gear that works

[hamms-scooter]

What is the cheapest tool in your arsenal that you just love and works for ya? I bought 2 cheaper rod and reel combos 4 yrs ago at ff for 14 bucks/per on sale... It's a south bend and rod is great for pannies! quick tip and loads up nice. Reels have been great as well and glad I bought them. I also have the orange colored scoops that are made in Isle,MN and are common acrossed the ice. fits in genz pack next to battery in back so great to have when on the move.

[Hardyboy]

my .35 cent plastic hook out !! works great with painted hooks when they are hooked deeper than where they can be easily removed by hand. i get the hook out my paint is still intact and the fish can swim back down the hole.

[Esox_Magnum]

My $14 Energizer head lamp, got 1 thats 5-6 years old used all the time and only on it's 2nd set of batteries, that thing just wont die. Anothers a cheap $4 fold up rod holder from HT I think, best rod holder I have ever used and takes up hardly any space.

[bobber_down_1979]

I am really impressed at how well those insulation discs work that you put over your ice hole. The kind that have the slit and whole in the middle to use with a standard type tip-up. The energizer brand head-lamps are a must too for low light conditions. I have the kind with the 3 setting and they all come in handy. The Mr. heater cooker/ heater is the bomb. I have the kind that runs off of a 1 pond tank. Way more heat than the buddy style and you can cook on it. Love the HT rod bags. I can store about 7 rods in one rod bag.

[fishinfey8]

Cheap HT or Glacier bay tip ups!

[mixxedbagg]

AA powered AM/FM radio. You can't buy those things anymore.

[Esox_Magnum]

AA powered AM/FM radio. You can't buy those things anymore.

Yes you can, Sony still has one and Wally World sells them, guess you can add that to my list to my $16 Sony radio thats been in use in the shack, boat, Elk camp and job sites for 15 years now.

[Crm7290]

my 10 dollar chair. Its like a small bar stool with a back. Bout as confortable as it gets outside of the bucket.

[SlavetodaBox]

My fingernail clipper that won't die or get dull, 65cents at the bait store.

[magicstix]

Cheapest: Probably my HT blue/orange 30" rod for panfish. It doesn't have much backbone but so soft if the fish licks your bait you can see it. I haven't counted but have probably caught the most fish on this rod ever. I just proved it works last Sat. again. Who caught the most fish? Me.

Another product that is nice is by Frabill, hooks that have velcro that wraps around poles in porty to hang lights,coats, etc. on.

[bobber_down_1979]

my 10 dollar chair. Its like a small bar stool with a back. Bout as confortable as it gets outside of the bucket.

I think we need a pic. Is this somthing you can still buy?

[Crm7290]

I was kinda off on the description. I should have said cloth bar stool. Three legs like a bar stool and then a back

I have this but orange.I bought it at fleet farm in the ice fishing section a week or two ago

[fishwater]

I have this but orange.

+1 I've got a camo version for fishing in HUB shelters, still haven't found a more comfortable chair. I use the backless tri-leg stools for holding up electronics, rod case & heaters.

5 gal buckets are probably the cheapest/most useful item I use for fishing.

[thatoneguy]

my bunny boots were free (gift from an uncle in the air force) and have kept my feet warm for 24 years!

[tsande00]

Another product that is nice is by Frabill, hooks that have velcro that wraps around poles in porty to hang lights,coats, etc. on.

Agreed - I wish I had even more (only have two). They work great and can be left up even when taking the shelter down. I usually hang my coat on one and my fishing backpack with tackle, lights, snacks, etc on the other

[slipperybob]

A jigger totter rod holder. Cheap and works. Funny thing is that I like to use it as a regular rod holder as much as the balancing clip.

[tsande00]

I bought a center console and made some minor mods to make it work in my flip over, cut some slits and added straps. Best investment yet ($2.99 at auto parts store).

[Duffman]

AA powered AM/FM radio. You can't buy those things anymore.

Grundig Mini

3.2 oz

Two AAA batteries

[jBohmer]

An am/fm shower radio. It has a hook on top and is water proof. My best friend when fishing solo. Got it as a gift years ago, never used it until I started icefishing. I have changed the batteries(2AA) once since I sarted using it(two weeks ago).

[mixxedbagg]

Hmmmm. That Grundig looks sweet.

I tried to find a little battery powered AM/FM radio earlier this year and I couldn't find one locally. I just assumed that everyone except me moved on...

[deadeye]

For me the radio and frabill coat hangers are the two cheap things that make life better. I got a 10$ Emerson am/fm/weather radio from fleet farm and that thing has been really tough. It makes it so much nicer to have some tunes playing.

[fishingstar]

X2 on the HT rod bag. I pull my stuff out with a snowmobile and a otter I don't spend 1/2 hour with my rod anymore.

[mixxedbagg]

%$@#$%!@%!!

Naturally, right after I post how my little AM/FM that I've been using for over 10 years has treated me so well, I somehow managed to break it this morning while rehabbing some gear. Sheesh! Ain't that the way it goes??

Hope I can find one around here now.

[LightningBG]

Hope I can find one around here now.

I'm not sure if you're near a wally world, but you could also try Walgreens or CVS. Seems like they always have little gadgets like those radios.

[LightningBG]

Might not be the cheapest, but I love my 40+ year old white gas coleman lantern. I use that thing year round it seems.