IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Idaho => Ice Fishing Idaho => Topic started by: FishDoktor on Nov 03, 2020, 11:14 AM
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Seems like I cant start a new ice fishing season without also getting near gear (beyond just new line and lures).
The past few years have been: Several rods, a Humminbird Ice 35, a few jaw jackers, new heater, Clam plate/drill for my auger, Striker Ice Armor.
This year I have purchased a new shanty. I had a Frabill suitcase style shanty. Good for two people, folds down nicely, good weight and has a floor. Not super portable once on the ice and at times in the wind it could be less than ideal.
So I have upgraded to a 1-man flip over and went with the Frabill Recruit. Good weight and fishable area. Decent pack size and seating option. Not as tall as the suitcase (I wont be able to stand up in it) but should be ok. I am actually still in the process of assembling it as I slow make some mods based on others experience. I got runners for it and installed those (though I am looking at building a sled as well as I believe it will improve ease of movement even more). I am painting the inside of the tub a light gray so it will be easier to spot dropped gear against that vs the black. A friend has a flip over with a black tub and he said it is like a black hole if you drop something. Really hard to find lures, etc. I've seen a few others do it too. Will be waxing the poles as I assemble as well and looking at options for lighting. Nothing to fancy (individually battery powered vs running a bunch off of one larger batter). I'm keeping the suitcase shanty as it would be more ideal for 2 people if I ever need that. The recruit could fit two but it would be tight.
So far that is it for this year. A chance I could still go for a rod or two but with 10+ already probably not needed haha. Next year I am already considering the Strikemaster 24V 8" auger.
Anyone else get / planning to get some new toys for the season?
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14 spoons so far , need a few horizontal jigs ,
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So far some LED string lights ..small battery pack for same ..a XL Jet Sled ..Okuma 1000 bait feeder...
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Starting off slow with a few micro rattle baits and soft plastics.
Hopefully by the time the season starts I’ll have a new electric auger setup, though I’m still researching on what exactly my options are and which style or brand would be right for me.
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I'll probably build a couple new rods, and might get a new auger for my drill.
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An Eskimo Wide 1 Inferno, a Dewalt 998 drill, and some jigs so far.
I have a pistol bit auger and an Amped Outdoors lithium battery on my Christmas List, along with even more jigs.
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2 new pistons in the Ski-doo, and a box of jigs from AMPED outdoors.
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A 3 man hub and a homemade minnow cooler...similar to the Frabill and Engle styles at a fourth the cost.
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My list is nice and long! I hope I don't realize how much money that i have spent by writing it all out.
-eskimo outbreak 650xd. I sold my ff 6120i and upgraded to the full-length door. It looks and feels way nicer.
-Jason Mitchell Dead meat @32M. Feels like a super nice rod. A good in-between for my tickle and my avid ice.
-picsfun ICX in-line reel and their ICE-5 spinner. Both feel super nice. Put the ICX on my tickle and the ICE-5 on the dead meat. Replaced my 13 descent, which I love, but the mrs needed a nice panfish reel on her 13 wicked.
-a bunch of ram mounts to mount my helix 5 and 7 in the castle, and then more to set up my shuttles too.
-burtec wheel skirts for the house
-Milwaukee hammer drill and Kdrill 8.5" auger
-ultimate outdoors rattle reels and solid mounts to mount my rattles onto the Katz covers.
covers.
-I am trying 6lb fluoro on my heavier rods this year. It is almost as thin as my *new* clam 2 lb metered mono, so maybe I'll be able to fish my walleye rods for panfish as a dead stick.
-bought a couple of packs of the clam silkies. Seem cool. We'll see.
I think that I am done. There is definitely more, like I built a 12 rod cedar holder to mount in the castle, I am building 8 "otter style" rod holders that will be modular between my sled and the house, I made my lift-bed light cordless.... it goes on and on. Definitely the most excited i have been for an ice season this year.
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Sold my snowmobile and bought this:
(https://i.postimg.cc/BjCv6gcv/snowdog-camo-6546.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjCv6gcv)
Also looking for an enclosed cargo trailer to haul it and the the rest of my gear.
Our High Uinta lakes should be ready to hard deck fish in a couple of weeks. Life is good.
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Sold my snowmobile and bought this:
(https://i.postimg.cc/BjCv6gcv/snowdog-camo-6546.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/BjCv6gcv)
Also looking for an enclosed cargo trailer to haul it and the the rest of my gear.
Our High Uinta lakes should be ready to hard deck fish in a couple of weeks. Life is good.
Let me know how that goes. I am sick of the maintenance of sleds, and trailering them open in the salt is going to kill them quick. A SnowDog could ride in the back of the pickup under cover, and should be a lot simpler.
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Let me know how that goes. I am sick of the maintenance of sleds, and trailering them open in the salt is going to kill them quick. A SnowDog could ride in the back of the pickup under cover, and should be a lot simpler.
Just go to YouTube and search for SnowDog videos. Several show them being hauled in P/U truck beds under cover. They also show you how to get them into and out of the bed by yourself without ramps. Very neat.
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Bought the Hummingbird Ice Helix 5. Upgrading from Marcum M3.
Will be testing it out on Henry’s Lake in the near future 🤞
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I got the eskimo evo 1it. Bought it last season but it got here as the ice ended, so I never used it. So it will be new for this season. Excited to get it out and try it out.
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Bought mine in 18/19 season and love it. It is my early season, walk-on, pull-by-hand, go to shelter. Lots of room inside for 2 rods - on in each forward corner with the Vexilar dead center between the rods. Tall enough for me to stand up in (I'm 5' 8"). Enjoy. ;D
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Nothing new, quite satisfied with what I have been using for last 5 years. 2016 Polaris 550 wide track, loads nicely in my 20 foot enclosed trailer with all my gear. Looking forward to the hardwater again after my crane hunt to lubbock the 1st of Jan.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XrNMXrTx/Cascade-Jan-2016.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XrNMXrTx)
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Bob I was curious about how much slush gets kicked up in your face when you go thru slush pockets on the ice, seems like that could be an issue. :o
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Bob I was curious about how much slush gets kicked up in your face when you go thru slush pockets on the ice, seems like that could be an issue. :o
I don't know Pete. I've never used this machine before. This season will be my learning period. They DO come with a full mud flap across the back so I would think that it won't be a major problem if one at all. And being as the driver will usually be standing to drive, I imagine that slush in the face is not going to happen at all.
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I don't know Pete. I've never used this machine before. This season will be my learning period. They DO come with a full mud flap across the back so I would think that it won't be a major problem if one at all. And being as the driver will usually be standing to drive, I imagine that slush in the face is not going to happen at all.
No slush in the face.
The issue is more not burying them in deep slush. They do not "float" over slush as well as a snowmobile.
Slush ins a pain on a snowmobile and worse on a SnowDog.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/CBnLWpr4/20201127-161634.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CBnLWpr4)
Just got this today for ice fishing. Now to start modifications
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My left shoulder...
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(https://i.postimg.cc/XZGP3z5R/KIMG0782.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XZGP3z5R)
(https://i.postimg.cc/CBb6nnmJ/KIMG0783.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CBb6nnmJ)
Few new jigging spoons and a couple new rods
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Gonna revive this for the 2021-2022 season.
Not much new for me. Another rod/reel combo which puts me at 13 now. Probably should get another though. Or not take all of them on the ice. Haha. This new one is my first rod to be truly listed as "noodle" so I am excited to try that out.
Also a new drill for the auger. I run a 6 inch strikemaster Lazer (the actual hand auger not the lite flite) on a clam plate. I had been running it off my normal Ryobi hammer drill. That one was brushed and turned out 600 in/ln of torque normally but probably a bit more as I ran it on a 9 ah battery. It did great. But to be safe, I took advantage of the ol' black Friday situation and got the new One+ Brushless Hammer drill. now at 750 in/lb base, I should be turning much more with that 9 ah battery.
Other than that, just a few jigs. I have been eyeballing some of the smaller cameras though. Not that I need it since I have a flasher. But could be fun to have.
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A 6" SM Lite Flight auger, Shappell HD sled, Ice Shanty Flag & beanie, and 2 Piscifun ICX Carbon Ice Fishing Reel, 3.2:1 Inline FreeSpool Ice Reel, Magnetic Drop System, 8+1 Shielded BB, Sliver & Black, & Left Hand Retrieve. Is it ice yet? ;D
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A 6" SM Lite Flight auger, Shappell HD sled, Ice Shanty Flag & beanie, and 2 Piscifun ICX Carbon Ice Fishing Reel, 3.2:1 Inline FreeSpool Ice Reel, Magnetic Drop System, 8+1 Shielded BB, Sliver & Black, & Left Hand Retrieve. Is it ice yet? ;D
Sounds like you just completely re-outfitted yourself. I've heard good things about the Lite Flight. Are you setting that up on a drill? I have been using a 6" since I moved to Idaho in 2014. A few people have asked why only 6 and I have told them its much more efficient, lighter, and I have never had a problem pulling even large trout through a 6 inch hole. A friend who has an 8" propane Eskimo has told me numerous times if he had to do it over, he would get exactly the same setup I have with a 6" and use a drill.
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New Baffin Wolf Boots and new Nils 6-inch auger for my clam drive. Some spoons and jigs.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/RJrsGvBP/20211116-152425.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RJrsGvBP)
Nuff' said ?
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I'll make some new mooska jigs this weekend and some honey worm plastics.
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Noob here with two seasons under my belt. The off season gave me a chance to up my game:
Baffin Impact boots. ActionHeat 5v heated socks, vest, baselayer pants and hand muff. Jawjackers and Jigging Bases. A few more rods and reels. Eagle Claw Ice Rod Cases. Vulture Systems tip up sensors. Nocs Standard Issue 8x25 waterproof binoculars. New old skis to replace my old Smitty sled skis. 7.5 qt Engle Bait Cooler. Clam Rechargeable aerator. Dewalt portable propane heater. Flame King DOT approved 1 lb refillable canisters and Flame King refill kit. Bulk propane hose kit (no filter needed.) Rechargeable LED Headlamp.
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I'm up to three Semi-reliable augers... plans are to sell all three and finally get a new auger! LOL
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Sounds like you just completely re-outfitted yourself. I've heard good things about the Lite Flight. Are you setting that up on a drill?
Already have the Milwaukee 18vdc Fuel Drill. I went drill 4 years ago and will NOT look back. ;D
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Since posting last season, I now have a livescope, outbreak 650, and an underwater camera
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The old lady treated me real nice this season with an otter rod case and a bucket caddy and shack lights for x mas.
I treated me real well with a new otter vortex resort, a few frostbite rods and upsized the buddy heater to the big. Ice camping this season in the future.
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The old lady treated me real nice this season with an otter rod case and a bucket caddy and shack lights for x mas.
I treated me real well with a new otter vortex resort, a few frostbite rods and upsized the buddy heater to the big. Ice camping this season in the future.
Is Sagle anywhere near Eagle? ;)
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I treated me real well with a new otter vortex resort, a few frostbite rods and upsized the buddy heater to the big. Ice camping this season in the future.
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Overnight ice fishing/winter camping is a blast! And you cant go wrong with the big buddy!
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I upgraded my Ski-Doo Tundra to a model with electric start and reverse, and got an enclosed trailer so I no longer have to deal with slushy covers, and dragging the snowmobile backwards off the trailer. Oh, and I no longer have to figure out how to keep the bolt trailer tilted to load when I am by myself. Also snagged a 2 person flip over from Amazon Warehouse this summer, so when I take my wife she can sit inside and stay warm. She also got electric socks, mittens, and electric hand warmers when they were cheap this summer.
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I borrowed my nephew’s snowmobile. Very fast. Unfortunately, it has no reverse and a tilt trailer with an open front. I did a test drive after Christmas and will be returning it!
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I borrowed my nephew’s snowmobile. Very fast. Unfortunately, it has no reverse and a tilt trailer with an open front. I did a test drive after Christmas and will be returning it!
If you unhook the trailer you can drive off the front of it, little extra work, but don't have to try and drag it off the back. We just used to drive them off of the side of a car trailer.
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I just picked up my first ice sled myself. 02 summit 600 without reverse, and it does suck yanking it off the trailer. it goes on a flatbed I use for my buggy, I think I can come up with something to be able to ride it off on of the front corners.
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Get the skis over the trailer and it'll drive off, don't need anything, the suspension on them will take the drop
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Get the skis over the trailer and it'll drive off, don't need anything, the suspension on them will take the drop
Ill give er a rip next week, work is pulling me away from the ice for a week.
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Ill give er a rip next week, work is pulling me away from the ice for a week.
If you can find something to tie the rear bumper to, you can also drive the trailer forward and take it off the back. The tow hooks of the next truck behind you in the lot come to mind.... ;)
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The old lady treated me real nice this season with an otter rod case and a bucket caddy and shack lights for x mas.
I treated me real well with a new otter vortex resort, a few frostbite rods and upsized the buddy heater to the big. Ice camping this season in the future.
What bite is good at night besides crappy? I am in CDA and have been wanting to do an overnight trip. Let me know if you are up for company. I have my own shelter to sleep in. I would like to overnight on hayden for pike but it sounds like the pike dont feed at night?
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Ling/Burbot predominantly feed at night and mostly during the winter. Typically people around here don't start fishing till about evening and pull all nighters or camp on the ice fishing.
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What bite is good at night besides crappy? I am in CDA and have been wanting to do an overnight trip. Let me know if you are up for company. I have my own shelter to sleep in. I would like to overnight on hayden for pike but it sounds like the pike dont feed at night?
I mainly wanted to overnight just to camp out. Old lady gets pissed “waking up at 4 am to hunt and fish and she don’t get no sleep”. I’m sure that’ll change to why are you gone all week. I did wanna trip up to bead for burb overnight and I’m sure the pike bite may not be hot but I don’t think your chances of hooking up are completely lost at night.
Was hoping for a lot more cold so I could run the sled out rather than hand pulling all that gear out depending on snow conditions.
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Any size to the burbot on bead?
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Any size to the burbot on bead?
Got one on my wall I caught last year. 42.5 “ 13 lbs
The general catch is a few pounds. Decent eaters.
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Nothing too big for me this year. Probably the first time in a while. Past years have seen a new auger, shanty, finder, Bibs/Coat, etc.
I did make 2 ice rods during the off-season. V-line needles. Kind of a medium light. One I call the Glow Stick (glows in the dark of course) and the other the Purple Power. I trimmed the glow down a few inches but left the Purple at 34". Different handles/grips. Glow has a shorter grip and uses bands to hold the reel. Using a 13 Fishing Descent Aluminum spool on that. The Purple has a more standard reel seat and had a 13 Fishing Whiteout. Did just order a Deep Freeze Pro Skimmer too. But that is about it. Absolutely loaded with rods now (something like 15 or 16?). Plenty of lures and all the other items one could possibly need. Now I just need the ice.
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I ended up picking up a jigging jaw jacker... though it was expensive, it was well worth the $$!
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Lots new tungsten jigs. Just need some ice. Spend way to much.
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I ended up picking up a jigging jaw jacker... though it was expensive, it was well worth the $$!
I bought one like 2 seasons ago. I think I have used it once or twice. I found deadsticking to be more successful for me though I have seen a few fish get caught. On a really cold day, it seems like the batteries give out so fast. Make sure you have good batteries. I'd also think about removing them from the jacker when not in use too. And install them just before going on the ice. One time, somehow, the switch got flipped on my drive to the ice and the motor ran the whole time. Between three hours of running while on the way to the ice, and it being a cold day, they did not last long.
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A buddy of mine has a few of the jigging jackers, and I’ll say they certainly take some getting used to. They can be great though, once you figure them out. Removing the batteries is a great tip.
For me though, this year is the year I finally upgrade my vexilar. My old fl-8 is showing its age. I’m thinking I’m gonna bump up to the fl-20.
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A buddy of mine has a few of the jigging jackers, and I’ll say they certainly take some getting used to. They can be great though, once you figure them out. Removing the batteries is a great tip.
For me though, this year is the year I finally upgrade my vexilar. My old fl-8 is showing its age. I’m thinking I’m gonna bump up to the fl-20.
Two other tips I can give for jawjackers after using them for a few years (some of this may very well be common knowledge but you never know):
These are the best bells I have found work the best for indicating a strike https://www.amazon.com/KISEER-Plastic-Fishing-Bells-Clips/dp/B08K2SY9VJ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2TFMQYZWD5YUE&keywords=clip+on+fishing+bells&qid=1701879386&sprefix=clip+on+fishing+bells%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-5 (https://www.amazon.com/KISEER-Plastic-Fishing-Bells-Clips/dp/B08K2SY9VJ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2TFMQYZWD5YUE&keywords=clip+on+fishing+bells&qid=1701879386&sprefix=clip+on+fishing+bells%2Caps%2C117&sr=8-5) I clip them on right around the lowest guide and they stay on well. The bright green clip helps to see them if they fall off and they are cheap enough that if you lose one, no biggie. Make it really easy to hear when a jacker goes. I even used them when I was using the jigger. With the wiggle wheel, they didn't make much noise until the thing was set off. With the more aggressive wheels, you would hear a little bit of a jingle but it was different enough from when you got a strike to know what was going on.
The other tip I learned somewhere on this board, is get some of those premade knots for bobber stops. Put one on your line and slide it up and down the line, keeping it just above the reel. I'd set my finder in the hole, pull out line by hand while holding the bobber stop in place and get the depth I want (keeping the rod tip at about the spot where it would sit once set on the jacker). Then that way, when I got a fish, I could easily reset to the same depth without having to grab the finder again. Kind of a pain when you are first setting one at like 20 feet or more but it made things so much faster in the long run.
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X2 on the lights for jackers. I like mine blue. I would pack extra batteries also.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TLYvGKnn/Screenshot-20231206-184453-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLYvGKnn)
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I went crazy this year. I got a Vexilar FLX-20 pro pack and a Clam C-360 pop-up, and some new lures and jigs.
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Got a Marcum Pursuit HD early for X-mas! I will be recording catching fish by this weekend!
Also got a sweet deal on a bunch of tungsten hand painted jigs. LET'S GO!
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I got a wrecked snowmobile last year and got it back running- I think. Have not run it more than a few laps around the pasture. If it works, I got a good deal. If not, I learned another hard lesson about taking on a "project"
(https://i.postimg.cc/QK3rt91W/temp-Image-LDjz-Er.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QK3rt91W)
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I changed out a bunch of treble hooks for singles. Hope they work.