We caught a a few nothing to write home about though. Plastics worked better than live bait today.

Silver mirror is gonna be your more versatile lense. So if we wear them in lower light conditions but also on bright sunny days they will perform the best. The green Mirror will let less light through there for it seems a little bit darker. I have found that the green Mirror works best in bright sun. If you only want one pair of sunglasses I would get the silver mirror. It’s going to be the most versatile option. Both have a copper base so will work great on the water up here. I have 3 pairs now and 2 of them have the silver mirror while one has the green.

Hope this helps

It’s been really off and on for me. Pitching hasn’t been very effective but staying vertical has been. Going to try a few new to me things Friday and hopefully put a few more in the boat. I saw a lot of smaller fish caught Sunday but many of them were sauger. Didn’t see any big ones but that will change.

If your a person that stays warmer and “runs and guns” a lot I would look into the Predator Suit, it is a lighter weight suit but still extremely warm. The Hardwater suit is the one James has been wearing and he loves it. Its super warm and the material is a little bit heavier so it feels more durable. It is a little bit heavier (10 lbs vs 8 lbs) but if you don’t stay as warm I would go with that.

I know a lot of places are sold out of Predator suits as well so many have a better size selection of Hardwater and Climate.

mcarlsen wrote:

I have been very interested in these. Do you know anywhere that sells then retail? I believe I saw a suit at Dicks sporting goods in Bloomington. I read about all their different suits but it would be nice to be able to look at them in person side by side to decide which one to get.

http://strikerbrands.com/dealer-locator

Other wise I know Thorne Bros has most of the suits in stock. Joes Sporting Goods usually has a decent selection. Dicks and Gander both carry them along with Scheels. Other wise its a matter of whats closest to you and how far you want to drive.

Tim J wrote:

I have loved my predator bibs for the last two years. When I need a new jacket it will be a striker.

However, this year I bought a pair of the climate gloves and was disappointed. After about 1 month of use, all the seams in the palm are tearing apart and there is a massive tear in the palm of the outer shell on each glove where the glove would fold it you were to make a fist. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this or I just picked up a bad egg? But each glove looks the same so I’m thinking it may just be the gloves and not just one flukey glove.

They have had some issues with them. Email [email protected] they will get you new ones. The gloves are being redesigned for next year from the sounds of it.

Will Roseberg wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Nick Cox wrote:</div>
Extended Lycra inner wrist cuffs. These are awesome for keeping the snow and wind out of your sleeves!

I’m not sure if it was planned but the Lycra cuffs also help a great deal to keep your arm dry if you decide to go elbow deep after a large walleye that came unpinned at the hole

The other thing I really have to give a shout out to Striker is they come in Tall sizes for those of us with abnormally long arms and legs

Will they make gloves for that! Check em out.

http://www.strikerice.com/gloves-mitts/item/54-deep-reach-glove

Striker is sold out for the year. There going to go through a few changes from the sound of it but will be back next season.

Panfish sweetheart I consider a “Light” powered rod. I have used up to 1/8 oz spoons with no problem. It really doesn’t get that mushy feeling when you put too much weight on it.

The Perch sweetheart I use for lures up to 1/4 oz. I use it for my 1/8 oz spoons crappie fishing but its my go to Walleye rod especially when I’m using flutter spoons.

http://www.strikerice.com/accessories/item/35-rod-case

I measured mine the bottom can hold up to 40″ rods while the top would be in the 38″ range.

Nice info Nick. I love my Climate suit.

I have been running a Lithium battery in my lx-6 and I love it. Lighter for hole hopping and lasts way longer as Dave said even with my lx-6 I have fished 2+ days with out charging it. Solar Sportsmen sells the battery I use. I use the charger that came with my lx-6 as well with no issues. 3rd season with the same battery. Normally would have bought at least one lead acid by now.

Look at Solar Sportsmen’s flasher batteries. They weigh about half as much as a lead one and lasts way longer. Its a little bit of an investment but theres a lot less worrying if you have a charged battery when you wanna hit the lake.

The thing I have found with the touch screens is they need to be “grounded” in order to work. By this I mean my friend used one last year and he had to have the ice ducer in the water or holding it in his hand to be able to navigate the screen. Something with buttons such as the elite series or gen 3’s would be better because of the buttons on the sides.

As for batteries we found that to fish all day we needed to run one of the green batteries from Solar Sportsmen in the 10amp size. The 7amp would die 3/4 into a full day of fishing. I would guess a 9amp would work but ive gone away from lead acid and went to the lithium technology and Im very happy with them. Lighter and run longer = more fish caught.

I got mine. Now just waiting on the hard stuff

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I caught this on a No 8 Tackle Code blue.. Its a 1:1. 13 Fishing has the Black Betty which is the same reel just aluminum. You can catch any size fish on any reel as long as your patient.

I personally use the 6061 and Black Betty From 13 fishing and the CGI and Code Blue (no longer made) from No 8 Tackle. I have caught a ton of fish on all of these reels and have not had an issue with drag performance. Its all a matter of what you want to spend 100$ for a 6061 or 35 for a CGI.

Check out the rod bags from Strike Ice. They are a smaller profile but still have some protection vs the Transporter bag (my go to) which is bigger and has rod tubes to protect rods in the bottom.

I have 2 of the Solar Sportsman Lithium Batteries and am very impressed with them. The weight is the first thing I notice. With running a Vexilar like I do I have noticed I receive less interference from other flashers because you are constantly outputting the same voltage. And Lastly is I didn’t have to worry about charging it over the summer because the way the battery stores power more efficiently. Its going to last you a lot longer than a normal battery.

The ones at Gander are the 2014 Models.

I have used some plastics for eyes. The minnow heads from Northland is a bigger profile minnow head option. Other wise gulp Alive! have been a good one for me as well. I even catch eyes on my pannie plastics from time to time.

I have some of the older models and have yet to have any issues with them. I think you will really like those reels.

27.5″ White Out from 13 Fishing its a ML with a good tip and a backbone.

I used one of their batteries last year. I really like how light they are. It makes hole hopping really easy. I used it in my Vexilar and saw that I had less interference from other sonars. Also I was able to charge the battery after a full day of fishing in like an hour. Well worth the cost especially if its gonna last as long as they say it will.

Ill be up on big V starting the 17th of July and come home that Sunday night.

All I run is a 7″ hole. I have never had an issue with eyes coming up it. You just need to play them a little more around the bottom of the hole.

I have fished with DH, Thorne and Tuned up and I have liked all 3. I have found DH to be less expensive. While Thorne has the most options and Tuned up to have one of the fast turn around times. All 3 are great and you would be happy with either one. I know DH wasn’t in the question but I do not have any experience with Austin rods.

Light is a big factor for me. I dont have the Ice Force one but one very similar. I have found it will run much longer than my old battery. This is nice for when I go on trips where I don’t have access to power to charge the battery (LOTW). Or I am putting in a really long day. I do not worry even the slightest about my flasher turning on. Also with the lithium battery I have found I get less interference from Marcum’s to my vex because the battery actually does give it a little bit more power.

I was having issues and turned my idle up a little bit. 1/2 turn and changed the spark plug. Added a little sea foam in the gas as well.

13 fishing combos. for 40-50$ there really hard to beat.
Electronics would be fl-8 or vx-1. What ever one you want.

I have the solar sportsmen model it’s green costs a little bit more but I just love it. It lasts longer than my old battery, charges way faster and it is lighter. I have fished for 4 days on one charge this year and I could barley get 2 outta my old one.. Well worth it in my opinion.