Your "TO DO" List?

[Jim Hudson]

Personally, every year, I try and learn new tactics and techniques, fish for different species or try to learn new lakes. I do this for a variety of reasons (a lot because I get bored easily doing the same thing over and over), but, through shear osmosis have found that by doing this, it helps in figuring out the puzzle of everyday fishing excursions, even on the lakes I know the best. Taking info I learned from fishing and figuring out one body of water seems to always help on others that I have fished for years. Pretty eye opening and FUN.

So, for this year, whats on your To Do List? And, what is it you may want to learn more of this year?

[Lawrence Luoma]

Last year during mid winter my Dad got a tip from pike spear fisherman that walleyes came into less than 5ft of water during the last hour of light. They went there the next night and caught some big fish angling. I plan on making it out this year with my Dad and look forward to applying it in different lakes this year.

[Jim Hudson]

Nice. And that is something that is commonly overlooked when folks are fishing for walleyes. Most always think deep, but, a lot times there are quite a few up in the shallows (especially first ice).

[silverbulletguy]

1. Take my son ice fishing.

2. Fish more often.

[pushbutton]

Am a species junkie and try to catch as many as I can in any given year. Was one shy of a dozen last year(although the ski and bass were by products) and would like to improve upon that. Whitefish and Lake trout would help out this years "to do list". Call me crazy but think figuring out how to ice carp or dogfish would be really sweet!!!

You might be rewarded Lawrence! Last years ice kept me nervous and shallow into mid Jan. and while everyone was hitting the main lake I still hung tight to the shore and surprisingly found the eyeballs still there. These two piggies hit within minutes of each other, in broad daylight, in 7ft of water......

[Borch]

I'm always looking for some new things to try or places to go each year. I fish a lot with my wife who loves ice fishing and finally got her using plastics last year successfully. Up to that point she was a minnow dunker and usually did very well doing this. But several outings I'd out fish her by a significant margin using plastics but she was reluctant to changing. As much as I enjoy catching fish I get even more enjoyment out of helping others catch fish doing new techniques.

I hope to do even more of that this winter.

[Finlander]

Pushbutton, also when I was fishing shallow close to pencil reeds, you could site fish perch the whole time and when they would scatter you knew fish with teeth were close and I mean big pike would come in and stare at your bait and my friends could see it's tail thru their hole. Had a ten pounder grab my jig and took of 500mph with it and kept on going!

The walleye's did bite when the sun was setting and you could only see the whites of their tails when they were checking out my jig!

Next winter I'm going to put my camera in to see whats around and use the infrared during low light! Should get a motion detector!Hmmmm!

[pushbutton]

Can't wait till jr. is older, can cut out a big ole hole, go old school, and sight fish! Just got back from "your" lake Finlander and, with all the weed dieback, the pike and walleyes are right back up on the pencils already. Small perch profiles were key, and now only have one left since the toothy critters were just destroying them

[Finlander]

Try the Hotsteel flavor!

[Jim Uran]

Definitely learn a new lake. I've got one in mind this year that has a darn good panfish population and isn't too far from home. 1,000 acres of basically new water to me as far as fishing for gills and crappies under the ice.

[that_guy]

I just moved to the metro a few months back, and I'm very anxious to fish the metro lakes. Fishing new lakes is always fun because you don't have the issues of fishing from memory like I always did up north.

It never hurts to try something new

[OnAFly]

Metro fishing...prepare for disappointment.

[MNCPRGUY]

I've got a couple goals for the upcoming season...

1) Be on the ice 3-4 weekends each month

2) Get my son started fishing with a flasher

3) Move away from bobber fishing and focus on plastics and site fishing

4) Involve my wife and daughter more

[that_guy]

Metro fishing...prepare for disappointment.

Disappointment in which way? Quality or quantity of fish? I hope there won't be an increase in obnoxious drunk people on the ice...I had hoped they went north for the weekend. LOL I know they are everywhere

I'm not expecting to find the numbers or size I can find up north, but I can reach the north metro with a short drive. I'm in Roseville, so I'll most likely be fishing the WBL area and up in your back yard.

[Jarrid Houston]

There is great ice fish opportunities in the metro! Just need to get out and learn the waters! Not a secret tip, but I you find a spot or something that works great for you, keep the info to yourself. Fishing tips can spread like wild fire down there. The WBL area is good, I wouldn't shy away from the Stillwater or NE of the cities. Also have the river! I grew up in the cities and I always make a trip or 2 back for some awesome fishing with my friends. One of the top 3 waters I love to fish includes the croix! Good luck man!!!