Remember when....?

[CrappieJohn]

A depth finder was anything that would stay on the hook long enough to get it to the bottom,

you pinched a piece of chewing gum wrapper on your line to mark when your bait was an inch from bottom,

a willow cane frozen into the ice was a walleye pole,

chipping ice was done at the rate of an inch a minute with a spud bar and spoon augers were a blessing,

when the most up-to-date reel was hand over hand,

when you had three fishing options as far as a shelter went-a permanent house, a vehicle or a bucket,

when tip-ups did, indeed, freeze,

when "knowing" a lake did not involve a map?

when the entry fee for a fishing contest was 2 bucks and included a b-b-que and four beers,

and the contest had a "fat lady" contest that was done in fun,

when the only thing left on the ice at the end of the season was a pair of ice ruts, a million holes, some yellow snow and maybe, just maybe, some scattered ashes?

For those who have been to this precious piece of time, you will know what I am saying. For those who have missed out on these and so many more of the old memeories, I can truely say that the shortcuts to this sport today have not done you justice, but have in fact robbed you a a million memories like these.

[fishingbuddy]

Remember when there were no 5 Gallon buckets? My Grandpa used a wooden nail keg.

[fishfart]

when there were no ice thieves

[CrappieJohn]

Fishin....I still have two of those old wooden kegs.

[Dry_Fly]

I also remember if there were three people out fishing a good lake it was lot. Thanks to all the new inventions also came all the people out fishing as well. Go to some of the bigger lakes and it looks like small cities out on them. Won't be long and you will be seeing McDonald signs out there, lol.

[goodyy7]

......when your only heater on the ice was a shot of brandy.

I am no old timer, but my dad took me ice fishing as a tiny tike and I fortunately/unfortunately have plenty of those memories as well. Sure makes you appreciate today a lot more thinking back. I have no idea how I ever caught fish with the gear I used and my selection of only a couple oversized lures.

goody

[JohnMickish]

When the best store bought rods where a broom handle with two wooden pegs in it to wrap the line around.

[Wayne Ek]

C.T. I remember when my Dad wouldn't go on to a lake that already had 3 people on it... Did not want to crowd anyone, it was not sportsman like. We just drove to the next spot. But I also remember spudding two holes and not moving the rest of the day. Catching crappies was ok, mainly on the vermillion bottoms... but northerns had more meat. Oh how life changes... I will take the 4-wheeler,power auger,good shelter and flashers we now have.

[Dennis Steele]

When every peice of your ice fishing gear was made by yourself.

It really wasn't all that long ago...

[M.T. Bucket]

Nice post, CT. Before I moved here from Illinois, we still ice fished pretty low-tech, mostly on gravel pit ponds...unless you take frequent trips up north, the ice fishing season is hardly long enough to make a big investment. I was amazed my first winter here to see Vexilars, permanent houses, portables, underwater cameras, power augers, ice rods with REELS, and the selection of terminal tackle. I had never seen any of this stuff in action before. Heck, I had never seen someone drive a truck on a lake! I was practically standing on the floorboard with the door open waiting to jump out the first time I ever did it. I still have a couple of those short jigging sticks with the big red spool, ice picks that come out of the handle, and twin tips that I use to pester the northerns.

Quote:

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when the only thing left on the ice at the end of the season was a pair of ice ruts, a million holes, some yellow snow and maybe, just maybe, some scattered ashes?

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Sure would like to turn back the clock on this one.

[Animal]

.....When every bit of equipment you owned fit in one five gallon bucket.......

[JigginIsLife]

....When crappie candy was "high-tech"....

[cold one sd]

When you think about it, whatever you drove out on the ice was two wheel drive and had chains so you could get around on the ice and get off of the lake at the end of the day.

[blue_healer_guy]

you could safely fish on Thanksgiving!