After 9 years of serious ice fishing................

[ClownColor]

I like this so lets keep it going:

Shelter-Love the HUBS and will stick with them for my applications but can see why people love the flip overs

I like having two rods (though I have 4) and could do all my fishging with them...panfish and walleye rod.

8" auger is all I need and wouldn't go smaller or larger. I'm into longevity and reliability over anything else including weight

berkley micro ice fan here also

sonar is a must. I like mine simple. ANY of the top three brands will do. I just don't need all the features of the high end models nor do I need 10 different views to see the same thing. give me zoom and interference rejection of some type.

Love tip-ups. I bought alot of styles but use my wood ones the most.

rattle reels are for sleeping

pee bottle...never.

Nothign beats the heater/cooker...NOTHING. but, buddys are safe and no burn marks on my equipment.

My BIGGEST most IMPORTANT thing I've learned...be open minded when it comes to other brands. No need to be brand loyal. many good products from many good companies and their always trying to out do themselves and others. As far as I'm concerend, there is no "one" company that will fit all your ice fishing needs.

[Lusid]

I would like to add - MN DNR Maps to this. Allows me to try new areas without all the guesswork.

[Gordie]

I would have to say one of the biggest things I have learned is to take the advice from all the great people that post them on ths site. It has made fishing much more fun and Just want to say thanks guys keep it up.

BTW you can never have enough ice fishing rods.

[Crappyfisherman]

Great post, I also can't figure out why people want to bash someone for their opinion.I'm in my 60's and been ice fishing for 50 years.What I've learned is you never stop learning. I try to change with the times, but keep doing the things that work. Its supposed to be fun. I see this post as what works for ME not YOUR doing it wrong.

#1 Go as lite as possible-1 man Fish Trap Pro with seat removed

#2 keep it simple-Take only what you need

#3 Keep moving,thats what the fish do

#4 Fresh gas and regular maintenance for your auger

#5 LED lights are the best

#6 Plastics for panfish really work

#7 Cameras are for scouting or the wife and kids

#8 Love my FL22HD Pro View

#9 Force 5 Coleman Heater (still working)

#10 Fish outside if I can

#11 Enjoy the time you have on this Earth, I don't think they ice fish in HELL.

Dan

[BeenACrappieDay]

I'm rediscovering ice fishing after going a lot as a kid, I'm learning at break-neck speed by way of these forums, and as much as I like to think I know everything on land, I will NEVER be an elitist on the water/ice. I love everything about fishing and love that I hate not knowing everything about it. this keeps me wanting more. This is me, for better or worse:

I use a hub and i LOVE my hub, but this year after doing an open ice contest, I fell in love with the freedom of open air.

I have a rod bag with a TON of rods, it is a lot easier to grab pole d when pole b isn't doing the trick than it is to fiddle with little jigs or spoons.

Tip ups are exciting, period. when that flag goes up, it's game time...

a bad day of fishing is always a good day with friends. i try not to fish alone.

my auger is a 8" Magnum iii that was my grandpa's and then my dad's, and I will put every dollar possible into keeping it alive.

and last thing i can think of right now: love your fellow angler. I PROMISE even a novice can know something you don't. don't burn that bridge getting holier than thou.

Kirk out.

[MuskieJunkie]

i dont give any u.s currency ta china. the republican big business owners are already doing that

You brought up a two month old thread to high-jack it with that statement?? And of course you do, the computer you typed that on was not made in the US.

I like the thread, interesting read. I'll add:

Get the buddy heater, there were some lemons and bad reviews but they'll save you from burning a hole in your canvas.

If you're bringing kids don't forget the snacks.

[Carl Bjorgen]

I've been ice fishing seriously since 2008 and here's what I learned is best for me...at least at this stage of my life:

I like to bring as little with me as I can possibly get away with. It makes it easier to set up and pack up. I also am not fond of clutter.

I like to move around, and fish almost the same way in the winter as I do in the summer. I go hunting.

Then again...sometimes I find a nice spot and don't mind putting the top down, cranking up my heater, turning on the radio, and hanging out for a little while and letting them come to me.

I can bring up a 3 pound bass through a four and a half inch hole. It happened last weekend. My first bass ever through the ice.

I usually fish with one rod the whole day, and it is a seven dollar cheapy that I got at Walmart.

I usually fish with the same jig 90% of the time...yet I love going to the bait store and buying other kinds of jigs. This proves that these lures work, because they can at least catch me.

I like taking my three-wheeler with me. It is like having my fishing boat on ice.

Winter sometimes moves along too fast.

[JackPineGuy]

I rodent buy my computer. My sister did

[LeDoctaire]

I like your list of things you ave learned. I have the Frabill Guardian, and love the shack. I have tricked it a little, after learning a few things of my own. For me, I usually use one rod & reel set-up, too. However, I do have three identical rigs, each equipped with a different jig just to save time. Keep up the learning experience, and good luck on the ice!

[B17]

Good call on a lot of these.

A single rod is really all you need. I have a ML Fenwick with a Pflueger ultra light sized reel and it works just fine. I have landed 5lb+ Pike in the summer with it on 6# test and Im not worried about anything through the ice with it. Having more than one rod becomes more of a nuiscance, getting all tangled up in everything.

I bought a suitcase this year and I like it way more than the flip overs. If I need to move it might take me 5 minutes longer than someone with a flip over, but I dont tend to move much, so Im good with it.

My dad taught me a good one. Bring a 5 gallon bucket and a good size cup. Fill up about half the bucket with lake water. Toss all the fish you catch in there, even the ones you think might be too small. Then at the end of the session, toss back what you dont want.

[buzbunni]

What a great post. Thanks Agronomist!

My thoughts in response to Lawrence.

1. The only reason I use a shelter is to sight fish or fish in a blizzard. With the snow suits today specially the Clam Edge Suit, you really are fishing with your shelter on.

The current line-up of cold weather suits now available is amazing. Like you said, an angler is basically wearing his/her shelter. Never-the-less, it can be nice to have a shelter to take others out on the hardwater. Esp the kiddos and rookies. Also, sometimes it's just fun to play cards with a line down the hole. There is a place for the shelter.

2. There is no reason to drill bigger than a 6 inch hole. Had no problems pulling 8-9 pounds walleyes through last couple of years.

Not true. You ain't getting a fat laker up a 6" hole. But I get your point. I own a 6" Nils and an 8" Strikemaster, but I still want to pick up a 10" Eskimo Z71 just because.

3. You need multiple poles. You need a rod, reel and line to match the jig you are presenting. Line diameter is very important.

Agree. Still, my perch sweetheart spooled with 4lb. xl is all anyone would need for most hardwater applications (sans competitive angling I suppose)

4. I agree Trilene Micro Ice is still the best line our there. Now they even offer in Solar color for tightlining. Still wish they would come out with yellow.

I generally use Trilene XL, but use micro ice as well. Yellow sure would be nice. Good ice anglers are generally good line watchers.

5. Nothing today still shows real time like a Vexilar flasher because of patented matching sonar technology. Maximizing sonar transducer crystals is the reason it's still the number one unit. Plus nothing reports faster and truer the bottom content.

Marcum LX-3 works fine for me.

6. I don't use tip-ups much anymore but when I do I grab a couple of cheep o's.

Love tip-ups. I don't get the expensive ones either. Well, I do have one BiteMe box tip-up. Great tip-up, but spendy indeed. Musta had some extra $$ in the wallet that day.

7. Rattle wheels are for when your sleeping.

Yup.

8. #1 sonar problem is a bad battery. Always have a spare.

Agreed.

9. A pee bottle is well worth the investment for the portable when it's zero below out. (Agree)

Indeed.

10. I don't fish with a heater. With today's clothing and staying mobile I'll warm up when a get home.

See my answer to #1.

11. Cameras are good for scouting and for kids entertainment.

Exactly. Good for adult newbies as well.

12. People still use minnows? I haven't fishing with a minnow in 15 years.

What do you use on a deadstick? I don't use livebait much when angling alone, but it's nice for those who are new to the sport, and sometimes it's the only thing that will work. You ain't-a-gonna catch a hardwater channel cat on artificials. And I like anglin' for hardwater cats

13. Plastics fish awesome for panfish. I always have a bait puck full of waxies.

Me too, cept I use eurolarvae.

14. Don't have a response as I don't really take my Scout off of the snowmobile.

I use sterilite containers to store my loose gear, and the rest goes in the bottom of the shelter. When I use my hub shelter I am generally driving out, and storage is less of an issue. Still, I think I may wanna pick me up one of them baskets. Good idea.

15. LED strips are a lot less of a problem then a coleman lantern when in the flip over. (Agree)

True. I still like my coleman lantern. I enjoy the "warm" light and it helps to heat my thermal shelter.

16. I truly believe is fishing is an outside sport. Get out of the stone age and get truly portable. As Genz says "Stay mobile and stay on biters!!"

I own a Canvas Craft Thermal Magnum shelter (2-3 anglers), a Frabill Thermal Headquarters (4-6 anglers), and a Clam Fish Trap Scout (1 angler).Sometimes I like to sit all day and night in a warm shelter; sometimes I like to be mobile. Sometimes I am alone; sometimes I am with others. There are the times I walk out, times I sled out, and times I drive out. Lotsa options. Fish the way that works for you (and others if that's the case)! Should you desire it, fishing can be more than just "fishing".

[Portlis]

My dad taught me a good one. Bring a 5 gallon bucket and a good size cup. Fill up about half the bucket with lake water. Toss all the fish you catch in there, even the ones you think might be too small. Then at the end of the session, toss back what you dont want.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is illegal.

EDIT: And I should clarify - I'm fairly sure it's legal as long as you don't have a limit in your possession at any given point, but that doesn't sound like the statement you were making. You can't just keep EVERY fish (for example, 12 crappies if you were alone fishing for crappies) and then throw the 2 smallest back at the end to avoid being over the limit. As soon as you had 11 in your bucket you were technically breaking the law.

[Lusid]

B17- I think that's called "culling"? Which I think is illegal.

[chanfish]

My experience is that the biggest obstacle to good fishing is time..It takes time to be successful...When i was younger, i was a much better icefisherman cause i had lots of time to explore and try different things..That gave way to sports and school events for the kids. Now that my kids are almost gone i expect to get back after it. i think alot of people dont give themselves enough time and that creates pent up frustration and shortcuts, problems out on the ice..plan and give yourselves enough time to go out and be successful. great topic tho...

[tview]

The DNR response was as follows -- This applies to MN.

Once you take a fish out of the lake and put it in your livewell, on a stringer or otherwise - posess, the fish - it is in your posession.

As long as you have a total number of fish of a particular species that are LESS than the TOTAL limit for that species on that body of water - you can CULL fish at will. i.e. you can remove any or all of the fish and replace it / them with a different fish.

However, once a limit of fish of a particular species has been reached for the body of water on which you are fishing, you can no longer "posess" any more fish of that species. i.e. you can no longer "Cull" if you posess - or have a full limit of fish in your livew

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Just an add on the fly/straight line combos are great. Tried the black Betty for blue gills it deadly. Then picked up a frabrill 241 for deep water. I actually prefer these to reels now since there is no line twist. Catch rates went up on panfish due to it.

[chris63]

Another thing about puting fish in a bucket with water is they always regurgitate what they've been feeding on.Good to match the hatch.You'll be surprised what kind of invertabrates you see them puke up in the "dead" of the winter!Works for bait purposes too if you drop your only Berkly power bait down the hole!c63