Ice Fishing Toys - What Do You Bring Out on the Ice?

[Bigbartguy]

structure on a string? does this really work ?

I thought it was a joke at first

[Early Riser]

Here is my list for a day viewing the underwater window:

-Either Otter Lodge (early ice) or 4'X 8' Canvas Craft portable spearhouse when I can drive the truck out.

-Vexilar.

-10" 3hp Eskimo auger or 8" strikemaster.

-Ice saw.

-Ice spud.

-Tongs for pulling out the blocks.

-A large branch to mark the hole when done for the day.

-Shovel scoop and regular ice scooper.

-5gallon bucket and coffee can.

-comfortable folding chair.

-Buddy heater or sunflower depending on temp.

-Assorted Decoys (favorites include: Bertram, Lakco, Marv Johnson, Thayne Johnson, L. Bethel, Kvam, Kelm, L. Lange).

-9-tine Jeremy Kraemer spear.

-Back-up spear - but havn't needed it since going to the Kraemer spear because the hold on these is excellent.

-some food and water.

[Paul Waldowski]

bigbartguy,

Yes, It really does work. Dietz Dittrich and myself had the opportunity to field test them last winter, My very first impression was the same as yours, I assure you that is no longer what I think. Look soon for an article that we co-wrote on our experiences. It should be up in a day or two.

[hanson]

bigbartguy-

I've got the Structure on a String as well. In fact, I've got 4 of them. I used them around my permanent shack on Upper Red last winter with pretty good results. The first thing I do when I get to Red is auger out the holes in my shack and then auger a little cluster of holes outside the shack for the Structure. I leave them in the entire weekend usually and chip them out of the ice with a spud when it is time to go.

Typically, the holes on the side of the house with the structure are the holes the fish are coming out of. Coincidence? I'm not sure. I hope to get some more of them this winter and do a little more study with my Marcum camera to see how the fish are relating to the weeds, or not.

[Matt Johnson]

Do they work? You bet they do! I used them several times last winter and with some incredible findings...

I spent a hour one day with the underwater camera watching how fish reacted to the Structure on a String (SOS). I watched sunfish and crappies swim right up to it and try to it eat it. I also watched them hold to it like it was some sort of real cover. Once the SOS is located, the fish will utilize it as something to relate to. Fish will actually get drawn in by it, not to mention it will keep fish in the area as well.

On a body of water like Red Lake, having a group of these can really make or break a day on the ice. When you're dealing with a structureless flat, dropping down a series of these SOS's can definitely increase your success and up your odds at having a productive day of ice fishing.

I've witnessed first hand, panfish, bass and pike relating to the SOS, and I've heard from others about the effects it has on walleye and perch as well.

It's a simple concept, but it can really pay off in dividends when out on the ice!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Dan Brelje]

I will have to agree that the SOS is a great tool. I was fortunate enough to be on UPL when Deitz and the crew were using theirs; i would have to think that it helped with their success.

How and where can i find Structure on a string to purchase? I would be very interested in some if i could get my hands on em'.

[Paul Waldowski]

Dan,

You can purchase them right Here

[Matt Johnson]

Check out www.ladredge.com.

You should be able to purchase them there...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Paul Waldowski]

Matt ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gotch Ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matt Johnson]

Punk

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[TSCTSC]

Where do you fish that the fish always bites?

[Rick]

On almost every lake the fish are biting somewhere. The hard part is figuring out where, what to present, how to present it and how deep to have it

[Swimmer]

Rick:

I like the idea of keeping these small business's going, but the SOS looks like a simple one for even the bungler to manufacture at home. SOme green tinsel, decoy weight, large float, ect. Anybody tried to build their own??

[Matt Johnson]

The SOS is not made of green tinsel

I suppose someone could build their own, but if you take a look at the detail and design of the SOS then you'll realize it's tough to duplicate unless you find a similar material, or the next closest thing... a real weed. They are also built to withstand a little abuse and will last awhile. They also use certain weed designs that mimic what will actually be present in the water.

I was skeptic of the SOS at first, but after using it a few times and appliying it to several different conditions and for several different species, I realized that it really does have a place in the ice angler's arsenal. A great tool for panfish anglers in my opinion, something that I'll have with me all winter long...

[Rick]

Hi swimmer, first off I'm not sure why you addressed me but here goes anyway: they aren't even close in appearance or material. I would be worried about frozen tinsel and breakage on your idea as well as does it hold fish? After testing on Upper Red Lake last year I'm sold on LaDredge Outdoors weeds on a string. I was first made aware of these two years ago and I looked at them and thought it was another gimmick that would require too much work to use.

I admit, I was wrong.

I was 20 feet away from a guy (Paul Waldowski) who was using them and I being the skeptic I am wouldn't use them. After a couple of hours of being spanked by him and a few others who were using them I had Paul put a few around me and voila, I was in crappie heaven

Please note that there were a few others who didn't have these weeds who were also begging for them after a while of seeing those who had them stay on fish much longer as they came through. I mean I would catch one or two but the Ladredge users seemed to keep them holding for long periods of time at their weeds.

Swimmer if you test your green tinsel idea thoroughly and you can find a way to solve all the little problems it might present out ice fishing I would certainly be willing to consider your statement as being accurate.

In reality it would be way cool if your idea works. As you say a bungler could do it. So let us know how it goes and we'd like to get out with you to see it in action as well

[Jim Hudson]

Guess I am gonna have to check out the SOS... Rick or Paul, do they make it long enough for fishing lakers out here?

[Bigbartguy]

Alright now I'm going to have to buy a couple. how many of these SOS's do you guys generally use?

[Matt Johnson]

It can really depend on the situation. Sometimes I'll use just one or two to provide a different option for the fish. Sometimes you might drop down 5-6 right around the hole you're fishing to draw in some attention and keep the fish under you. On Red Lake it's not uncommon to use a half-dozen or more to attract fish. It really depends on the situation.

If I'm fishing a weed bed where a good majority of the weeds are brown and down, then the SOS comes in handy bigtime. I'll drop down a few of these brilliant green weeds and before you know it you'll have several on-lookers from the underwater world.

On guide trips I'll be running as many needed as possible (which was probably a supid statement because there is never an answer to it ). But, I'll make sure my clients have a nice assortment of SOS' around them for fish to the fish to take note of.

Other than the SOS, keep in mind there is another version that clips onto your underwater camera cable. This is called the CCS - Cable Camera Structure. They can also be found on www.ladredge.com

I know they've spent a lot of time going through different set-ups and weed types before deciding on the current SOS. They really wanted to develop something that will withstand the cold, Midwest winters. All their SOS' are custom made and have been designed to match (in both length and appeal) the real weeds present in lakes. The floatation device they chose has been picked because even in extremely cold conditions all you have to do is squeeze it and there will be open water where the float was, leaving ample room to pull the system up. No chipping, no breaking. A great feature.

There is also more info and tips on their website as well.

[katoguy]

This product looks interesting. I can see potential in several circumstances.

Correct me if I am wrong, didn't Buck Perry coin the term "structure" as related to fishing? SOS is cover, not structure?

[Swimmer]

Rick and Matt: thanks for the input. The SOS looks like a well made, well thought out device, and apparently it works. A "copy" might work, but adding up the cost of materials and the time/effort involved, the real-deal SOS looks like a bargain too. Maybe I'll have to field test the "Bungler" tinsel vs. the SOS?

[Matt Johnson]

Structure is often times considered something that fish relate to, and in this case, that structure is weeds. Rocks, weeds, wood... these are all examples of possible structure. Same with bars, humps, points, etc... Many times we seek out structure as fish holding areas, and fish seek structure as something of interest, whether it's food, cover, location, comfort, the list goes on. There are a lot of correlations you can use when it comes to structure, these are just a few...

[katoguy]

I must respectively disagree.

It is often thought of that way, but it is still incorrect! Structure is part of the bottom (drop offs, bars, humps, saddles, muck to sand or rock transition)! Cover is weeds, docks, etc...

Many outdoor writers use these terms interchangeably, but they are indeed quite different.

Per Buck, fish will move along structure (like a highway), but may stop at cover for some periods of time.

Structure is always a good choice to fish. Cover on structure is ideal. Cover not on structure has a lower percentage chance of holding fish.

[hanson]

This is interesting = Cover vs. Structure

How about a weedline or weededge?

Cover? No

Structure? It isn't part of the bottom.

A weedline is definitely something fish will move along.

Any ideas?

[katoguy]

But isn't this "fence row" due to a change of bottom content or depth? Otherwise the whole area would be a weed bed or weedless.

The bottom change is the structure. The weedline is cover.

[Matt Johnson]

What about an underwater tree? Cover or structure? It's indeed part of the bottom, but couldn't it be considered both? Or what about stump fields? Or boulder fields? Both cover and structure? It's really all relative to the situation and body of water, as well as personal opinion...

When a fish crib is dropped in the water, it's considered structure as much as it is considered cover. Or what about christmas trees? Or what if I drop a set of boulders in the water? I hear the term structure applied more often than the term cover. But does that mean structure is the right term to use? No, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's the wrong term either. We're creating structure as much as we're creating cover.

It all depends on what you're definition of each are, and I don't believe there's really a wrong way to look at it. That's the beauty of fishing. Structure and cover can be one in the same, or they can be considered two different entities like you mentioned...