Best tip you've learned this season

[slamminsam]

 
As the season winds down, , I was wondering what has helped you most this year.  I've been to a couple shows and clinics and learned alot.  I thought we could share our best tips.  Mine would be the jiggin' tips from "Joe" from the ice shows...AA rep...thanks Buddy.  Gold Tungsten jig, glow tail and mousses for scent.  Super productive year for the crappie and perch with the jig...What did you learn....could be set up, sled, gear, filleting, dress, whatever...share.  And relax...we're not giving away "top secret" war plans...just a little love.   Tight lines and enjoy late ice..BE SAFE

[NYSporty]

The importance of a flasher...
Been ice fishing for 27 years never used one got to try one this year now I will have one for next season for sure.

[tree-on]

Letting a pike run first time up near the hole. Stopped losing a many fish when I started to let them run with light pressure when I first saw them in the hole. Seemed to stop the death rolls too.

[ice hammer]

The importance of a flasher...
Been ice fishing for 27 years never used one got to try one this year now I will have one for next season for sure.

This may be a dumb question, but what is a flasher?

[NYSporty]

This may be a dumb question, but what is a flasher?

Marcum,Vexilar google it I'm sure you know what they are aka fish finder for icefishing.

[hoghammer]

X2 with the flasher. I will definately have one for next year.

[Iceassin]

Not a tip...more of an observation. 

The OT and GOM boards are verrrry interesting ...and fun too

[silvah]

A wise member posted this gem, which I learned a great deal from. He said,

1. Keep your mouth shut
2. Don't say nothin to nobody

[Duneman101]

Set the hook on every little movement while dead sticking, I've always been the kind to watch my spring bobber bounce once then grab the rod and set on the second bounce...  I've caught twice as many fish now that the second i see the boober move at all, i am grabbin it!

[littlehead]

using a drill for auger lighten my load very good tip

[davejohnson2]

after using a buddys flasher one time....i will have one next year! also, when a pike is running out a tip up, let him stop and eat, then when he runs again, set it 

[Bozeiceman]

Fish before big nor Easters...

[surflizard]

Putting inch marks my Jiffy Mille Lacs chisel with a White paint pen, so I know exactly how much ice I have under me when I'm out on the early season ice !

[Canadianiceguy]

best tip i have learned this season get a vex and a portable hut.
i already have what i want in mind.
these 2 items are what im gonna get over the summer.
hut  http://www.otteroutdoors.com/otterproicecottage.html
vexilar http://vexilar.com/pages/products/products_fl-8se_pp.php

[Hagigun]

best tip i have learned this season get a vex and a portable hut.
i already have what i want in mind.
these 2 items are what im gonna get over the summer.
hut  http://www.otteroutdoors.com/otterproicecottage.html
vexilar http://vexilar.com/pages/products/products_fl-8se_pp.php

I'd go for the FL18 if you can afford the price jump. The Auto Zoom feature to see the bottom 6 feet is well worth the price. An FL-18 Genz pack can be had for $350-$375ish.

If that is too steep, look at the Marcum vx-1. My friend just picked one up and he likes it alot. Very similar to the FL 18 in feeatures/functions, but fl-8 price wise. This time of year you should be able to get a great deal too.

All that said, an FL8 is a great machine and will work just fine. I know people that have used them for years and wont consider upgrading because they like theirs just fine.


*My best tip I learned*

-Enjoy being on the ice regardless of the amount of fish you catch. When i took that mindset, it eased the pain of not catching much and i do now really enjoy being outside.  I spent 13 hours on the lake last saturday 6am-7pm. I was only fishing for Walleyes and caught ZERO. Our group of 4 managed ZERO. We did get one 4lb pike and a few dinky perch and crappie. BUT I HAD A GREAT TIME!

[archer71xx]

If your new auger isn't cutting right call the company and they will send blades that aren't made in china

[jiggin365]

The importance of a flasher...

[Bullelk34]

I learned that more walleyes and perch are suspended than I ever thought. I usually never raised my jig for the high riders I saw on my vex because I thought they were all slimers (trout). One very slow day I started reeling up to those high marks and caught a pile-o-perch and some walleyes as well.

[KingCat]

how to use the arctic warrior flags. man those things work way better than tip ups. you actually have a rod attached and can reel in after a fish takes the flag. now if i could only find where to buy em around here!

[skipno1]

just got the vexilar fl-22 first year icefishing love it ,had beer battered crappie and pearch last nite

[Threefish]

Ive learned that a good lake map of the lake you never fished, combined with the right equipment can make for a good experience.

[eriksat1]

Crappies hugging tight to the bottom this winter, just because you don't see them on the flasher doesn't mean that they aren't there. I have caught several really nice crappies within 1-2 ft off bottom where they come up right off bottom, when nothing was showing up suspended at all on my LX-5.
These were from yesterday, btw it was -11° when I left the lake last night, thank god for my new Frabill Solo flip over and buddy heater.