vweeks
Advanced Poster
Posts:234
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| 18 Jun 2010 12:39 PM |
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What are the basics and how can I get my hands on a good quality rod? What do I do if the line or reel freezes up, and how do I know how much ice is safe and unsafe? |
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| Fishing.. one of the few things in life that keep me sane. |
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slipperybob
Veteran Poster
Posts:1240
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| 18 Jun 2010 04:48 PM |
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Any short rod will do about 28 inches would be the most common. Line and line guide freeze will be inevitable will fishing fully exposed to the elements. Reel freeze will happen if you get water in it. So it's nice to have a shelter and a heat source.
As far as ice safety, always be prepared with ice picks, ice cleats, ice chisel, and stuff of the likes. Having a buddy along is good too, but don't crowd each other. |
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slipperybob
Veteran Poster
Posts:1240
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| 24 Jun 2010 08:14 PM |
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If you don't have an auger it will be tough to start ice fishing too. Hand augers a fine up to 12 inches of ice. Tough as the season goes and ice becomes thicker. Having a flasher is almost basic equipment for the modern ice angler. Not a required item, but it's become like a necessity. It nice to know especially when there's fish down the hole even before you start fishing. |
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mr bill
Veteran Poster
Posts:1903
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| 24 Jun 2010 08:43 PM |
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doing good there bob.....we don't want to over whelm vweeks right away.
early and late ice i have a good strong rope that is about 50' long and a boat seat cushion along. |
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DrBubba
New Poster
Posts:43
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| 22 Jul 2010 11:12 AM |
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Hi Vweeks, You've got some good advice here. If you have questions about ice safety, log on to the fisheries depts of northern states like Maine, Wisc., etc. They usually have the guidelines listed. Up here in Northern Maine, It usually gets plenty thick enough to drive a truck on. Early and late though, be prepared. Also, never assume. Always drill a test hole with a hand auger first. I've seen many veteran fishermen misjudge the ice up here. |
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| Steve, Trophy Life Member, Member Since: 9/10/2002 |
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mballast
New Poster
Posts:14
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| 23 Nov 2010 10:24 AM |
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yeah that all sounds good i cant wait.....ice fishin time is soon to come. |
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DrBubba
New Poster
Posts:43
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| 23 Nov 2010 11:04 AM |
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Hi mballast. I don't know about how things are where you're at, but we've got 4" of snow on the ground up in the county. I'm pulling my ice shack down from them field to get it ready. I know it's a bit early, but I'm getting ice fishing fever. What part of the state are you in? |
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| Steve, Trophy Life Member, Member Since: 9/10/2002 |
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fisherfanatic
Veteran Poster
Posts:1483
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| 23 Nov 2010 11:27 AM |
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As I've said in onther topics, I'm not much of an ice fisherman...
...but I do know that the ice needs to be several inches thick in order for you not to fall through. 
By the way, where are you planning on going ice fishing? I don't think it's frozen over in Georgia, yet.  |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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vweeks
Advanced Poster
Posts:234
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| 23 Nov 2010 05:19 PM |
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Posted By fisherfanatic on 23 Nov 2010 12:27 PM
As I've said in onther topics, I'm not much of an ice fisherman...
...but I do know that the ice needs to be several inches thick in order for you not to fall through.
By the way, where are you planning on going ice fishing? I don't think it's frozen over in Georgia, yet.
Yeah, that would be unfortunate, and no, water is not frozen over yet down here, its actually been quite warm. I *may* visit relatives in the New York area (near Lake Erie). Just thinking ahead. |
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| Fishing.. one of the few things in life that keep me sane. |
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esoxhunter
New Poster
Posts:28
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| 23 Nov 2010 08:29 PM |
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Yea I'm in Cananda and I usually dont test the ice until early december but we've been having -30 weather and little snow this last week so might get out a bit earlier this year.
That said as far as ice fishing tackle goes you dont really need a rod unless you fishing in like 20 plus feet of water I learned to fish with line wrapped around a stick and lots of guys still do. |
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| Take a fish boating |
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DrBubba
New Poster
Posts:43
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| 24 Nov 2010 02:02 PM |
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The river in front of the house is starting to get some ice around the edges but the lakes are still open. Our ice season doesn't legally open up until the first of Jan, so still plenty of time. Unfortunately, I'll have the fever REAL bad by then. |
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| Steve, Trophy Life Member, Member Since: 9/10/2002 |
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ptleitheiser
New Poster
Posts:1
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| 30 Nov 2010 07:14 AM |
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South Dakota is good for ice fishing already!! First ice has presented anglers with good fishing for perch and walleye in eastern SD. |
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fisherfanatic
Veteran Poster
Posts:1483
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| 30 Nov 2010 10:07 AM |
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The water is starting to glaze over here, too. It's suposed to get even colder later in the week!  |
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| "I may be physically at my computer right now, but my mind has gone fishing!" --Avid angler from MI and member since 2009-- |
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rseltz
New Poster
Posts:58
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| 01 Dec 2010 07:04 PM |
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Speaking of stick, I will never forget this story, we were headed trout fishing on this little pond in the woods, had a nice stream running through it so you had to know where not to go so to speak. Anyway there was four of us and we got out unloaded all this gear they had, I had a bucket my ice spud a pocket full of jugs and literally a stick with 10 lb test and enough line to drop it down maybe 20 feet. These guys had their graphite rods with the 100 dollar stradics, Ice augers shanties and such, i had my stick with two framing nails. I caught my limit in about 1 hour, they had none, needless to say they all ended up using my stick, we were amazed myself more so than them. Proper depth means everything . There were very few fish caught on anything else.
Good Luck all , Be Safe, I have gone threw 3 times in my life the last was the scariest, know where you're fishing and what the wind can do...Oh and watch out for the Pike Spearing holes not properly filled back in, dam that was cold.
Good Luck |
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| ROD-UP |
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WalleyeWayne
Advanced Poster
Posts:703
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| 02 Dec 2010 06:13 AM |
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A few lakes around here have enough to go out (3-4") but I'm waiting for at least 4-5" before I head out. When it comes to "first ice", the early bird is liable to go through than get the worm - so to speak! |
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mr bill
Veteran Poster
Posts:1903
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| 02 Dec 2010 09:36 AM |
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Posted By rseltz on 01 Dec 2010 08:04 PM
Speaking of stick, I will never forget this story, we were headed trout fishing on this little pond in the woods, had a nice stream running through it so you had to know where not to go so to speak. Anyway there was four of us and we got out unloaded all this gear they had, I had a bucket my ice spud a pocket full of jugs and literally a stick with 10 lb test and enough line to drop it down maybe 20 feet. These guys had their graphite rods with the 100 dollar stradics, Ice augers shanties and such, i had my stick with two framing nails. I caught my limit in about 1 hour, they had none, needless to say they all ended up using my stick, we were amazed myself more so than them. Proper depth means everything . There were very few fish caught on anything else.
Good Luck all , Be Safe, I have gone threw 3 times in my life the last was the scariest, know where you're fishing and what the wind can do...Oh and watch out for the Pike Spearing holes not properly filled back in, dam that was cold.
Good Luck
 reading yer story gave me a big laugh. mainly because i can relate to everything in it. the stick with nails in it to hold line......was going throu some of my old stuff just the other day and found 3 of my old metal rod tips stuck in to an old cut off broom handle, with to nails 6" apart for the line. these rods where what i used as a kid. then when ya finished yer story with the unmarked spearing hole  been there and did that and yes that was cold  becuase everyone that was there knew who left the hole unmark.....ya should have seen what some of them old timers did to him after they had fished me out  |
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lowellhturner
Advanced Poster
Posts:267
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| 04 Dec 2010 11:16 PM |
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Rseltz, you MUST have 9 lives; am sure you are safe on the ice after all that! |
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WalleyeWayne
Advanced Poster
Posts:703
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| 06 Dec 2010 05:55 AM |
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No icing this past weekend. We went to the lake but didn't venture out. There's about 4" of good ice with another layer of crusty ice that didn't feel quite right. We will wait to next weekend. Anyone else get out? |
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nhausler
New Poster
Posts:7
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| 06 Dec 2010 10:40 AM |
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not yet but want to so so bad
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slipperybob
Veteran Poster
Posts:1240
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| 07 Dec 2010 12:31 AM |
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Sprained wrist so I can't operate the auger. Will have to wait. |
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