Pool 10 Ice Fishing GTG in Prairie du Chien

Who’s bringing the porta-potty?

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Who’s bringing the porta-potty?

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Mother Nature

We will get there John, just not sure how soon.
Mike always likes to stop at them neon light joints for a quick one

I had a great time thanks Dave .Good to see old friends meet some news one.The chili was awesome so was the brats and Eds bars.Got a sugar high from them ,but was with it.Got 4 gills thats fishing for you the BS was way good.Look foreward to next year GTG.Thanks everyone.ICE JOHN

Still tastin the chili Didn’t think I made it that snappy but it sure is sticking around.

That was a good time, the food and bs were good and after the fire finally took off it was pretty darn comfy out there.

As far as the bite went, worst I’ve seen it this year

Thanks a ton Dave for setting this up and to everyone who provided the rides.

I know Cam had a great day especially after getting a fast ride with Bens new toy…great machine Mr.Garver

Ended up pictureless today, my camera developed frost bite or something

Hopefully we can get in another quick gtg this winter. Thinking the end of Feb. even into March. Longer days with warmer temps.

You people !!! My God !!!

I have NEVER….. EVER….. met a bunch of people that were soooo GREAT !!! so many people pitched in to help make this GTG happen….I only hope that I hit every one that helped make this event happen,,,,

COLD ? Cold you say ?????? -7 this morning….but we still had a great crowd !!! True True fishermen !!! and Women !!!!

Again… I just can’t thank everyone enough for making this outing the hit that it was….because it could have easily been a FLOP !!!

Take care and I hope to see you on the ice !!!

COLD???
It was only a bit nippy….

Thank YOU Dave for all the work YOU did…

How can you not have a good time when there is such good company and your beer doesn’t get warm…

It was great seeing some old friends and meeting some new, old, friends…

And don’t we have a GREAT Warden here !!!

Mike Cross came out and payed a visit…

I do have all my paperwork to turn into him on Monday !!!

And you guys wanted him to take me away !!!

Hey, didn’t you see everyone digging for their wallets for the bail collection?
The warden did a good thorough job As Bret mentioned, we should consider ourselves fortunate to see them out in the field .

Dave I must say you throw one heck of a party!!! I would like to thank all that helped everyone get out there and back, it wasn’t fun trying to pull that grill out!! I would like to thank Jeff Jensens friend for use of the HUGE otter sled to get the grill out there. Even thou the fishing could have been better the camaraderie was second to none!!!! Bret did have his tip-up flag up alot but I never did see a fish come out!! The evening social time was very entertaining, I just wish Lupe and I would have felt better and could have stuck around, I think we caught a bug from our daughter because I feel even worse today!!! Until the next one I hope to see you guys on the ice, and Dave just let me know if I can help with the next one I’d be honored to help you!!!

Ed

My body might not have been there but my thoughts were.

Sounds like ol’ Bret had some flag exercise.

Dave, I believe you now know how far friendship goes…not as far as the pocket book….although had I been there, I would have love to have cuffed you…I would have let Bret do the cavity search…HEY! What are friends for?

Reminder to check sled and wheeler registrations!

I also heard that some of the guys never fished in 18 inches of water before. Glad they were taught something.

And what about Ben? The Favorite Daughter isn’t going to be too happy when she hears you rolled her pet snowmobile 30 minutes after taking possession! I better call her now.

Gas $80
Food and Drink $100+
Hotel $110
Meeting the some of the greatest people I have ever met in my life $ Priceless

What a great bunch of people, all I can say is amazing.
It was great to meet each and everyone of you
The weather may have been cold but the atmosphere was warm enough that most everyone hung out outside all day and the BS session was on and it was great.

Dave cant thank you enough for a great great time with good people. I definately will be attending again

Bret your flags up

Heres the only pics I took which was about 20 Min after I got my shack up so it wasnt the full crew pictures go 180 degrees from right to left

for those of you that were around for story time also the wallye pic from Mille Lacs

WOW what a hang over this morning. Made it home safe and recoving well drinking lots of water. You never new how good water taste.

It was great to meet and greet all of you.

Dave Thank you for everything.

Hope to see most of you all at the end of Feb and the Madison Fishing Expo.

A big Thank you to everyone

Yup, it was a fun gtg alright.

Bret, Mike, Jeff J., Mudshark, JJKrooked, 56Twister, Ben, and a bunch of others who’s names I can’t remember, it was a pleasure to finally be able to shake your hand and see what you guys look like in real life.

Dave, thanks for the brat and the ride out! Those brats always taste better when the temperature is below zero. Thanks for putting this event together also.

Jeff J. – pretty darn tasty chili! Definitely helped ward off the cold.

Ben – Nice to meet you and thanks a ton for the ride back to my truck. Very much appreciated!

JJKrooked – Thanks again for bringing along those downrigger weights. If you ever get down this way, your welcome to fish out of my boat.

It was fun day. Wish I could have stuck around for the evening also. Maybe next time.

Dave,
I hugh to you on a Great GTG. It was nice to meet you and many others on Saturday. Arrived on the ice around 8:45 AM and was suprised on how many people were there already. Drilled a lot of holes, did a little hunting, then ended up around the fire talking BS .

My camera was acting up from the cold, but I was able to get a few. Enjoy and thanks again Dave.

1st photo is Mike C working the jig. 2nd is Den, Joe, Larry, and Jay. These four guys are a handful 3rd photo is JP Mason, Jay, Den, and Joe standing around the fire pit. Thanks Jeff Jensen, sure was nice to be able to thaw out the beer.
4th photo is Uncle Den on the walk out. 5th photo is the veiw as you came into “CAMP”. The final photo is of IDOers that I can not name, but shows just how upset everyone was when the fish weren’t bitting.

I think I can echo everyone’s sentiment so far on the GTG in Prairie on Saturday. Dave, great job and thanks for all of your organizing efforts. I always enjoy renewing the “old” aquaintances and meeting fellow IDO’ers for the first time. Bret and I agreed on the way home today, that we always meet some very nice, fun people at these IDO events. The fishing was secondary yesterday as everyone pretty much took advantage of the opportunity to visit, tell stories, enjoy some excellent chili and brats, cookies and bars, BS a little, indulge in a few beverages and sneak out and trip Bret’s tipup.

Here a few of the pic’s I took yesterday and hopefully I have them in this order.
1. Some Heavy Duty BS going on here – the guy in red is the Master BSer.
2. We’re not sure who the service was for but the grave digger never showed up. Actually a very nice shelter brought by John R
3. Blue Fleck and Mrs. Blue leaving for shore – we’re not sure what was all going on in that tub but there sure was a lot of giggling and laughing as they were going across the ice.
4. Ice John with one of the days tropies – a few people actually fished – go figure.
5. Our Oganizer, Dave cooking brats
6. Cam Jensen learning from Ben Garver how to “restart” the fire. “that’s not how my Dad does it Mr. Garver” – – – – “yes I know Cam, that’s why I have to relight it, pay attention and I’ll teach you how it’s really done.”.

Great day everyone – Thanks.

Stacey & I had a great time as well. Unfortunately, I’m still on a steady diet of Gatorade & Imodium. I wish I could have spent more time out on the ice with you guys, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

Here’s the pics Stacey took. I know she looks forward to the next GTG.

Thanks to everyone who attended IDO’s ’09 Freezin’ For No Reason GTG.

Tom: We were freezin with a reason. What a great bunch of people. We had a ball. Dave: Make sure you have everything in order for the CO. He may not be as nice without all your bodyguards around.
Looking forward to the next GTG. Nice to meet everybody.
Jim

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6. Cam Jensen learning from Ben Garver how to “restart” the fire. “that’s not how my Dad does it Mr. Garver” – – – – “yes I know Cam, that’s why I have to relight it, pay attention and I’ll teach you how it’s really done.”.

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Blue I love the picture of Bret checking his tip up PRICELESS

Mr. ecnook….you sure know how to throw a party

And as for everyone there (you tough suns-a-guns)….you all sure know how to party
It was a blast finally meeting up and shaking hands with people that make this site a great place to hang out.

Thanks Mr. Jensen for reminding me why I don’t drink Brandy and thanks a ton Ben for the awesome Peppermint used to keep my brews from freezing up
Thanks Cam for giving me something to toss around to warm up now and then too …glad my back held in there

Mike C, you did a great job keeping the brats rolling while Dave was busy with the CO talking himself out of trouble ….you dudes have one of the finest wardens I have ever met working your area!!!

I have also noted for next year….do not set a tip up along side a well traveled trail

Thanks a ton everyone for making the GTG one of the most fun times I have had on the ice

PS: Thanks for the ride over the spring at the end of the day Dave, glad I could be your test co-pilot

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PS: Thanks for the ride over the spring at the end of the day Dave, glad I could be your test co-pilot

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Oh hell! We tested that spring at 6:45 in the morning. 700 lbs of steel, plastic, & rubber + 700 lbs of bone, brain, & pure muscle ALMOST made it across without incident. Back tire went through on Troy’s side! Lets just his body weight isn’t as evenly distributed….First pic is buddy Troy and yep that’s his sock hanging out to dry after the incident. His boot took on a little water.

It was nice to meet those of you I did. Ventured away from base camp for a couple of hours to find a sandwich. For those of you in attendance that wetted a line, you’d never believe it, but the fish I did find were right under the ice for some reason…

Cold? Well, truth be told….I expected to witness somebody’s tongue getting stuck on a certain type of alloy. Didn’t happen so it must’ve not been that cold!

Overall it was great party Dave! It was nice to finally meet you, Jeff, Caude, Mudshark, Ice John, Bret, Mike, and a few others. A face with a name is always nice. Avitars don’t count.

Dave, thanks for great party. Was nice meeting the new faces. Mudshark, thanks for the ride in and out. Was a blast. hope to make the next one.–John

The wife and I made it home safely yesterday. The drive home seemed much longer than the ride up.

A huge thanks to Dave for hosting such a good time. You live and fish in a beautiful part of the country. Also how many places can you go and catch fish in 18 inches of water? This was certainly a trip the wife and I would be willing to take again. Maybe we’ll have to come up and hit some open water with you.

I also want to give a huge thanks to Jesse. I avoided a huge risk of BK delivering that sled. You got it to us in one piece and for that I thank you. I’ll be in touch with you when I head up to Pool 4 this spring. Great meeting you and thanks again.

I’ve been to a lot of GTG’s and was always the guy that traveled the furthest. Well this time the Kansas guys had me beat. It was great meeting you Richard. I wanted to talk with you about some spring Kansas crappies and didn’t get the chance. You’ll be getting a PM about this crappie trip soon.

Tom and Stacey it was great to see you guys again. Tom was a trooper on Sat. I’m glad I didn’t eat what you did on Friday night. See you in April.

Hats off to everyone else too. I got to put a lot of names to faces this weekend. I think my wife has a much better understanding of my computer time now. IDO is a special family. A lot of us never meet in person and then when we have a GTG it’s like going to a family wedding reception. You party together like you’ve known eachother your whole life.

Well I had a good time for the hour I was there but my fishing buddy was frozen and wanted to go…since he drove I didnt have a choice . I wanted to meet Bret,Mike C. and Ben G and alot of others but wasnt in the cards! Nice BSin with Jeff and Mr & Mrs Koonce on friday night..next year got to be warmer right? You put on a great GTG Dave!!

I know not everyone got to go into my Otter Medium Cabin and look at the Marcum VS820…I had it all set up to watch the fish come in…

For those of you that did…what did you think ? of either the Otter or the Marcum VS820… I sure hope you enjoyed it !!!

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I know not everyone got to go into my Otter Medium Cabin and look at the Marcum VS820…I had it all set up to watch the fish come in…

For those of you that did…what did you think ? of either the Otter or the Marcum VS820… I sure hope you enjoyed it !!!

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Dave it was awesome that 820 sure worked great in a foot of water I really liked the otter and after this weekend I am in the market for a sled style shack, no more suit case. As much as I like having a floor it just pays for it self to be extremely portable with the ability to haul all of your gear. That square tubing looks completely rigid compared to the tube style. I am in the market

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I know not everyone got to go into my Otter Medium Cabin and look at the Marcum VS820…I had it all set up to watch the fish come in…

For those of you that did…what did you think ? of either the Otter or the Marcum VS820… I sure hope you enjoyed it !!!

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Lupe and I checked out the camera and that is an excellent camera. Lupe was using an Aqua-Vu there and we could really compare the distance a person could see and the picture clarity and there’s no comparison. The Marcum worked great!!!! I told her we need one and she agreed, but she said we need a 4 wheeler first!!

Ed