IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: djlangen on Mar 27, 2015, 07:08 PM
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I try to learn something new every time I go out fishing and try to reflect on what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. Here are a couple of takeaways from this ice season (in no particular order).
1) Sharp hooks are a must for consistent hookups
2) Good ice fishing line is worth its weight in gold--I had too many breakoffs this winter due to using old 2 lb. golden stren
3) Sometimes less is more--some of the best ice fishermen I know are masters at "keeping it simple."
4) Fish with those you love--a day out on the ice with my dad or son is priceless
5) You catch more fish when you're warm--many days this past winter when I was happy to have warm suit and shelter when I needed it
What are some things that you took away from this ice season? What do you plan on doing differently next year?
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*keep a better eye on the shore ice. it went out in less than an hour while we were ramping up for the end of day bite.
*get the ol lady better boots.
*try to find new fishing buddies that don't need to get a buzz every time we hit the ice.
*sled bottom savers are worth their weight in gold.
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How to icefish for Lake Trout, to much snow and slush sux, don't leave your catch on the ice.
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I learned to use worms on my tip ups for trout. Caught my PB brown trout with a dillie fished about 10' under the ice in about 25' of water. Caught my 1st brook trout thru the ice using the same method. It was a nice hook jawed male. Who knew.
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The FL-18 with a proview iceducer and 2 suppression cables is gold.
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Fish don't always winter up in the same areas every year. Very tough year as a hole, even to say it was the worst year I have ever had. But hopefully there is next year!!!!! STEVE
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You need to screen some people before taking them fishing, 2 reasons.
1) Safety, we ended up with the death of a fisherman in our area that died from foul play by hooking up with a person(s) unkown to him.
2) If you are not compatible on shore you will likely be more incompatible on the ice.
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You need to screen some people before taking them fishing, 2 reasons.
1) Safety, we ended up with the death of a fisherman in our area that died from foul play by hooking up with a person(s) unkown to him.
2) If you are not compatible on shore you will likely be more incompatible on the ice.
not good at all!
is the murder(s) captured?
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I agree with you on who you bring I took a guy turned out to be a slob leaving butts and trash then he got mad because I made him clean up his mess now after going twice he wants to go solo or with his 4 yo and I keep telling him not to take her and not to go solo even if the guy at the bait store says the ice is safe oh and he can't swim
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Not sure how it is going but the suspect was charged and in court about 6 weeks ago.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2015/02/11/muddy-waters-in-trial
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I learned that a drill auger is the nuts and I will never hand drill again.....ever! ;D
Learned a ton of stuff as usual, from all of you guys here on the Shanty, too much to list...appreciate all of your posts and willingness to share... :thumbsup: :icefish:
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Appreciate all of your posts and willingness to share... :thumbsup: :icefish:
X2
WS
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DON'T NEED BAIT TO CATCH FISH. STARTED FISHING WITH PLASTICS AND HAD THE BEST TIME YET IN 45 YRS. ICE FISHING.
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Always carry an extra set of auger blades/cutter head in your tackle box or leave them in car trunk for the season!
I had the misfortune in the effort of an outing after only drilling three holes, setting up tip-ups as I went along, then on the forth hitting a boulder below the ice clearing out the shavings when cutting through - auger done for the day!
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That i should have built a "SMITTY SLED" 30 years ago!!!!
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Not sure how it is going but the suspect was charged and in court about 6 weeks ago.
http://www.intelligencer.ca/2015/02/11/muddy-waters-in-trial
thanks.
so it was a red boat, blue boat, bad weather day. with out of the ordinary actions of the blue boat occupants.
with cell phones, it can add an all new dimension to "foul play". blue boat might have been waiting to assist whom ever was in the red boat to do his dead.
sorry to hear about this, but it might have been orchestrated and what we read about is the played out version. kind of like hunting "accidents" can be.
at first it sounded like someone was on the ice and a stranger walked up to a fisherman and shot or cut him/her. some random act of murder. glad it's not that, seemingly.
thats why we are not supposed to stop and help fellow motorists any more. gangs are acting as decoy's in distress to get you to stop and offer a lending hand. then they pounce.
let their cell phone get the help they need is how to deal with that now days. best to not be a victim. victims have no rights in court.
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A gas auger (chipper) is a blessing for thick ice and only weighs 25lbs.
The Maki plastics have filled the buckets.
Always bring ice anchors and tie down straps when fishing Champlain in a pop up sled.
And .............. there can be nice people on this site ;)
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A long super light jigging rod with a flashy spoon + a Mister Jigger is pretty much money in the bank for pan fish. Also don't take so many music jobs on weekends in March; never know when we will have good late season conditions. ::)
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don't get sick for the entire month of January
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dont hide extra fish in the air cleaner of the truck ....they taste like gas. Oh sorry....i thought it was april 1st
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I learned that my local lake doesn't have any hungry fish. ;D ;D
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When buying a new item you should ask experienced people that have the particular item how they like it before you go to the expense. I bought a propane gas auger this year and it worked fine for the most part until the temperature dropped near zero. The gas line froze on two different fishing trips which made the auger useless. Luckily I always carry on my sled a hand auger as back-up.
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Lie to the guy thats always late-if your leaving 6am tell him 515am he just might be on time ::)....Always buy your own bait never rely on someone else. Sharpen your darn hooks... :tipup:
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The gas line froze on two different fishing trips
Then why is it that gas lines from outside tanks, that are outside all winter, don't freeze?...h2l
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Always get to the lake early, sit on the entire bucket-not just the edge, never ever use fishing reports to plan an outing-different day-different lake...... You know the old saying: "should have been here yesterday".
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Power auger is the ticket - even if you have to share it with your cousin
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learned milw. m18 drill, clam plate, ,n, mora 6" auger is the "nuts" for icefishing. carried extra batt., only used it 1 time all season.
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learned milw. m18 drill, clam plate, ,n, mora 6" auger is the "nuts" for icefishing. carried extra batt., only used it 1 time all season.
X2
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This season, I learned that:
A ) I should never head to a flag without the minnow bucket and scoop, keeping it in the sled makes it easier.
B ) The times I forget A ), there will be a fish on the line and the times I remember A ) there will be no fish.
C ) Put my hemostats on a retractable cord.
D ) If I forget C ) my hemostats end up at the bottom of the lake.
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I've finally converted a buddy to fly reels and plastics. Yes he out fished me this season.
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slipperybob, i learned the same as your buddy(not a "fly" reel, a 6061, but same idea. also plastics. p.s. a smart man would take that fact(he outfished you), sharpen it to a fine point ,n, use it to your advantage for at least the forseeable future to needle him. in fun, of course. lol wire
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LOL, yeap. I was too laxed. ;D
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Just when you think you are good at ice fishing you find out you are not
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I learned not to post on ice shanty.. Lol more drama than a bus full of teenage girls.. >:(
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I learned if you are on here...you are not fishing......lol....yo u may be on a I phone.....and you miss your bite.....was a great year.....what happened to that global warming.....
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1) I need to get out fishing A LOT more.
2) A trapper's basket is great to use if there's no snow and you have a long walk.
3) Stay out of the way of my Jet Sled going down a steep hill and on real slick ice.
4) Warn the guy walking in front of me of #3.
5) It's funny to watch my friend get knocked off his feet by my Jet Sled and land inside it when he doesn't hear #3 and decides to stop and ask what I just said.
6) Keep better notes on cloudy opposed to sunny day's catches.
7) No matter how good you think you tied a knot on a tie down cord on a pop up it will always work it's way loose on a windy day.
8) Use ratchet straps instead of the tie down cords because of #7.
9) How fish actually bite a lure - really fun to watch.
10) Check for off season sales more often.
11) Try to trap my own minnows.
12) Don't let other projects prevent me from getting my gear set up by the end of September like I always have done in years past.
13) I need to get a bait casting reel or two.
14) Check the manufacturer dates when buying line.
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Great reading all the posts on this topic! Another ice fishing season has come and gone, and I already find myself looking forward to another hardwater season with many adventures to be had...
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1. Go every chance you get because you don't know how short your ice season will be.
2. Mix it up with different live baits, have all the different kinds you can have at all times.
3. Mix it up with lures too, hard baits, soft plastics, jigs and spoons.
4. Fish with a flasher, any kind of flasher, make sure there are fish and stay on them and utilize #2 and #3.
5. Don't leave a spot looking for more fish, if you're already on fish.
6. Even if others are driving out with their trucks doesn't mean you should.
7. Test the ice no matter what.
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That last year's ice did a lot of damage leading into this year.
I didn't fully understand exactly how bad a winter kill could be until I fished some of my favorite small ponds.
That's when I discovered that these waters either had little fish or very few fish.
Luckily I also had some ponds that handled last years deep ice and low summer waters well!
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Always bring a hand auger even if your buddies "brand new" gas auger is with you.
Always have sharp blades
Always have ice cleats with you...the time you don't bring 'em you'll wish you did.
Always bring extra propane for the heater.
Always have a pair of tongs for the grill ;) it saves burnt fingers
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I learned that my 4x4 ATV does not steer too well on glare ice with chains on rear tires only and 30mph cross winds ::).. After a few 180s and 360s chains went on front tires soon thereafter :)
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Same as first year, and all the years in between.......THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS (((SAFE ICE)))
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When a heater was burned in the fishtent,
I learned for the density of the carbon monoxide rises.
Because I bought a carbon monoxide detector,and that was used.
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:tipup:
Been ice fishen now for over 60 years and one thing I have yet to remember is that when there is going to be cooking or grilling out on the ice, you better bring lots of extra with you, as fresh charcoal sausage, hot dogs or broiled fish always seem to taste better out on the ice, and one usually eats twice as much as they would at home.>>NOT TO FORGET!!!!! The cooking odors also seem to draw many near by fisherman! Hot dogs/Rolls are cheap>>Bring extras LOL LOL