First I use the internet, lake maps, and the DNR lake finder to find potential lakes and spots to scout. Then I take my sled packed with 2 gal of salt water, Vexilar, bucket of fat-heads, auger, tip-ups, a small shovel, and the GPS. I find the potential spot with the GPS, clear a small spot of ice pour a small amount of the salt water on the ice and plop the transducer on the ice to check depth and bottom structure. I do this a ton of times until I find what I am looking for. And when I find it I punch a hole and get a tip-up on the ice and see what I get. Now I live in Minnesota so I can only use two tip-ups at a time but it is still a great way to key in on the (hot spot) in a good area. I did want to explain about the salt water just in case everyone does not know about it (I didn’t until I read it in a book about ten years ago and I have been ice fishing in northern MN for 30 years). All you do is clear the snow off of a small spot pour some salt water on the ice and put the transducer in the puddle and it works as if it is in the water with one exception, you have to subtract the thickness of the ice to get a true reading of the depth. Now you don’t need to use salt water, any liquid will work but the salt water won’t freeze up on you.
