Ready or not, here it comes

Don’t let the forecast of temps in the 50’s today fool you.
Tomorrow ice fishing weather is on its way. For those like Mike, it won’t get here soon enough. We will be walking on hard water I would guess in a couple of weeks, maybe sooner.
This gives us time to prepare, rearrange the bucket, dust off the cob webs from the flasher and hit it with a hot charge. New blades on the auger. Retie jigs and maybe replace some line. Sort through terminal tackle and have those favorites at the top and ready to go.
HOF has got it all in case you are low.
Dig out the winter clothing, etc..
I have done all of the above at least a dozen times, so I am ready.
I am thinking Wilcox for first ice, maybe the Finger Lakes, Wabasha Harbor.
Condition your body for the cold weather, stand in the back yard wearing only you undershorts for at least a half hour a day.

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Condition your body for the cold weather, stand in the back yard wearing only you undershorts for at least a half hour a day.

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I hope you have plenty of those “secret” purple baits in stock!

I’m sooooo juiced!!! Gonna be starting school thursday (after a 13 year leave of absense), so I may not get to do many morning bites, but none the less I’ll be out there. Got all my stuff ready yesterday, ready to hit prior as soon as I know I wont sink…

P.S. For the modest angler, If u cant hack being outside in yer grundies, try rollin all the windows down in the truck on the ride out, just about as effective

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Condition your body for the cold weather, stand in the back yard wearing only you undershorts for at least a half hour a day.

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ah – Ron – this is a family oriented site…

UG

UG, I didn’t say the front yard, where everyone could see ya. I said the back yard where no one should be able to share your conditioning process.

The ice in Minnasota must have gotten to your brains. burr…… we were fishing last weekend in tee shirts catching 9-11″ crappies. fun fun yum yum You can have all the snow & ice upthere.

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I hope you have plenty of those “secret” purple baits in stock!

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You must mean the ones that Briank never mentions.

Ron, you are more than welcome to stand out there for my conditioning time too. Brrrrrrrrrrrr

Iowaboy, you seem to get more snow than we do up here so my move from there to here so far has been a good one. What part of Hawkeye Country are you from?

Ron, are you froozen yet? If not then just hang in there as the very cold stuff is comin.

Mike [HOF] are you laughing because of what Ron [RHW] said or because he only does it for a half hour?

Since we are going to get blasted with a very cold and long time of it at least it should make some good solid ice before we get much snow which should give us a safe ice in a couple of weeks I would hope.

Thanks, Bill

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I hope you have plenty of those “secret” purple baits in stock!

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I ordered extra this year, but don’t tell Brian!

Geeze, I can’t wait! Ron and I already have plans to be on the ice next week. Lows around 10 and highs never above freezing should make for some very good first ice. Just gotta always play it safe by at least using a spud bar to continually test the thickness ahead of where you will be walking.

Good Fishing,
Mike

I think that purple bait he is referring to is a product of standing out in his backyard….

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I think that purple bait he is referring to is a product of standing out in his backyard….

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You guys are killing me!

Just watched Grumpy Old Men again. Sure gets me in the mood!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Mike,

That has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Even the sequel ranks up there for me.

My question is since RHW is the oldest he’s gotta be Grandpa Gustafson then that leaves you and ct to be John Gustafson and Max Goldman. Who would be who?

Andy

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Mike,

That has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Even the sequel ranks up there for me.

My question is since RHW is the oldest he’s gotta be Grandpa Gustafson then that leaves you and ct to be John Gustafson and Max Goldman. Who would be who?

Andy

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This is easy! Ron is Grampa Gustafson like you said. Since CT is older, he has to be Max Goldman. That makes me John Gustafson and I get Ann Margaret! WOO-HOO!
p.s. Don’t tell my wife……

Good Fishing,
Mike

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Mike,

That has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Even the sequel ranks up there for me.

My question is since RHW is the oldest he’s gotta be Grandpa Gustafson then that leaves you and ct to be John Gustafson and Max Goldman. Who would be who?

Andy

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This is easy! Ron is Grampa Gustafson like you said. Since CT is older, he has to be Max Goldman. That makes me John Gustafson and I get Ann Margaret! WOO-HOO!
p.s. Don’t tell my wife……

Good Fishing,
Mike

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Yes, but then he gets Sophia Loren in the sequel.

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Yes, but then he gets Sophia Loren in the sequel.

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He also gets her mother……

Good Fishing,
Mike

If your wives find out you guys might get tossed out into the backyard in your undies permanently. At least Rons only out there for a half hour at a time.

Hey, I kinda like old gramps, my kinda guy. Like him, I love bacon sandwiches, could eat em three times a day. Nothing like a good cigarette after a meal. I think I will cut my conditioning time to only 5 minutes a day, too cold, a guy could get killed standing out there for a half hour.

Oh by the way Tom, the line, “it’s OK I am a doctor”, really does work.

Nope, not me, I am a straight laced type of person.

Just give me a bacon sandwich.

I find your question peculair? Is there something you want to share?

Does the first part of your post spelled BUSTED!!?!! I think its time to trade in those shorts for some Longggggjohns. Brrrrrrrrr. For those of you who crave ice this cold should start making some. But no not this weekend for fishing on ice yet guys. This weekend is the weekend for cleaning out, rearranging, and replenishing the tackle you need along with buying new goodies for your ice fishing [always the FUN part, who says guys don’t like to shop?] and putting new line on reels etc. Reelly, pun intended, we don’t like to shop we just like to buy, and Hooked On Fishing in Rochester IS that store to buy at. Mike knows his stuff and carries what works so stop out and introduce yourself to him. On Sunday introduce yourself to my youngest son Nate. Don’t let the ”youngest” part scare you. Hes been fishing with me for over 20 years. [gee one of us must be getting old].
Thanks, Bill

You guys crack me up.

Down in the single digits for temp right now, highs around 20 and then back down to around 5 degrees tonight. Can you hear the ice cracking yet? I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that some of the marinas or shallow backwaters have ice by the weekend.
I really really really want to get out there, but will wait until next week.

Good Fishing,
Mike

I don’t hear it cracking but I do ”feel” it being made. And speaking of cracking, you guys crack me up.

Made the rounds today down by the MS River. All the very shallow backwaters had ice. I even saw a trapper walking on ice! Won’t be long now!!!

Good Fishing,
Mike