I have a strikemaster 40v and used it several trips to northern LOTW and drilled through almost 4′ of ice with an extension. It worked flawless and it was way below zero. I carried the battery separate from the auger to keep warmer. The guys I went with had gas augers as they said mine would get stuck in the hole and have to leave the auger in the ice. Well after 1 day they left their gas auger on the rack and were using mine! The reverse was key to flush the hole half way down. Great auger you can’t go wrong with one. I never needed a second battery. .

Put a floor jack under the trailer tongue and unhook from truck. Lower the jack all the way down. Don’t use trailer jack. Your trailer should be just a foot or less off the ground and motor high enough to drain.

BigWerm is dead on, I’ve fished LOTW mostly out of Sunset on Oak Island and red glow buckshot is money. Buy several different sizes and 3 of each so you can sell them to the other guys who are getting their butts spanked by you for a premium price!

Only 62% 1st dose and 53% fully vaccinated. Look at the southern states numbers.

I’ve stayed at Sunset on Oak many times ice fishing. A very nice place with top notch food and rooms. Never did the open water trip yet. Beautiful area that is multi species for sure.

I always used a white port wine, can’t remember brand.

another

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another pic.

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4 walleye from this past Month. 31″ being the biggest 27.5 the smallest of the 4.
Did get some big girls at LOTW this year with 29″ the biggest. Hope the pictures come up. Haven’t posted pictures before.

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I have a vex camera and love it. Have a flx 28 that rarely gets used when I’m perch and bluegill fishing. Its a game changer when they are light biting.

My son was involved in the trial for the Pfizer vaccine and said only side effect was slight fatigue after second dose that was only a day or 2. Said it was barely noticeable. Myself I don’t think we will see the border open until maybe next summer even with the vaccine it will take months to get enough people vaccinated to make a difference to the Canadian government.

In August I have had great luck pulling #11 deep diving tail dancers in the basin in 30-32ft. I don’t use lead but pull them at 3-3.2 160-170 ft behind the boat. They pull hard and dive to about 28-30ft and wow just about break the rod when they hook up! You have to have your drag set right because its a violent hit. And at almost 200 ft. behind the boat when you start fighting them you get to enjoy a long battle. 2 years ago just south of 3 sisters we caught many 26-28″ in 1 afternoon. I recommend trying this technique if you haven’t.

That’s exactly what I did almost 2 years ago at the age of 54. I started investing in the stock market at 25 years old. I had good advise and lived a pretty simple life and made it my goal to retire before 60. I watched my family and friends spend money on cars, houses, trips etc. and just sat back and laughed. I use to dream about going where ever I want to fish, open water or ice and the last 2 years have been amazing. The only stress I have is trying to decide where I’m going! My wife encourages my adventures as she has seen the long hours 6-7 day work weeks that I had when I was working. If I ever get bored I can go back to work, but don’t see that happening anytime soon. Hope this doesn’t sound like I’m bragging just tell the younger guys you can do the same if you get a plan and work that plan financially.

Heard the same thing you reported and it has been raining a lot. Glad I went a month ago it was amazing! A lot of big walleye. Will wait till ice fishing to head back.

Just got back from Devils Lake and the little eyes are on fire. Caught fish in front of ramp and swimming area around graham island. Lots of rock piles there. 6 mile bay alond shore north of ramp small rock island close to shore by old combine is a good place close to pile. Cast to the pile and hang on there is pike, white bass and nice eyes there. Cement bay and along highway is very good in 28-32ft. fairly close to shore. Good Luck!

Fished Wed. through Sat. out of Birchwood. Caught some nice walleyes a lot of crappie and a real nice 6 lb. bass. Bottom bouncer spinner and crawler did the best for us on eyes. Crappie pitching small jigs and plastic to docks in the evening.

I was up on LOTW 2 weeks ago and had absolutely no issues with my Strikemaster 40V. Had an extension and put the battery in a small canvas bag with a hand warmer to keep warm. It was below zero, a lot of ice and many holes with a 8″ auger. To say that I was impressed was an under statement. I pulled a shack and a otter sled behind a snowmobile maybe 20 miles one way to fish each day and anyone that’s been up through the angle this year knows the lake is very rough from all the drifting. All the bouncing the auger experienced in the sled and still runs like it should. A+ rating from my experience as I was a little worried before the trip with switching from gas to electric.

Thought maybe I would lower the bar so to speak so others don’t feel intimidated. This 4 lb. eye was caught on LOTW out of the northwest angle last week. Great time and just a slot fish but picture worthy in my mind.

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Had a mount done last summer, did an amazing job. Highly recommend and his work is guaranteed!! ( fibretech)

Fished Spirit a week ago, it was slow. Caught a few slot fish pulling harness with leach in 16-20 ft. Storm fronts, wind direction changes and then no wind with sun did us no favors. If it ever stops raining and we get some consistent weather it should be good.

Congrats on PB, hope you cpr’d that beast!!

Dan, Osage is between Charles City and the min. border.

Water levels here in mitchell co. are as low as I have ever seen them. Fished from 6am to 2pm and caught 3 eyes around 14″ and approx. 40 to 50 small smallmouths today. With it as low as it is floating the jon boat was hard for the 2 of us, alot of draging it through the shallow areas. Only caught fish in or very close to current.

I pull 3/4 oz. or larger chrome raddle traps @ 3-4 mph. Pump the rod every minute or so will increase your hits. They can’t resist the flash and raddle.

Fished Thursday evening from 4 to 9. Trolled #7 shads in 8-10 FOW @ 2.5mph was working well for me. Ended up with 20 eyes, 2 were 15-16″. Should just continue to get better!

Shawn, check out Flex Fish.com They make the best replicas I have ever seen. That gator is a true giant. Hope you tipped the guide very well!!

I have a Lowe FM 175, its a single console wide, deep boat. It is powered by a 90 hp. 2 stroke with a 9.9 4 stroke merc. kicker. I love this boat. When Im putting it in the water many times people comment on how wide it is. Ive had 2 lunds before and this is as good as they are. The boat before this one was a 1660 pro v. Both good boats but now own a Lowe.

Last Sat. morning(8-28) 3 of us did a float with jon boat in Mitchell Co. We all used 1/8 oz. jigs with white or yellow twister tails. The water is low and clear which made for great fishing. We ended up catching and RELEASING over 50 smallmouth. I have fished this river for over 30 years and have only had a handfull of mornings that good. We also caught 7 walleyes and 1 northern that we kept. What an exceptional fishery in our area.

Fished Sunday 7pm till dark caught 6 eyes. 2 were slot fish and 4 perch. Pulled night crawler harness and leach on north shore in 15-20 FOW. Monday morning caught 3 in the same area and made a move to the west shore. Caught 4 nice slot walleyes and 3 unders along with some big perch in front of buffalo run area. The slot on this lake has made it a great fishery for walleyes!

Go to spirit lake and pull night crawler harness with leach. 15-20 fow