Who’s starting to gear up?

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Well after having a few drinks tonight around the fire pit with friends……the annual ice fishing trip to Upper Red lake came up. Starting to lay out the time frame and plan, not to mention round up the invite list of guys. Witch usually ends up being about 1/2-1/3 end up going. Man…getting excited once again.

Anyone else getting the mood going

[ICE WANDERER]

               I'm always in the mood for ice fishing, it is where I find peace without all the crap that is going on in the world.

                IW

[lefty2053]

Was thinking of modifying my Smitty sled. Put longer cross pieces on it to hold the tent on one side. Not looking to ad more but to take less. I have to get a smaller sled this year. I have the Jet Sled XL and turned it into a Wind break last year which worked real good but the wife wants to go again and so I have to use a tent and heater.

[NEWLEE]

Putting buddy's UTV in shop today to see if we can figure out a way to mount his gas auger on the front. Then we will be planning our trip to LOW in Jan.

[zcm_82]

We had a local sporting good store go out of business a while back, so I loaded myself to the max with discount gear. I should be set on gear for years, other than a new auger.

I went to a drill setup last year with a Lazer for thicker ice, but I didn't particularly like almost breaking my wrists at the bottom of holes with that typical Lazer catch. I sold the Lazer a couple months ago, and will be buying a 7" straight blade bit for my drill setup this year, once the ice gear hits the stores in a month or two.

I usually catch the ice bug right after deer season, so it will still be a few months before I'm really in go mode for ice fishing.

[masoneddie]

Anyone else getting the mood going
[/quote]

  I have ice fishing stickers on my tool pail at work, yeah, always in the mood!    

[filetandrelease]

 I put my stuff away ready for the next season , , do need to order  up a few spoons
 Just waiting for a sale

[lefty2053]

Putting buddy's UTV in shop today to see if we can figure out a way to mount his gas auger on the front. Then we will be planning our trip to LOW in Jan.

They make holders that work for augers.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/kolpin-rhino-grip-xl-atv-gear-clamps?a=616460&szc=000&clrc=000&pm2d=CSE-SPG-15-PLA-BING&utm_medium=PLA&utm_source=Bing&utm_campaign=CI&msclkid=008e678c59161abbb97406ae14aa08ad&gclid=008e678c59161abbb97406ae14aa08ad&gclsrc=3p.ds
Or these might work at the lower end of the windshield.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/kolpin-rhino-grip-flex-2-pack?a=2189698

[IceAddict87]

Just came here to see if there was any chatter. I haven’t started getting anything ready but I will be in the next couple months. Bought an otter cottage at the end of lasT season and it needs a lot of customization done to it, an ideas are welcome. Ive got one trip to lake of the woods planned, hoping to go sometime around New Years and probably a late February trip. I know I am ready for ice though. The waiting it the worst part!

[smitty]

Well, I fixed my jet sled bait set up and checked to make sure my Helix 5 was up to date.
Now just looking for things to buy that I probably do not need!

smitty

[coldwillie11]

Been a busy week for me, got a new snowdog and trailer, Starting to figure out mods for trailer to fit everyone’s gear, maybe some mods to the snowdog, need to get runners on flip over to save the sled botttom, can’t wait to get started. Itch got bad extra early this year!

[Flint]

Just got two new Marcum brute batts for my LX5 and lx7. In the process of pimping my sled. I’ll have to post up a couple pics of it sometime.

[filetandrelease]

 Flint I have 2 of those brutes caught on a great sale, 12v 10amp absolutely no complaints,  1 stored the other is on my helix 5 ,I have got 30 hrs no problem
 My whole set up now weighs  a little less than my old 12v 10amp ,battery 👍

[MumbleSEED]

For my families sanity I don't start getting ice fishing gear out until after deer hunting season.  However, I have been starting to gear up as in purchasing some items on my needs/wants list. 

[DR.SPECKLER]

After fall salmon and steelhead.i always started sorting thru my gear around October but with the  dwindling winters here ive turned into a last minute guy.no reason to get my gear out early and not step on ice until mid January.

[cwavs1982]

My flashers went on the charger last week.  Had to order some tackle items and will be changing up some of the treble hooks on some vertical jigs.  With work being busy this year, didn't have a chance to do much summer fishing, so ice fishing is always on my mind.  LOW trip planned for mid January, and maybe can talk them into one more. 

The flip-overs came thru the summer in good shape, so will be pulling them down here and just go thru them and maybe tinker with them a little. 

[hardwater diehard]

Made some purchases to make my outings easier and more enjoyable since last seasons end ...some at fantastic deals/prices others MSRP...but priceless in the end . Got to get some 3 lbs fluorocarbon  or mono bulk spools and have at my panfish set ups .Not quite ready to start gearing up just yet ...I probably have a purchase or two left in me . Usually for me its after all the manufacturers display their new wares for season ...that usually pumps me up as does the return of long sleeves and a jacket  .

[FreshwaterPhil]

Already geared up to the gills, stuff is pretty much ready to go, except for my spare reels that I'm still using in open water. Crazy hot few weeks up here for this time of year, I'm still float tubing in 75 to 80 degree water. Hoping to get safe ice on my early season spots by mid November if we're lucky enough.

Seems like the new lakes I scout on my float tube, end up paying off on ice, and vice versa.

Incidentally, a new lake I scouted last January paid off again. At that time, all we caught were some tiny perch, until I landed this nice smallie.



I planned to return there this summer with my float tube. I went back in July, landed a dozen or so smaller bass. Knowing there were bigger ones in there, I headed back last Thursday, and landed this beast. 20 inches, but thick enough to weight in a couple ounces under 5 lbs, biggest float tube bass for me to date, and also biggest I've caught on a topwater lure.

[Junkie4Ice]

Shacks got their dose of scotchgard this weekend. I'm getting anxious!

[missoulafish]

Baffin Titans showed up last week!

[GBguy]

I've always got my eyes open for a great deal, more so this year as I've got my eyes peeled for an Eskimo 9416i. Scored a great deal on a used Eskimo 6120i for less than half what I sold mine for this spring. That deal thread has cost me some money this summer too!

[jbird68]

Just spent around $100 on tungsten ice jigs. But we also use them while drifting for crappie on open water.

[JBDekes]

Pre-ordered a shack, been building some rods lately (light panfish I don't usually fish these), a few palm rod setups, and got some Vulture system tip-up lights/alarms.

Can not WAIT for the hardware, only thing I do all by myself (wife don't walk on water) and love to hear that buzzing sound.

[kgpcr]

I picked up a Marcum LX-7 . I needed a new one! i also picked up a Jiffy propane auger. Bring on teh ICE!!!

[kgpcr]

Flint I have 2 of those brutes caught on a great sale, 12v 10amp absolutely no complaints,  1 stored the other is on my helix 5 ,I have got 30 hrs no problem
 My whole set up now weighs  a little less than my old 12v 10amp ,battery 👍

How do you like your LX-7?

[filetandrelease]

How do you like your LX-7?

It reads very well , big screen , its light , I recharge after 3 days , no complaints ,I may not have bought it if it wasn’t an absolute killer deal but I’m glad I did ,  I’m not a brand loyal guy , I do spilt it’s time with my helix 5 which I have no problems with ,  used both units to 100’ plus
  When you get a chance make a post on your likes or dislike ,
  F&R

[hays47]

I haven't started because I never quit. Always refining and upgrading whenever I can. Seems like most of the deals are in the warmest parts of the year. Case in point had a few hundred guys come to my garage sale. Sold ten ton of stuff for open water fishing. Had some great ice fishing deals but they barely got a glance from anyone.

Let some skim ice form then everyone goes nuts looking and buying stuff. Same story year after year.

[Kidder]

Putting buddy's UTV in shop today to see if we can figure out a way to mount his gas auger on the front. Then we will be planning our trip to LOW in Jan.

Thought I had a better pic of my auger mount but basically it's rubber coated "P" clamps attaching a custom aluminum frame to the front bumper.

[Unclegillhunter]

Only got out a couple of times last season, so good on tackle. Did move around a couple of things in the shed to make room to flip up the shack let it air out. Filling up propane cans that got used this summer. Not planned for the long weekend other than work. Will probably pull out the ice reels and do a cleaning and lube.
Keep it safe! JDL

[mushroom_capd_1]

I'm still waiting for that latest and greatest thing I need to show up in the new offerings available that I feel I absolutely need. For the most part I'll stick with what got me through the years. I'll start going through the gear soon and looking over things to see what needs to be replaced or fixed. Other than that I usually just start to pick up a few new tackle offerings here and there that I think might work.