It's getting to be that time of year!!!!

[toughguy]

This morning for the first time in months I saw that there were more people viewing the ice forum than the open water. That can only mean one thing!!!!! I know it's still months away but I can hardly wait.

[hovermn]

I'm a manager at a local big box store and last night, we got in a couple boxes of... Are you ready for this? Sleds! Yup, sleds. Maybe I should also mention that we have a side cap with Xmas tablewares out already. Xmas, eh, whatever. Sleds, now that got me excited for some hard water!

[Matt Johnson]

Yep, I gave a seminar lastnight about the "Fall Transition" and we ended up talking ice fishing on more than one occasion... the hype is starting to set in!

[hawkeye43]

This happened 2 nights ago, I was in a sound sleep when I know I heard a buzzer go off, jumped up to check the lines. My wife asked "what are you was doing?" She said I told her to go back to sleep that I would check the lines and be back to bed soon. This is way to early in the year to start this, know wonder I am so tired all the time.

[so haaad]

My portable is currently set up in my garage!

[deepportage01]

I have been in my fish house woking for two to four hours a night for the last two weeks trying to think of beter ways of mounting rattle reels,hole lights, radio,bunks. I have noticed the last couple of day's the ice fishing forum has been on fire The lure of ice fishing is strong this year for me as always, nothing beter than siting in your shack when your in the zone and all your hard work is finaly coming back to you ten fold now that is the stuff dreams are made of. may all your auger blades be sharp and rattle reels run smooth. I'm going to go polish the wheels on the shack. later DP

[Kylersk]

I'm with ya DP! I cant wait to use my shack this year. I still cant believe, well... mainly my wife cant believe that I just started ice fishing on my own 2 winters ago. 3 winters ago a friend invited me to fish with him. That summer I bought my own portable. Then, last summer I modded my portable. Now this summer, I built my own drop down house. =)

[Reynolds]

I unfortunately didn't grow up ice fishing, but I absolutely love it now. This will be my third year on the ice. Last year my dad and brother-in-law started coming out with me and we had some great times. This year I am going to try and get my nephew (4 years old) out with us guys. I am literally losing sleep at night lying thinking about ice fishing. I can't count the number of times I've used a piece of scratch paper at work to draw different layouts for a fish house and portable modifications. Truly a wonderful pastime!

[nitroant]

I recently bought some more LED lights for my and my friends houses. Been rat holing money away all year to buy a new flasher this year too. All these fall hunting shows on OLN are not helping me be patient at all for the best time of the year to show up.

[gvg_uwec]

No doubt boys it' almost here! Was at Farm Fleet today and they had 2 leftover suitcase style shacks on clearance and i also found a bunch of ice fishing jigs in a clearance bin that was dirt cheap. Last but not least be sure to keep an eye open on camping gear closeouts! 15% off all camping accesories at FF, too bad no BIG buddy heaters at my store but the normal buddy heaters were on sale along with lanterns, fuel, 1lb and 6lb lp tanks. I'm sure the clearance prices won't last long with the icefishing gear coming out and gear prices go back up accordingly.

[deepportage01]

Good call man FF is the place when it comes to year end close outs, On a side note I forgot about my wife in the car [1 1/2 hour] there a couple of weeks ago she was not to happy when I came out with a c note worth of stuff my $$$ was raw after she got though with me

[B@ssmaster]

Just throwing a bit of fuel on the fire......this pic should help keep the fever growing.....

[deepportage01]

Thats some nice color on that fish good photo work, Ah ice fishing, Is that a red lake fish?

[B@ssmaster]

Yes Sir! My son was pretty pumped that evening. He and I CPR'd about 70 of those babies in about 2 hours. (Kept a few for a meal.) A buddy and his son did pretty much the same thing a few yards away. No one else within a 1/2 mile of the 4 of us. Nice and peaceful, no one setting up right on our doorstep, no augers cranking away while we fished. Was a blast! Couldn't have had a more perfect outing.

[deepportage01]

I found my self out on one of my slab stops this weekend or so I thought, The bass had kicked them out already this is a sure sign of fall a small move was made and walla!

during this small move I found my self thinking more about ice fishing and all the cool stuff going on this winter for one the new wheeled house in my driveway that seems to consume all my nights at home , 2 the ice house watch, and three the sound of my 13 year old auger going through first ice. Sorry I know it's almost to much

[love to hunt]

I have been trying to come up with reasons I can give the boss as to why I should leave her with a 2 year old and a 7 month old while I am on the ice. Any sugestions would be welcome.

[deepportage01]

#1,I love ya, but if I don't go the other guy's will make fun of me :

#2 The shack is on fire!I have to go now!.that should buy you a couple of hours at best

#3 I love you more when I'm out in the shack.

#4 I have to go out and advertise the new modle ice houses.

#5 It was a bad ice year last year, so I want to make up the lost time this year.

Try out a few of these out this winter but make sure your at least 10ft away from her or close to the front door