Summer tasks for ice fishing

[soultwist]

Just a friendly reminder that now is a great time to do things like:

Top off the charge on your flasher batteries.

Check to make sure a mouse didn't nest in your pole holders.

Inspect equipment to make sure that you didn't break an eye off a pole last March and think "I'll fix that later"

Put any new ice fishing tackle you have bought recently into your ice tackle box. (also the items that have collected on the work bench, back hall closet, bathroom drawer, etc)

Any other good ideas?

[LaZyDayZ]

I work on my FH a few hours a week.

Keeps happy thoughts in my head.

[stmichael]

I am thinking of rigging up a drop down pillow in the Eskimo III.

Seeing how I am going to have to imitate the cold I should have to bring it in the house, turn the air as cold as it will go, drill a hole in the floor, put the fishtank below hole in floor, crack a beer and take a nap. Just hope I can wake up and get out of the house before the warden gets home, I think I can get away with blaming it on the kids.

[love to hunt]

Also remember to pack those wheel bearings and tighten all the nuts and bolts.

I slept in mine the other night but it was my wifes idea. Just kidding.

I know all your pain and can't wait.

[Bobberboy]

I understand that it's a good idea to discharge the flasher 100% prior to charging. It's suppose to extend the life of the battery.

[deepportage01]

make sure all of your ice jigs are sharp and cut old line off them. thats all I got

[frabillfisher]

Organize the tackle bag...can never be to organized, my project is to panel the walls in my 8by14 and put in a nice stero and speaker system but havent decided on what to panel it with and been way to hot to be workin in the fishhouse ...bring the auger in for a tune up if needed better then waiting in the fall to get it back, pray for ice?

[Jorgie]

I'm a little confused about charging flasher batteries. My manual says to charge it every month or so in the summer, but I always thought it was better for batteries to drain fully before charging them. Should I wait until its drained and then charge it? It hasn't been used for months obviously so it could be drained. I just bought my first flasher in March so I'm a rookie at this.

[Dave]

That theory of letting them go dead and recharge is for NiCad battery types, not lead acid. Charge once a month or when done using it.

[Jorgie]

Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks Dave, I'm going to charge my battery when I get home from work.

[deepportage01]

Change out all of your 12v light bulbs in your shack with low volt LED bulbs they make them now for almost every 12v light fixture.

[wayne123]

Pick a few new lakes to try this year. Maybe plan a weekend to a new area. It is fun to research new lakes.

[The Grebe]

My ice fishing prep consists of......nada! All my stuff is in the sled, in the shed, all I have to do to be ready to fish is wait until sometime after Thanksgiving, charge the vex battery, start the auger,locate some fishable ice and go fishing! Not alot of prep, I'm always ready to ice fish!

[setterguy]

Now is the time to get out on the open water with the gps and mark those humps, rock piles, edges of holes ect. Its much easier to move around to different structure in the boat than it is drilling hole after hole looking for that specific spot. Now wouldn't be a bad time to go through the auger and change the plug, sharpen the blades ect. I can't wait for ice.

[jig n' jerk]

Another thing you can do if you still have an old LX-3 is get it sent in to Marcum for their True color upgrade. I just sent mine in about two weeks ago and got it back in 5 days. I had to take it out on open water to try it out. Looks awesome!! But they aren't that busy yet, and if you don't want to wait for it during the winter now's a great time!!!

[NWBuck]

Saw a guy and his wife out on the water the other day and they gave me a great idea. They had their ice rods out sitting over a weed bed popping bluegills. It's on my agenda for later this week...looked like alot of fun.