Thanks everyone. I will look at the bulb and check the lines to make sure all are secure. It may be hard to rext now since the ice is gone in my area and it runs fine when not drilling ice.

Thank you fishwater! My question on the venting would be, would that make sense if I hold it above the ice and open it up it runs great but at soon as it starts into the ice it bogs down? I have no idea and will check it but seems like it would bog down all the time. And I will play with the down pressure next time I drill

Haha, where were you when I first posted I was going up:) that’s almost hard to believe. Everyone i talked to and bait shops said nothing really going anywhere. Big cormorant was my last option today but the rain pushed me inside. Warm, wind and rain are going to be very hard on the remaining ice.

Joe Scegura wrote:

Sorry to hear you had poor luck. I had some buddies up there. They hammered the big crappie and bluegill on two different lakes. Said it was the best fishing they’ve had in awhile. Lots of 12-14″ <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>crappie and a lot of gills over 9″. They said the ice was in good shape just a lil sloppy as you stated.

Fishing was awful. Tiny perch, gills and northern. Nobody was catching. Fished detroit, pelican and sybil. Only fish worth a darn i saw were some huge tulibee another guy caught on sybil. Super sloppy with the warm conditions. Probably won’t be back to this area anytime soon.

bigcrappie wrote:

Clam sells replacement clips and extra poles I am sure you can make something out of those parts.

Thanks but I was just curious if anyone had a diy ideas because the clips alone are $12 on clams website.

I just got back and used 4 lb ice magic all weekend. Besides being bit off by a northern, i had zero issues and caught a lot of perch. I could see my jig resting on the bottom in 21′ of water.

I would love to find a one man otter but not seeing a lot out there. Probably because guys aren’t selling them after they buy them…

Thanks bobberstop. I’m just checking to see if there’s anyone on here looking to sell otherwise I’ll wait to find an after the season sale on a clam scout or kenai.

It was very cold. Got home after work and it was on my door step, brought it in and tried it. That would make sense but at the same time I’m taking it ice fishing…it’s going to be cold. It was very rough turning and didn’t spin freely at all.

This rod still for sale?

Try posting this in the Minnesota fishing section. Great people are willing to help, unless you’re looking for specific GPS points

Out of curiosity, why do you have heavier leader then main line? Is it for abrasion resistance when the fish is right under the hole doing circles?

Boy the arguement about mono vs fluoro and who has more stretch has my head spinning. Every article I’ve ever read has said mono has more stretch and I definitely agree by personal experience. I have been wrong before (so my wife says) but I think I’m write here;)

http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/ask-experts-what-line-should-i-use

I think I’ll just get ice magic and if I don’t like it I’ll try something else.

Thanks

Yes, fluorocarbon has much less stretch than mono. Almost like an in between of mono and braid because it’s clear and it has little stretch like braid. My issue using it in the summer is it’s stiff so knots aren’t as strong and sometimes has memory issues, hence my question.

I would say it’s 50-50 inside and outside. I feel like fluorocarbon will be more sensitive and abrasion resistant but not sure how it is in cold conditions as it’s already stiff, does it free spool off the reel? Mono has more stretch so in deeper water I’m afraid of poor hook sets and bite detection but is usually easier to work with. Braid has the ice up issue but seems like many like it. No experience with the co-polymer

Thanks fellas

Mudshark, you are a man of infinite wisdom.

If by chance, I forgot to take it out of the tent, the truck or any cold place, would it crack the plastic? That’s all I’m asking.

No I understand that but during travel or staying overnight somewhere if I leave it in the tent I dont want it to freeze and crack.

Keep the water cold and every once in a while dip it in your hole to switch the water. My only concern would be if i forget it in my tent and it freezes solid, would it fracture?

How would this reel act as a walleye reel? Or is it to light and more of a panfish reel. Looking for something on my new TUC Precision

Hey guys, didn’t make it over to Mazaska yesterday but drilled holes around on local ponds in Northfield and found 4″ uniform. Ziggys bait said 4-6″ on all surrounding lakes. Stay safe and good luck!

Thanks Isaac! Put any fish on the ice?

I’ve got a Milwaukee fuel 18. Absolutely love it. Not using the kdrill but with a 5″ strikemaster laser i could drill 30-40 holes in a foot of ice.

red89 wrote:

The Yutrax tri-fold ramps are on sale at cabelas. I bought a set of the 69″ last year and they worked great. Comes with straps to attach to hitch.

They make a longer 82″ model as well, but I went with the shorter set so they would fit under the atv with the tailgate closed in the 6.5′ truck bed. Turned out that I couldn’t close the tailgate anyway, so would have got the longer ones if I would have known that.

Out of curiousity, do they not fold right in half? If so a 69″ ramp folded in 2 should be able to fit in a 6.5′ bed.

Thanks guys, should be some good black friday deals coming so I’ll look for the longest i can find.

What weight spoon do you typically use for say <10′, 10-20′, 20-30′ and 30+’? I’m assuming natural colors for clearer water and bright color and rattles for murky? Some with rattles and some not?

I better make this a trip to the store without the wife!

Yes, thank you guys, both great suggestions! And yes I already have a flasher. If I forgot my flasher I’d probably turn around and go home. I currently have a humminbird ice 35 which I really like but thinking about picking up a marcum lx5i.