Pages: [1] 2 |   Go Down

Author Topic: The ONE Thing  (Read 2574 times)

crrockwell14

  • Guest
The ONE Thing
« on: Jan 17, 2020, 12:43 PM »
Hey folks!

What was the ONE thing that you wish you had been taught when you were first learning how to fish the hardwater? The ONE (perhaps MOST IMPORTANT) thing you think should have been the absolute first thing you learned?
Logged

Offline eyeflyer

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 418
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #1 on: Jan 17, 2020, 12:52 PM »
Don't jig so much, the pause is the ticket
Logged

Offline UP jigstick

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,490
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #2 on: Jan 17, 2020, 01:21 PM »
How to check the ice with a spud!
Logged

Offline Doeslayer

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,742
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #3 on: Jan 17, 2020, 01:24 PM »
That i should move outta michigan and go to manitoba where i can fish more
Logged
Catch and release, into the grease!
"gotta be somebody needs some killin" ~ Major Payne

Offline rivereddy

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 549
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #4 on: Jan 17, 2020, 01:29 PM »
No bluegill is worth swimminmg for...

fish on,

rivereddy
Logged

Offline RuttNutt

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,872
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #5 on: Jan 17, 2020, 01:32 PM »
The importance of a SPUD BAR and HOW to use it!
Logged
Where's the FISH?!

Offline kpd145

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,426
  • Shove 'em in
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #6 on: Jan 17, 2020, 01:43 PM »
Quote from: RuttNutt on Jan 17, 2020, 01:32 PM
The importance of a SPUD BAR and HOW to use it!

X2
Logged
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a RIDE!"--Hunter S. Thompson

Offline Unclegillhunter

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 2,014
  • Ice So Nice
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #7 on: Jan 17, 2020, 02:07 PM »
it kind of would’ve been nice to be told up front how much money it was going to cost me!
Keep it safe! JDL
Logged

Offline CeePac

  • IceShanty Rookie
  • **
  • Posts: 56
  • You hear what happened to Pluto? That's messed up!
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #8 on: Jan 17, 2020, 02:07 PM »
How to tie multiple knots and be prepared to do it in windy/cold conditions.
Logged

Offline Dave R

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 765
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #9 on: Jan 17, 2020, 02:13 PM »
Quote from: RuttNutt on Jan 17, 2020, 01:32 PM
The importance of a SPUD BAR and HOW to use it!

X3
Logged

Offline Luckydog

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 568
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #10 on: Jan 17, 2020, 03:28 PM »
Quote from: RuttNutt on Jan 17, 2020, 01:32 PM
The importance of a SPUD BAR and HOW to use it!

X4
Logged

Offline RoeBoat

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 2,167
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #11 on: Jan 17, 2020, 03:40 PM »
Ice safety if course as mentioned above but I don't think that was what you were asking about.

If you want to be successful catching fish then it's all about finding the ones that will cooperate.

When going after panfish, my usual target, I found the key to be finding active fish.  Most times what I'm looking for is fish a that are NOT on the bottom.  My be anywhere in the water column,  just not usually on the bottom.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes you can find bottom huggers that will rise and bite very well but it's my experience that is the exception and not the rule.

Electronics are key, your going to have to luck into them or work the water column really hard with much attention paid to where your jig is without them.

A flasher is a must in my opinion and if you have the cash Panoptics or Livescope is incredible!!!

Keep your stick on the ice and keep it moving!
Logged

Offline eyeflyer

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 418
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #12 on: Jan 17, 2020, 04:11 PM »
Quote from: RoeBoat on Jan 17, 2020, 03:40 PM
Ice safety if course as mentioned above but I don't think that was what you were asking about.

If you want to be successful catching fish then it's all about finding the ones that will cooperate.

When going after panfish, my usual target, I found the key to be finding active fish.  Most times what I'm looking for is fish a that are NOT on the bottom.  My be anywhere in the water column,  just not usually on the bottom.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes you can find bottom huggers that will rise and bite very well but it's my experience that is the exception and not the rule.

Electronics are key, your going to have to luck into them or work the water column really hard with much attention paid to where your jig is without them.

A flasher is a must in my opinion and if you have the cash Panoptics or Livescope is incredible!!!

Keep your stick on the ice and keep it moving!
No electronics when I started ice fishing. Bought my first one in 1987 and it has been by far the most important/educational fishing item I have for summer or winter fishing............gps has been pretty handy to especially for fishing those mid lake humps. Electronics probably increased my success rate by at least 10 times.
Logged

Offline Mascoma

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 251
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #13 on: Jan 17, 2020, 05:18 PM »
Buy a flasher...

No doubt about it...
Logged

Offline SLAYERFISH

  • Team IceShantyholic
  • ***
  • Posts: 5,751
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #14 on: Jan 17, 2020, 05:50 PM »
That you DON'T need bait to catch fish! ;)
Logged
Love Me or Hate Me-
All Metal all the Time!

Offline 1MOFISH

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 3,916
  • The ice is always safe are you in ???????????????
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #15 on: Jan 17, 2020, 06:01 PM »
dont leave fish to find fish!
GOD BLESS
mo
Logged
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND STRENGTH and'LOVE THY NEiGHBOR AS THYSELF'   GOD

Offline gorf37

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 176
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #16 on: Jan 17, 2020, 08:18 PM »
When to move and when not.  Those early years were dominated with 'Should we move?' 'We should move.'  'Guess we shouldn't have moved.' 'Guess we should have moved somewhere else.'
Logged

Offline slipperybob

  • Team IceShantyholic
  • ***
  • Posts: 6,553
  • LX5 or die...maybe extra battery.
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #17 on: Jan 17, 2020, 09:00 PM »
There were lots of things...however the biggest thing that stood out for me was...

- using a small piece of bait, cut up a waxy or minnow
- using a flasher was a game changer, which includes the whole learning to use it and reading the results.
- using a bait casting reel was also a game changer, pending learning how to use it properly as there's some adjustments and tweaking of gear.
- hub shelter, proper deployment, storing and all.
- ice cleats/crampons and proper foot gear
Logged
For more information read my MN nice journal

Offline GSP_Pike

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 215
  • That’s why they call it fishing.
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #18 on: Jan 17, 2020, 09:17 PM »
There’s plenty of good days ahead no reason to suffer when it’s all about fun. Plenty of other things to do in the mean time. And always remember SAFETY first!
Logged

Offline FG Steve

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,515
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #19 on: Jan 18, 2020, 09:18 AM »
How pressure cracks work, and the associated dangers.
Logged
 Happiness is a wife who can outfish you.

Offline WARRIOR_ON_ICE

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,702
  • Long Live the WARRIOR
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #20 on: Jan 18, 2020, 09:33 AM »
Using the thinnest, most invisible monofilament leader possible, not using steel leaders for pike, and always having fathead minnows with me for perch and crappies are things that I do now that I did not always do at first.
Logged
The Ultimate Warrior is possessed with great power from the heavens above ! Against the mighty lake trout and pike and schools of crappie, the power of the WARRIOR will always ......... PREVAIL !!!

Offline choo choo

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 903
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #21 on: Jan 20, 2020, 10:53 AM »
 The one thing that I wish I was TAUGHT on day one is .... Use a Rapala Jigging Rap Minnow lure !

also----- Fish  "Tip - Downs" in decent winter weather for panfish.

also----- don't use steel leaders for pickerel.

also----- if you are not getting bites ,...... move.

also----- search for Lake Trout in winter , and fish for Them !

also----- largemouth and smallmouth bass are active in winter, fish for them too.... !


The first thing  I LEARNED was------- wear ice cleats on bare ice.

second thing I learned was--------- if you want a 6 inch hole in 10 inch thick ice, you better start off spudding at least 12 inch diameter on the  top.

Logged
My boots on some ice... A line down a hole...Some fish on the screen... And a flag in the air !......Winter is Good !!

Offline PoleJerker

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 504
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #22 on: Jan 20, 2020, 11:37 AM »
Quote from: Unclegillhunter on Jan 17, 2020, 02:07 PM
it kind of would’ve been nice to be told up front how much money it was going to cost me!
Keep it safe! JDL
x2
Logged

Offline fishermantim

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 3,784
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #23 on: Jan 20, 2020, 12:12 PM »
How to build a time machine so I could have started ice fishing 20 years ago!!!
Logged
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy" - the Existential Blues

I am a legend in my own mind!

Offline Seamonkey84

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 2,469
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #24 on: Jan 20, 2020, 12:26 PM »
Quote from: fishermantim on Jan 20, 2020, 12:12 PM
How to build a time machine so I could have started ice fishing 20 years ago!!!
Ditto, I’m 35 and this is only my 5th or 6th season.
Logged

Offline badger132

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,529
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #25 on: Jan 20, 2020, 12:32 PM »
How to sharpen auger blades. In the '70s I wore a lot of holes in the ice with dull auger blades.
Logged

Offline phishmonger

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 171
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #26 on: Jan 20, 2020, 12:39 PM »
That even though there's 15" of ice on the lake, the fish still pay attention to the sun.
Logged

Offline TickleStick

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 572
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #27 on: Jan 20, 2020, 12:43 PM »
Always let you fat friend walk in front of you on the ice :)

Logged
WINTER IS COMING!

Offline jimhaney08

  • Team IceShanty Addict
  • *
  • Posts: 619
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #28 on: Jan 20, 2020, 01:14 PM »
Ditto on the safety/spud bar stuff, so I'll add three other things that I learned the hard way.  (But thanks goes to many guys on this site for setting me straight!) 

1) Yes - you need a sled right away.  My first year I was making two trips walking out and back because I didn't buy a sled. 

2) Yes - you need a hub shelter or flip over right away.  My first year I was miserable just sitting on a lawn chair in 15mph winds.  Not fun.

3) If you do buy a hub shelter - buy Eskimo ice anchors.  They are significantly better than the Clam ones that came with my hub.  Also get the Eskimo drill adapter tool and whatever cheapo drill you can find on sale.  Makes setting up a hub WAY EASIER and faster.  You don't want to sweat while on the ice.
Logged
My Setup:  Otter XL sled on a smitty.  10" Strikemaster Lithium 50 Volt auger.  Clam Bigfoot XL 2000 hub.  Garmin Striker 5 Ice Bundle.

Offline marknpanfish

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 335
Re: The ONE Thing
« Reply #29 on: Jan 20, 2020, 07:40 PM »
Move somewhere where 45 minutes isn't your closest lake.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 |   Go Up
 


Iceshanty | MyFishFinder | MyHuntingForum
Contact | Disclaimer | Privacypolicy | Sponsor
© 1996- Iceshanty.com
All Rights Reserved.