Erik's fishing rants

Big mail day today!
Got my clam auger plate kit, comes with a 6 inch auger too. Now I have a 6 inch and a 8 inch and the auger plate just feels better than holding the drill. Im going to buy the gear transmission next for the larger holes I need to drill.

Also came a marcum recon 5 underwater camera, this will be great for spotting fish in the shallows. Im also going to make a mount for my kayak so I can use it there also.

 

Designing a mount for my tip up for my solo trips. I only bring a single tip up with me usually. MN only allows 2 lines, so I get a tip up and a rod, or 2 rods.

I made a mount out of the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. Should keep my tip up from rolling around and getting hit by things in the sled.

 

Got a chance to try out my new camera today. Really really really need to make or buy a panner for this thing.

 

Got to spend some time out on the lake today. Weather was 44 degrees out, the ice was popping and cracking like crazy! Got a few bluegill, saw a few bass too but didnt hook any. Going to go out again tomorrow while the wife and kids are at school. I think I am going to do some open water fishing since the air systems keep the water infront of the dock open so I can do some casting.

 

I bought the Aqua-Vu Micro camera this past weekend and IMMEDIATELY realized I need a panner thing for it as well. It is totally sick seeing whats swimming below, but you're basically having to finesse it for 15 minutes at a time to get the right shot. lol

 

Yeah, I didnt think it was going to be so hard to get it aligned until I actually had to do it. I made a panner from a tip up, but its also very hard to get right and I ended up just ordering the marcum wired panner.

Ive seen people use a bucket with ahole in it and a foam ball to make a panner, but that seems nearly just as bad.

 

Yeah ill have to buy whatever Aqua-Vu or Marcum sells. I dont know why I didnt think about it beforehand, but it was almost immediate after I droppped it down below the hole - that thought of; "well this is going to be a pain."

 

I think the aquavu panner is better than the marcum one, but the marcum one is smaller when packed.

 

Found my next summer project! Need to build this for next winter. I already have the mini bike, already have the skis, and already have the sleds. Going to have to build the smitty sled (the part with the skis on it) to hold either of my sleds.

 

Whats the snow situation like for you guys? Wish I could consider something like this but this winter is tracks/walk on only at the lake. I'm sure you'll be happy with a Smitty sled setup. They're awesome.

 

It changes pretty often on the snow. We just got 8 inches and have a few more on the way. But usually the wind will blow most of the snow away from the lake and leave a crust thats a pain to walk on.

 

Did some ice fishing this weekend up in duluth. Got a whole lot of nothing and realized my central MN gear is not great for dealing with the northern MN ice. The auger went all the way down to the plate and still had 3 inches of ice left to drill. SO I will be ordering a extension for the next trip out there.

Also I need a new shovel, Ive been using a plastic shit shovel (big flat poop shovel from fleetfarm) I need to swap it out for a small folding metal one.

Today was the last day of the season for pike, walleye and bass. I get probably another month of pan fishing until ice season is done and I switch back to bank/kayak fishing. Once ice season is done I will start doing some real full mods to my solo shack, ive been testing things each time I go out, so I have a few good mod ideas ready to start.

But I got a mount for my underwater camera screen so its not just sitting on the ground anymore.

 

Feeling you on the extensions lol. We've got anywhere from 40 to 50+ inches of ice out here.

 

Down by me we just dont get much more than 20 inches, so my little auger has always been just fine. At least extensions are pretty cheap.

 

Crazy how much of a difference that is compared to here. Always feel like Minnesota isn't that far away. When does the ice fishing season wrap for you guys?

 

Ice off dates are around the end of march, but season wise pike, walleye and bass just ended yesterday. So I can still ice fish for the next month, but only for bluegill, perch and crappies.

 

thats something I am gonna have to get used to - no bass fishing for about three months. Ill have to head down to Iowa and do that until season opens up here in MN. lol

 

I use lunkerhunt tail spins for crappies, the bass go for them too. So on the off season I fish those mostly, cant get in trouble for crappie fishing if the bass keep taking the bait.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Lunkerhunt_Big_Eye_Tail_Spin_Jig/descpage-LBET.html

 

Well looks like the last day of ice fishing is going to be this weekend. Saturday will be 28 degrees, then it will go up to 45-50 degrees for the next week and continue into spring.

Sunday Im going to pack up all my ice gear and put it into storage for the summer.

 

I was out last night and the ice is already significantly thinner since last week. You’re right…. After this weekend it’s done. MAYBE one or two days early next week, but by then the edges will be open so it will be damn near impossible to get on the ice anyway.