Thanks guys

I have the 650 cabin and a regular Buddy heater and I’ve stayed plenty warm as low as -10 with wind… Never tried colder than that. Good boots help though, I’m sure.

Thanks all!

And you all were correct, Marcum customer service IS top notch. They responded to my claim immediately…. They are sending me the new ducer today.

Its interesting to hear all the problems we have all had with StrikeMaster Solo engines. My old SM (I think Tecumsah motor?) was a freaking work horse that never let me down. The Solo fuel lines issues are huge, I’ve seen at least 10 threads on this topic this year – this is clearly a defect. I’m surprised SM continues to work with Solo…

I want to support a historically great Minnesota company but c’mon, give us something to work with!

CRC – I know you will!

^ like.

I wish there were “Like” buttons on IDO, this is a good community. I feel a little guilty for writing a divisive post, the world certainly has enough of those to read.

And the IDO team certainly deserves a week off (after a grueling week of catching record-sized perch in the Rocky Mountains – I kid)… How about showing some B-roll of the days that they weren’t successful, we all have them. Show us how to lose with grace and focus more on specific presentations that they use – teaching moments.

I do stand by my comments that what makes IDO unique is the ice and the local element…. The proof is in the sales that they generate for the Ice Force brand.

I’m fairly new too. Do you know of all the local stomping grounds?

• Black bridge
• Red bridge
• River road
• The Pipe

I’ve heard black bridge is doing well for walleyes right now… But fishing right off a spill way is not my style. I like to get away from the crowds a bit more. I had luck early ice at both Red bridge and River Road, but its gotten tough there – and crowded.

I hit up Dubay 2 weekends ago and plan to do it again this weekend. It’s the most well known walleye fishery around the area… I drove by Lime Lake last week and there were huge crowds there, must be something up with that – and you can find contour maps for both of those lakes.

I never really saw tip downs until I moved to Wisconsin (from MN).

I am hitting a little panfish lake with the 7 y.o. this weekend, I was planning on trying to tip up fish crappie for the first time too, so good question.

I was going to try using crappie minnows. I have only ever used spikes while jigging, I figure using little minnows will weed out all the smaller fish, hopefully decent crappie will hit these.

Crappie:

LOL (with fading reverb) “what a specimen

= Winner

This is very sad.

I go out fishing on Wisconsin River reseviors with my 7 year old in our jeep every week. Big bodies with current are scary.

Were the victims driving parallel with the crack at a short distance, like within 12-25′ of the crack? Or were they further away or real close to it? Was the crack hard to see with snow and sun?

I only have 3 years of ice experience, I want to know what/what not to do if I came across a situation like that, and how to safely get out of that situation.

Well Gander Mountain in Wausau made it right by me (even though I had already lost the receipt).

The new StrikeMaster fired up on the second or third pull.

I even managed to sneak in 2 fruitless, but much needed, hours on the ice.

Thanks guys

Thanks for the link Troutbum. Nice to know that this problem is systemic… Which of course makes me completely reconsider my brand loyalty to StrikeMaster.

I will drive back up to Gander Mountain to exchange it. As this image shows, SM is so confident in its product that page one of the enclosed paperwork is “ATTENTION! Go get this repaired instead of returning it!” #redflag

Attachments:

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The entire machine is enclosed. If there is a loose hose it would require me to take it apart, which is getting outside of my comfort zone, and it would also signal a failure of Strikemaster/Solo’s responsibility to its customer.

Yes, it is ‘on’. I have been at it for more than 30 minutes, I feel like I’ve done everything that I can do. I can barely type at this point.

I will check for a loose hose. It only leaks profusely when I tilt the auger towards me (with the throttle in my right hand), or when I tilt the auger to my left/away from the gas tank-side.

I have North Face Heatseekers. About $125 I think, I have been blown away by their awesomeness. Many full-days on the ice in Northern MN and WI over the last 2 years, and my feet are always more than warm, great tread, and stylish for just getting around town.

Just a few weeks ago I won a St. Croix Legend at the ice show at Gander Mountain in Wausau… I never win anything!

The first day out I dropped it down the hole… What. The. F….

Luckily, after about 15 minutes of dragging the bottom with a buckshot rattle spoon, I hooked it, on what was honestly my last effort… I won it again!

Thanks for your feedback guys. Not only did you talk me out of the JM, but you talked me INTO the Pro XT 1200 Lodge… Go big or go home.

@belletaine I owe you one, I was able to get the 1200 Lodge at L & M for $799… that is a heck of a deal!

Good information guys! @belletaine what store are you finding those prices? I’ll be in the Cities next week, if those prices are still around I would jump on them.