **Reply #14 on:** Sep 21, 2007, 07:22 PM »

I never stop getting ready, theres allways something to get or improve.............

boblee · « **Reply #15 on:** Sep 22, 2007, 09:07 PM »

I find myself on I.S every day now stareing at all the pics and reading all the new posts...and the old ones.
I just finished up some tlc on my shack and find myself there alot too. all my gear is ready to rock and roll but you can never have enough stuff so i'm always checking the links

darkhousefisher · « **Reply #16 on:** Sep 23, 2007, 03:08 AM »

I put it off as long as I can, but eventually I pop in Grumpy Old Men and watch it a few times. I then set up the shanty in the garage and set out some tip-ups in the driveway at various distances. Then I sit in the shanty with a handful of PBR's and "watch" my tip-up's. Hopefully while doing this my wife didn't see me, so I don't have to listen to her laugh at me........oh the lowly life of an ice fisherman. The worst part is that I usually start this ritual in August.

Skipper · « **Reply #17 on:** Sep 23, 2007, 09:12 AM »

first thing is always getting the auger out. if there are problems,
I then have time to repair......

Mainehazmt · « **Reply #18 on:** Sep 23, 2007, 10:23 AM »

Quote from: Skipper on Sep 23, 2007, 09:12 AM

first thing is always getting the auger out. if there are problems,
I then have time to repair......

if you get an Icegator all you need to do is check the batteries are charged!

Skipper · « **Reply #19 on:** Sep 23, 2007, 03:41 PM »

True, very true!

Waiting on an eight inch though... $:-\$

meatman · « **Reply #20 on:** Sep 23, 2007, 05:46 PM »

i gave the tip ups a little maintenance on labor day while i BBQED ribs. everything is together so its basically pack up and go. i have also been looking at gas augers but i dont know if i will buy this year, just bought a new truck this summer so that drained the coffers as well as having a truck payment.,

Igloolou · « **Reply #21 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 05:43 PM »

Quote from: Pork Rind on Sep 19, 2007, 02:50 PM

1-get it out and fondle it(ice fishing gear,get your minds out of the gutter )

then piece by piece check it out the like jr off to the store I go to get more things to use or carry

Then have the big prayer for ICE to stay awhile

THAT IS JUST SOOOO WRONG LOL

IceholeFisherman · « **Reply #22 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 05:54 PM »

Quote from: Skipper on Sep 23, 2007, 03:41 PM

True, very true!

Waiting on an eight inch though... $:-\$

I'm with Skipper on this one. 8 inch is more in line with my style of fishing as I'm mostly targeting walleye but anything but an empty hook up through the hole will do.

madpistoleer · « **Reply #23 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 07:07 PM »

Quote from: Skipper on Sep 23, 2007, 09:12 AM

first thing is always getting the auger out. if there are problems,
I then have time to repair......

Yep, time to look at the auger. I broke the on/off switch last year but it was still working ok, just had to pull the plug wire to stop it (jiffy 10" 3 hp).
Allways something............. ..

Mainedog · « **Reply #24 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 08:00 PM »

Quote from: madpistoleer on Sep 24, 2007, 07:07 PM

Yep, time to look at the auger. I broke the on/off switch last year but it was still working ok, just had to pull the plug wire to stop it (jiffy 10" 3 hp).
Allways something............. ..

Been there. Done that. Not hard to replace. Just $$ from Jiffy, and some more #$%^#&^*^%$#@!

fishfry · « **Reply #25 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 08:19 PM »

Make some new tipdowns.

pikemaster789 · « **Reply #26 on:** Sep 24, 2007, 08:25 PM »

pray for ice

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Author Topic: Whats first????? (Read 3416 times)