Charlie W wrote:

You say equipment. Does this include a wheeler and/or sled? If so, I would say get there as early as you can. As soon as trucks are allowed, I think fishing gets a littler tougher (still very good, just not always that bite you hear about). I would say the weekend of November 23-24 will be the best this year as the water will have a chance to settle down and clear up a bit but it should still be early enough to where the trucks and large wheelhouses are not everywhere.
You will catch fish whenever you go but earlier is better.

Yes we will have a couple wheelers we will be bringing regardless if we can drive trucks out or not. Hoping that it continues to make good ice but not so good trucks can be on yet!! HA! thanks for all the info guys its greatly appreciated.

Ice Cap wrote:

The way things are going early December won’t be considered early ice. I was up there today and dropped my wheelhouse off. They already have 5 to 6 inches almost 2 miles out. Sounds like atv’s and utv’s should be allowed this coming weekend from most resorts. but that is pending a bit of a warming trend towards the end of the week and pressure ridges could play into it.

This is the view as of today. I seen someone about a mile or more out on a snowmobile or wheeler I couldn’t tell which. I think it was someone from one of the resorts checking the ice depth.

So are you thinking that first weekend in December might be a miss for us? Or do you still think we have the potential to have good luck. We are hoping to hit that red lake bite you always hear about. Last year we were about 10 days behind the unreal bite on mille lacs so dont want to be a week late again.

It seems like its a tough deal to screw up. Just trying to get some research and info done before we go! Everything I have ever heard and seen makes it seem like you have to try to not catch fish.

I live in North East South Dakota and have a 16′ castle. Needless to say itll be staying in the shop unless i find a friend with a plow or want to pay someone to plow me a spot on the lake theyre plowing. Your best bet to fishing in SD without needing a tracked machine or sled would be the Missouri River. Wish I had better news for you but just simply need a plow ahead of the shack. We get 2-3″ of snow every other day and the days its not snowing its blowing 20-30 and white out conditions.

Seen this just not looking for shadow series. Thanks though!

Haven’t caught a perch on a treble hook this year. Guys i fish with have used Johnson snare spoons with a dropper chain and single hook. Way out performed other tackle

zachary Wietzema wrote:

Thanks for the help everyone. will for sure be picking up a precision!

Zachary I would highly suggest picking up the Precision Power. Sound like we fish the same style. Love fishing aggressively with the jigging raps/chubby darters along with 1/8 oz vmc flash champ spoons or vmc rattle spoons. Love my Precision Power. Only way I would go with another rod company or rod is if someone gave it to me. I fish perch with it too. Yes probably little stiff for most perch fishing but i fish perch the same way as walleyes. Smaller jigging raps/chubby darters and the 1/8 oz spoon.

Not sure what you’re looking to spend on it but I have one of the rapala bags, the big red ones, I think if i wanted i could get 7 or so good sized planos in it. Think they may be the 3200 series. I can check if you want but that be something to definitely look at. I have 2 of the 3200(?) and 2 smaller tackle boxes in there with my lx-7 and then there are 4 other pockets.

I guess my question is…is it still for sale??

Well then I guess my next question is what has been your most lights out crappie/bluegill lure? If all else fails what is that you turn to?