Ready yet?

[CrappieJohn]

This unseasonable weather has had me looking in the closet and toying with the "good stuff"....you know....open water plastics and jigs. Long rods and new line. As I have toyed with the goods I have asked myself a number of times, "are you really ready"?

I started my tackle revisions last fall already and finally felt that I had everything in order. I decided to expand my selection of jigging spoons after I had such a bang-up success with them late last summer. The spoons and plastics I wanted to delve into a bit deeper were all ordered in November have been in the closet since early December. The new line was on the reels just before they went into hibernation. I thought I was good to go...

Then came the warm weather and poor ice in many areas. I have this thing about being atop of water covered with ice and then more water. This has caused me to rethink my fishing strategies. I have found myself slinking over to some open water three , may four, times a week for some casting to crappies. It's gotten the best of me to the point now that I once again need new line. And now I have to make more jigs.

Then too, last week found me working a distributor's show in Minneapolis with Today's Tackle. While there I got around and found out there actually was a plastic or two that I haven't tried yet! And some new jigs caught my attention at a couple of booths. Yea, you guessed it....now I have more toys to contend with after yesterday's mail and I think there will be one more package today or tomorrow. And there will be a couple more in the future weeks that I can think of.

So now I am getting ready to go buy some more Plano boxes for all of this "man, I gotta try this stuff" new tackle. Five or six should do, box-wise. But then, maybe I'll get eight to be on the safe side. This fishing thing is an unpredictable sport. Just when I thought I was ready for open water to take charge, I found out I wasn't. Are you?

[gspman]

I'm with ya brother,

Picked up a new St. Croix Avid 66MF with a bunch of discount and performance awards (yes I do work) I got. Purchased 3 drift bags in a plan to slow my boat down while trolling without having to buy a T8 (I'd love to have a T8). My 6 yo son is already hinting at commandering my old ultralight rod & reel this year so that might give me an excuse to get a St. Croix 6'UL in either a Premier or Avid. Going to buy some more Ringworms and Superdoos and K-grubs. And looking at getting a few deep diving cranks as I want to probe the 20'+ depths of the lake this year to see what I dredge up. Also want to put a graph/gps on the bow. Might have to settle for my Marcum flasher though. Sigh, I need a higher paying job.

gspman

[CrappieJohn]

I just opened up a package with generous helpings of PegLegs and TinyTots in assorted colors. These will make good cold-front baits when the crappies get tight lips and both of these are super on summer sunfish.

I even got a few feather jigs this time with glow heads and a few strands of tinsel. These will light up the crappies shortly after ice out.

[harvey lee]

I always think im ready and then I find another couple hundred dollars worth of stuff that I THINK I need.This winter I purchased 4 new ice rods and 2 days ago ,another order from Thorne Bros.I guess that I thought I needed another pannie rod,I have enough now to take the whole F.M. crew fishing now.I must stop,but probably wont.A real sickness.

[CrappieJohn]

With this heat wave, I've been tossing the open water for a number of weeks. Maybe three times a week. I live a couple blocks from a lake that stays open unless it is frigid and like to keep in shape by casting for crappies with plastics. I think of all of you staring down that little hole every time I take one off the hook....which usually is about three times a minute.

Nothing huge mind you, but fun nonetheless. And like I said...it keeps me ready and poised for the first trip out when I push the boat across ice to open water for some serious big fish crappie catching.

[Corey Bechtold]

I have been charging the batteries for my boat for the last few weeks to make sure they will be ready at anytime. This warm weather has me excited about the Open Water season.

I have also been lining my rods up and re-spooling them. The tackle assortments are ready as well.

I am getting a little ahead of myself because we are only in February!

Better ready than not ,

Corey Bechtold

[Matt Johnson]

You guys need to just relax a little. Some of the best ice fishing is still ahead of us The boats can wait for at least another couple months...

[Quackaddict9]

Quote:

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You guys need to just relax a little. Some of the best ice fishing is still ahead of us

The boats can wait for at least another couple months...

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yeah I say about 2 to 2 1/2 months.. alot of ice fishing left. Cold weather is coming.

[CrappieJohn]

Boats never take a back seat to ice.

[Corey Bechtold]

Amen Brother! or is it the other way around?

Tom, have you been building any rods lately?

Later,

Corey Bechtold

[CrappieJohn]

Corey...

My little buddy that I get my blanks from had some serious surgey a bit ago and is on the mend. He's getting on up there in years being about 78 right now, so things take a bit more time. As soon as he gets his landing gear back under him I plan to get a reload on play things. Then I'll be back on track.