Ice fishermen in the media

[CrewJones]

with out the commercials there would be no shows to watch, you think the Pro's who film these shows, and the guides that take them are in to do this for free? It all comes down to the sponsors, and Im a fan of the technology and I do not want to own 10 different flashers so its kind of nice to see some other items being used and diff ways to use them.

I fish a lake up in the UP of michigan called Lake gogebic, Next bite did a show there and I was just waiting for him to nail the walleye, which we never do.... unless its perfect.

well they caught one nice fish and a bunch of small ones, just an example of it being actual fishing.

[schweady]

Carp,

That was one of the best posts I have read around here in a long time.

Agreed! Sort of like the writeup in the StarTribune on the Sunday before the opener. Same copy, different lakes. Or like any of the outdoor magazines: subscribe for a year, cancel, re-read each month's issue in rotation every following year.

[TyGuy02]

I have the attitude with these shows that most is [PoorWordUsage] advertising and promotion, but there is some truth to what they're doing. I DVR every show that has to do with fishing and take "some" advice or learning from most episodes. For instance...I appreciate how the Slobbo man John Gillespie does his shows every week, and sometimes has to do multiple days/trips just to get a show filmed. I also like how they are always showing what they're using and how they're using it. I usually pay more attention to the how and put that in my memory for something to try in the future. In depth outdoors...I like when they explain the specifics of equipment and electronics, they do that well. Infisherman...they amp up my excitement a little bit, and I like how they use swimbaits in open water. It's a technique they use almost exclusively and I like how they explain how to trigger a bite using those techniques. They also are a big lake ecology and seasonal fish strategy information show. Jason Mitchell...he's a big "resort" sponsor and never has up-to-date shows. For all I know the show was filmed 5+ years ago...But, I like him because he's a likeable guy and his show has a nice feel. Any other show I've deleted from my DVR schedule because maybe I didn't like it because all they ever talk about is VEXILAR VEXILAR VEXILAR (ie Dave Genz). I used to watch the Due North Outdoors and I liked how I got the "one with the environment" feeling, but it just had a lack of useable information.

I really like the shows, but I dislike them at the same time. Yes the plugs have got me to spend money that I wouldn't have, but they also get me amped to try something new. I just wonder how John Gillespies wife allows him to fish as often as he does. Now if he could move to Minnesota and not be a Sconi. He did do a show on the Mississippi near st cloud open water fishing in the wintertime last year though, and always goes to LOW, Leech and Milelacs for muskies

[Jarrid Houston]

Ty Guy, I like your comments, but dont pick on WI. You have Babe, The Linders, and most the cast of In Fish (Matt Straw, Doug, etc.?) over there in the Baxter/Brainard area. Here is sconnie, we have Gillesp, The NXT Bite cast, and some others I am forgetting about. Did I mention you got Babe??? LOL...

[reinhard1]

Babe WHo???? oh the guy who gets mad at others wearing beards? . good luck.

[TyGuy02]

Babe is...alright in small doses. The problem with the "industry" is that great companies need to sell new stuff. The outdoors industry is a very very large network that includes many more people than just the ones we see. Excitement, technology, results, entertainment, all go into fueling the industry and believe it or not, these tv shows play a large role other than just their face value. I remember the first 10 years that I used a flasher (only a few times a year), I really only thought it was a great depth finder and a way to get my bait 12" off the bottom without using a clip-weight. I know I'm not alone, but these shows did help me understand how to use a flasher and other equipment for much much more.

Hopefully you're getting some good topics for your paper!