Well its always fun to have your bird on opening morning and still be home for breakfast. Here’s another Southeastern Wisconsin gobbler shot on 4-15-09 with the Hoyt Ultra Tec and Easton A/C/C tipped with a 2 blade Rage. 28yds shot, bird weigh 25 lbs, 10 in. beard 3/4 in. spurs.

Not rippin ya Ralph just saying I use the gear I have that will do the best job for me most open water reels work for ice too that’s all.

I use the Calcutta laker fishing and it works great….I don’t allow cold to dictate my gear….the calcutta has great drag system….and it doesn’t freeze up

He needs to use the narrow beam in water over 10 feet with that Bird.

I have a Calcutta on an ice rod works sweet and a Curado on another one. I’d recommend either one. I’s say the Curado would do just fine especially if you need to buy a reel, but if you have a Calcutta B or the budget to get one that would work even better.

I agree with Luke. The sfl is sweet. Plus if you ever go laker fishing the thing is the bomb and if you fish pannies in heavy cover it’s nice there too.

Interesting. I read that post on that site too he stated that there was a misprint on the box that the target separation is not .5 inch it’s actually 2.5 inches. The other thing mentioned is that he suggested to use wide beam in 10 feet or less and the narrow in 10 feet or more. I was confused by that one how come that would be? If this is true than this bird doesn’t mark targets as well as the two proven flashers do.

Fishing without a flsher is refered to as “fishing blind” I recommend not fishing blind. That flasher will quickly eliminate ares with no fish and effectively target fish that are under your hole you can see the fish as blips on your screen and like was said before its a video game effect.

Spring Park Bay has current for one example…the lake is in a way a flowage….

I’d stay off that lake for a while…it has deceptive current to go with large size….takes about 2 weeks longer to safely freeze if there’s such a thing….

Thanks. Should be good ice in the N metro this weekend…..I’ll post what I find.

Harpooning…that’s funny stuff. Guessing most harpooners don’t take the 10 plus lbers.

Saw dudes on Valentine this morning……anyone ever fish that thing?

A guy could ice fish last year on Thanksgiving….small water up north and I know a guy could fish the first weekend of December from Mora north cause I did that.

Good tips Jeff. The rope and picks are a must. I wear a life jacket too early and late season.

The LX2 is the better unit as long as they are both in the same condition. The 2 has superior IR by far.

you guys are funny…ya ever hook a nice fish on the bent hook and have it get off….be a good test to see if more large fish are caught with the bend or without the bend…to me the bend is there to hook more fish…smaller ones that can’t eat the hook….it’s a kin to using a marmooska….easy for small size gills to get hooked on…i can’t bend the gami…..i seem to catch my largest fish….15 lb pike…..27 in eyes….19 inch bass on waxies while fishing gills…i fish 5lb pline too….nice to have a good hook…and no stretch line….assuming the line didn’t break most lost fish i believe while ice fishing are a result of a bent hook…and if you are willing to compromise your own lures strength to catch more smaller fish more power to you….fun discussion though….one guys 2 cents

If you’re using a Gamakatsu hook you wouldn’t have to do that. To me bending that hook weakens it and if you hook a much bigger fish than you are targeting it’ll straighten out the hook or bend the hook enough to……set itself free…if you can bend the hook the fish can….line drives thoughts