Fly the Team Iceshanty Flag! Iceshanty Proshop
100% agree with you mikez, other than I don't use tipups I push paper at a desk in front of a computer every day. I fish to get away from people and tech. Mostly people, but still Concur with you too, Reb, the surprise is half the fun. From the boat I can tell what I have on the line a lot of the time just from how it feels/what it's doing, but through the ice I never really know what I've hooked until I see it coming up the hole.
One thing I didn't mention is I haven't caught a laker through the ice. Last year was my first ever try and I got blanked. I'm a small water guy who felt overwhelmed on the big lake.Everything I learn about Lakers suggests electronics is the game changer. If I try again for them I will definitely be following someone with sonar.At least till I have them figured out.
Agree, I like to get away and relax. Not the race around the ice kinda guy. If I get a bucket of fish, that's the topping on the cake. And always a good surprise when ya pull out a kitty cat...or an otter pokes his head up.
What is this seeing fish in open water you speak of? I don't understand. This is the land of chocolate milk.
For me electronics are a window into the advance study of fish behaviour.
You have my sympathy... This is what electronics can do for you with your mud that you fishing (well a little like it);
What's clear is that the prospect of simpley being lost and overly intimidated by the use of electronics has forced some old school anglers to disparage the use of them by others. That can happen when you fish the same two bodies of water for 40 years straight.
IMO, for me anyway, too many electronics just takes away from the "fun/suspense of the hunt"....and I love electronics. I use a locater and mini-cam, but after I'm done scouting it out, I just use the locater. I usually fish the lakes I know really well, and the structures and spots that support what I'm after. Too much makes it like, pardon the pun, shooting fish in a barrel. I like a little suspense, I don't want to know what's in every xmas present before I open 'em. There's a lot more to it to me than just yanking out as many fish as you can with a 100% success rate. Using your wits and knowledge of the area just makes the catch all that much sweeter.Kinda like that first girlfriend, the chase is half the fun, then comes the reward. Guess that's middle of the road old school/new tech, that works for me. But whatever works for anyone, go for it. You're out there to enjoy it however you do it.