"structure on a string" SOS

[satnu]

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Nothing against the guys selling this as a turnkey package, but my uncle has been doing this for years. You can get a product from your local pet shot/petsmart/petco called Giant Asparagus for $8.50. It comes in three foot lengths. We'd tie our line to it with a big teardrop sinker at the bottom. The turnkey solution sounds good, but for those of you who are DIY's, you can save a couple bucks and put together this rig in your garage.

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So this is a live plant! HUMM.... is it native to MN? Wonder what DNR has to say about it?

[dfv87]

ok I like the idea, but how many do you set out? and how close do you have them to your holes? I think they could be the ticket for roaming fish ie crappies that move around, ,maybe that would hold them for an extra fish or so before they move on again. also may help with fish transitioning from deep to shallow or vice versa.

[hoggs222]

They make plastic aquarium plants.

[robj]

Couldn't resist....had to order 2 SOS today.

Will report back once I get a chance to use them.

$37.00 shipped.....It's only money, right??

[blkfrg]

When I saw the Structure On A String mentioned in another thread it hit me like when I first saw Dave Genz's adaptation of an Aqua View to make it look down, pre that notch in the fin. It is a great idea, I am sure in no time, there will be weeds a plenty on URL and The Pond for fish to hang in. Was going to make my own, but the plastic plants at PetSomthing in The Cities were as expensive as SoaS without the float, line and weight. Looking down at my bait with my camera, the Crappies approach thru a stand of shadowy weeds not there yesterday. Those Guardian fish will never see this curve coming> Hey, My Ice Buster is down!

[Matt Johnson]

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So this is a live plant! HUMM.... is it native to MN? Wonder what DNR has to say about it?

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No, the SOS is indeed artificial, not alive.

The thing here with the SOS is that is offers something unique to the underwater environment. Fish use certain areas more than we realize, and when you drop something down that grabs their attention and gives them something to relate to then you have yourself a piece of structure that allows you to deter fish movement... essentially keeping the fish in your area.

Just think of it this way, when you're used to driving a certain strectch of road over and over, then one day a Gander Mountain pops up on the corner of one of the intersections, you can bet you're going to notice it, and probably stop in. Similar concept with these fish when dropping down a SOS over a structureless flat, they will notice it, and they will relate to it.

I've witnessed fish of all species holding to the SOS, as well as some species trying to even eat it as if it was real vegetation.

When targeting perch on large flats like Mille Lacs and Winni, you can bet those large roaming pods of perch will realize the added structure, and it will attract and hold fish once the structure is located.

I too was skeptic at first, much like anyone else, but now I carry several SOS's with me when out on the ice. Sometimes I'll use them, sometimes I won't, all depends on the structure I'm fishing and if weeds are already present or not. They have their place and time, no doubt about that, and they have definitely helped me catch more fish when setting up for guide trips. Panfish love the SOS, as do perch. Walleye, bass, and pike will all relate to them as well.

It's just another option out there to help ice anglers catch more fish...

[skunk-ape]

I think satnu was referring to the DIY project using "giant asparagus". I did some searching and correct me if I'm wrong, but that "asparagus" they sell for aqauriums is also artificial like the SOS. In my searching I found a few other plastic aquarium plants that look they would also work well with a DIY project.

[robj]

I'm guess you could save a few $$$ doing it yourself.

I'm going to give them a try and if they work, i might try to make a few.

The plant itself is around 10 bucks.

[Tyler Holm]

I've got 4 SOSs and also 1 camera cable structure. I've only used the camera structure, and I've got proof it works. I ordered them all a few months ago and I've been ice fishing only once this year. The story below...

During the daylight, I had my Marcum VS 560 down near my fishing holes all day long. The camera cable structure attaches to the camera cable just above the camera and extends upwards about 3 feet. During the day when I had my camera and structure down there I was marking constant fish (yes it was fish and not just the structure). At dark I decided to pull my camera up because the water was too cloudy to see anything. At that point in time, we would mark a school of fish every 20 minutes or so. After an hour of that I decided to lower my camera back down the hole just for the purpose of the structure(didn't even turn the camera on) and it wasn't long and we were back to marking constant fish.

This was only 4 days ago and on that day I forgot to grab my SOSs so I had to use my camera cable structure instead and it worked just fine.

I ended the day with 4 crappie and 8 gills in the pail (for supper that evening) and 10 of those fish were caught on the holes closest to the structure. Countless smaller fish were caught and released

You bet its another gadget to spend money on and carry onto the ice, but without it your at a disadvantage to those of us that have it (and remember to bring it).

[lars0926]

Yep, the giant asparagus is artificial, sold at local pet stores, and is designed to be used in tanks and is non-toxic. First, I would never condone introducting anything live into our waters. Second, I'm all for SOS. Being a DIY I simply made the suggestion because we've been making our own in my family for years. Just an idea for you.

[lanyard]

I hate to be 'that guy', but am curious- any skill or acquired knowledge needed to be successful in ice fishing anymore? Or is removing the element of chance the challenge?

Go nuts with the stuff, It doesn't concern me, I'll stick to my m80's.

[iffwalleyes]

lanyard you ask the same question my dad asks me. He always says to me he thinks they should ban depth finders yet he is usually the first to ask what I am seeing on it. I think that the technology has certainly made it easier but ice fishing is still very challenging. You still have to have alot of knowledge about what your eqipment is showing you. If the fish you see isn't biting why is that? You have to search your selection of equipment to come up with that answer. Am I more productive when I am out there absolutely I don't spend hours waiting for the fish to come to me I go to them. Do I catch more with new technology sure I do. But something else I do now that I seldom used to do is catch and release what difference does it make if I am hammering fish if I am releasing most of them. I like to keep some for eating sure don't get me wrong. But it is never in excess. I just think back to when I was a kid and used to go out to dads shack that we put in that spot when the ice was safe and left it there until it was time to take the house off. There would be days spent without catching fish because they simply were not there. It is really amazing that I stuck with the sport for how bad some of those first trips were. Fishing is way more fun for me now than it was when I was growing up. Fishing is still a challenge I don't go out everyday and pound the fish but I do have more days of good fishing than I do of bad.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Lanyard- Its ok to be "That Guy". I have no problem with that at all. Where do we draw the line. I'm sure when the first gun was invented all the guys with bows were saying, ohh man thats making it to easy. Or when the car was invented, ohh man, thats going to make moving around too easy. Were in the great USA, and we can choose to use what we like. I tell you what, you can attract as many fish as you want, see them on the locator, see them on the underwater camera, but can you MAKE them bite? Nope.. If you put the SOS in the middle of a lake, the fish will never find them. You still have to be a skilled angler to find where the fish are. The SOS meerly hold the fish in your area longer.

Thats just my opinion!

[lanyard]

Oh, I know. Just every once in awhile I see something that makes me scratch my head and just 'wonder'. With shotguns, it was acutally the automatic- and they legislated it to three shells. Today it's the robo-duck. I know its a bit apples and oranges, but the 'tech' wave of the U.S. ebbs and flows, and it's human nature to long for the 'good ol' days'. Billy Joel said it best, the good old days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.

But i gotta tell ya, when I saw this post, tomorrow SEEMS that bad. Kinda the same reaction after having a daughter two years ago and seeing those BRATZ dolls- what in tarnation is that!

Anyway, the challenge for us late adapter life longers is that technology is terrific for recruitment, but the negative is it brings more people into the sport. And i guess the fear is- the ratio of intelligent, respectful, conservationist sportsmen does not climb as rapidly as participation by 'those' guys that drill holes 10 feet from your house or drop a line in your open hole.

Sorry for sucking oxygen out of your post. I truly am amazed by the number of things out there and jealous of those that can make their living with it. Good luck.

[katoguy]

Years ago Berkley did a study. They had a bass in a bare aquarium. (Nothing else in it.) The bass was restless. They dropped a quarter in the aquarium and the bass relaxed and sat right next to the quarter.

And that is the smartest freshwater fish. Pannies may not relate the same???

[Dennis Steele]

THis stuff was tested by our staff last season before we even took them on as a sponsor.

I can tell you if the SOS didn't work, you wouldn't see it being talked about by our staff.

I have seven strings of the SOS and they do work.

Is it "cheating"?

Yes it is!

But its legal cheating.

[Bob Horn]

It wasn`t very long ago that icefishing didn`t have all of this "high tech' stuff. I am happy to see it going in the direction that it is. Hats off the SOS, they will be part of my gear this year.

[Ryan Berger]

sweetness I got mine in the mail today,, gonna need another 5 gallon bucket to store it in,,, here I come Menards...

[hanson]

LDB-

Don't grab for the 5 gallon pail so quick. I went to Target the other day and got one of those Rubbermaid type containers with a snap on lid. I found one that is perfect for the SOS. Honestly, I crammed 8 of them buggers into it!! Its about 6-8" high, long enough to fit the SOS, and about 14-16" wide.

BTW- I've left my SOS in the ice on Upper Red for more than a day and easily chipped them out with the ice spud. You got to do what you got to do.

[Trouthunter]

Placed a custom order yesterday...those guys seemed more excited about what I wanted than I was...great people to work with. 130 bucks later, I have 6 SOS and 1 cable cam on the way...

Thanks for the vote of confidence Deitz...

BD

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ok TroutHunter.. Now you have me curious... What made your order Custom? I cant have you having something that I don't.

[Trouthunter]

I wanted 6 foot lengths rather than the 3 foot sections, and a longer cord (60 foot rather than 40 foot) because of the longer cord a heavier weight was needed, etc. I also ordered a 6 foot section of ccs for the camera..not the standard 3 foot section.

I was told I was the first custom order...but these guys knew exactly what I was looking for and offered a few suggestions...what a class act.

I also heard that next year or later this year they are coming out with a new "style" of weed...they don't have any pictures of it on their HSOforum...

BD

[Bigbartguy]

I'm placing an order today. If it helps me outfish my house buddies on URL, it's DEFINITELY worth it. I know they'll be chuckling when I put'em down though.

[Aquaman01]

When Dennis & the other field testers were setting these things up last year on the Horseshoe chain I remember chiding myself for not thinking of it!

Sooo....

I made a softwater version - 2 of 'em, and tried 'em out this past summer. There is a big, bowlish flats in the lake near my house and I dropped 'em about 15-20 yards outside the weedline and came back later to fish 'em.

I tossed big spinnerbaits and let 'em sink to the 12' of Fleet Farm garland I had tied in and BAM - a decent bass had taken to using my garland as an ambush point.

It's a good idea that works. Trial and error with materials put me through too much time, so I quit makin' 'em.

What is a softwater version? A marker bouy with plastic plants on it.

[GenzisGod]

I guess I am curious as to what some people on the site see as ok for advancements in technology and somethings they consider not ok. I respect your opinion of let's just fish with a hook and line, but I am curious about one thing. You are on your computer and reading all these posts about great new and old fishing ideas. I for one believe that the internet is an advancement on old technology. So if I get this right, it is ok to go on to the internet and get any and all information related to improving your fishing, but you do not like the idea of dropping some weeds down a hole to hopefully improve your fishing chances. Again, I am not trying to disrespect your views at all, I just don't quite understand what technology is ok and what isn't.