HOF and IDA-An Unbeatable Combination For You

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Went over to the Wabasha/Kellogg area today intent on getting out on some ice. Checked Wilcox, the Dike Road, and the Wabasha Harbor. The ice was only 1″ – 1 1/2″. No one had been on the ice yet and I think a couple more days of good cold might be what is needed.

I did fish off the docks, but through the ice in the Wabasha Harbor. Got several largemouth bass, a couple sunfish, a crappie, and a perch. It was just nice to pull some fish through the ice again!

Be safe! Use an ice spud to determine ice thickness ahead of where you will walk, and do not go alone.

Good Fishing,

Mike

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Now that sounds like a smart way to ice fish. Fishing off of the docks at marinas with drilling holes and fishing all while you are on the dock for safety. Nice safe way to do it and ”never” step foot on the ice. Best of both worlds that way-safe as you ”don’t” step foot on the ice and yet you get to fish first ice period too.

I stopped out to HOF yesterday to buy my portable ice house license and came across something I just had to have, [really lots of things I had to have ]. We all have seen those wire ice rod holders that hold your rod outside on the ice and your rod is held in the rod holder fairly close to the ice. Well Mike had those ones in stock PLUS some that are twice as tall. Now that caught my attention. As we get older and/or have back injuries we don’t like to bend anymore than we have to and when standing outside or sitting on a bucket outside or sitting on a bucket or seat inside a ice house/shack we can set our rod in this taller rod holder and be able to grab that rod when a fish is on without having to bend way over. Ice fishing just keeps getting better all the time ”Thanks” to Mike who is an ice fishing fanatic who spends more days on the ice than anyone I know, who does product testing of different fishing products both on ice and open water to see if its a product that will do what he needs it to do, who does testings of products to find the best lures/products to see if they are items that work best in/on the Rochester Area Lakes and Rivers and if they catch alot of fish here then he will carry that product. If it doesn’t then he will just let the other stores carry that product that doesn’t work well here. In otherwords HOF carries only the products that work well catching fish instead of products that only catch fishermen. Thats the benefit you get when buying from a guy who fishes alot more than most people do. And Mike has gone beyond that even and has RHW and myself testing products too so he is getting feedback from others who spend alot of time on the water too. This past year has been alot of fun and very educational testing out different lures and colors and different products to see what works best on our lakes. And finding which lures/products that work best here and using them on other bodies of water I have found that they work very well there too. So if you want lures and products that will catch fish for you and not just the hyped up products that are advertised that mostly catch only fishermen then HOF is the place to be at when you want/need good fish catching products. I really appreciate all that Mike/HOF and staff does to make everyones fishing that much better. Helping others to enjoy their time more on the water/ice is not only what this site is about but also is what HOF is about. Its your one stop shop for most everything you need. And run by fishing fanatics [] so you get the best of the best products, service and info on hot bites.

Sorry I got so long winded here but alot of people don’t realize what all HOF and IDA do to help you catch more fish, know what products really do work, and to help you enjoy your time on the water more. An unbeatable combination.

Thanks, Bill

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Bill? Not to change the subject…but did you happen to see the Channel Cat rod that Mike built for me? Well…it’s really going to be my favorite wife’s. That’s why it has green thread…color coordinated, that’s important you know…

I keep planning on picking it up…but kinda hoping there will be some ice…(hint hint…wink wink…)when I go…

Hey Mike, any Chena Bait this year? I created demand even if I rarely used it.
Nobody believes I fish bare hook.

Chena Bait – yes we have it. I found out that we were the #1 seller in the world last year of Chena Bait!
For those who may not be familar with it, Chena Bait is seal skin. It comes in a small roll which you cut into thin strips and then hang on a small jighead. Really works well and sometimes puts really big crappies on the ice when nothing else is producing.
Another new lure which I want to use is the very small 1/32 oz. blade baits. We have them in several colors and I can just imagine big slabs being fooled by them!

Good Fishing,
Mike

If they don’t buy from number on pkg, Ron (smeltoholic) and Vic(redfeather) will be ringing your phone. I still got a spare pack. Blades as in zip? as in cicada? never had a legal catch with them and if you don’t get too offended I consider them the yankee version of arkansas crankbait (the big lead weight treble used for snagging}.

Knee scoping needs to get better soon I see safe ice here by Wed. cent. il.

The blades are quite small, but I suppose more of a zip style. I had a chance to use them a little before ice up and caught some very nice bluegills, all legal. I strongly suspect they will really shine for crappies through the ice. Hope to give them a chance very soon!

Good Fishing,
Mike

In my ice tackle i have two very small cicadas no takers during hot bites or sight fishing.

If no bites then try adding a minnow head for alittle meat and scent. Alot of times that will do the trick. You then are appealing to the fishes ”reaction” and ”attention” with the movement of the lure, the drawing of the fish nearer to the lure with the ”smell/scent,” and the the ”hunger” with the meat
Thanks, Bill