spinner rig bullet head with a fathead

Really nice stuff!

Have a friend who traps leeches and he has been struggling to get any consistency in his traps. Been hearing the same from other trappers as well. As for spot tails they will be in high demand and with limited supply the prices will be a little on the high side I would assume. Luckily I picked up a real nice lb of large leeches at Fletchers a week ago. The early leech catches are usally the hardiest and last the longest.

speedy worm

I changed doctors a few years ago, went with a younger woman doc so that I have the same doc until I kick.
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Did the same thing here, switched to a younger male doctor that will be my primary. Hopefully we have a lasting relationship for the rest of my years. My other primary Doctor of 25 years recently retired.

Way to go! Traverse is a very big shallow piece of water with very good water clarity, it fishes a lot like Big stone. I’ve got them super shallow there before also. It can sometimes be surprising how shallow they will come into to feed after dark. If the baitfish forage base are there trust me there will be some actively feeding in the shore edges for sure. There is a lake near Sauk Centre I fish in the fall. Many times while out there fishing using headlamps we’ve witnessed eyes up in such shallow water feeding you literally could see there dorsal fin sticking out of the surface.

Speaking of Trout anyone have any luck out Big Watab this winter? Some decent Browns mixed in with the Rainbows out there and the sight fishing can be a blast!

Remember, it’s peak ice fishing time. Coupled with an influx of Americans with extra expendable cash, I’m sure TUCR is working nonstop to fulfill orders. Try contacting them.
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Spot on I get all my customs made at Thorne bros by Lonnie. When I do its early summer, early fall so as to have them in hand by first ice. TUC is one of the bigger named custom rod company’s with a good reputation. So they obviously have many followers and orders to get filled plus most of there standard inventory is sold out pretty much all over. There are some smaller named custom rod companies with some high quality rods that may be able to turn out a custom rod a little faster. Plus many of these small time builders deserve a chance to show there talents. I know I’m looking at giving a few a try next season! Another tid-bit with the overload of people out fishing this winter I’m sure the demand was out of the roof for TUC this year. I totally agree give them a polite call and chance to answer your question.

Al Pacino in Scarface!

CBMN wrote:

I have seen some entertaining stuff but this one takes the cake for me. I was pushing dbrights boat off the trailer and heard the thud and instantly knew what it was. Think I got to see 4 boats hit the ramp that spring up on the Rainy River.

Saw this myself a few times up on Rainy River in the spring: smile: Another spring classic up there is the guys with bunk trailers leave with soaking wet bunks and leave them sit in a parking lot and wouldn’t you know it there froze to the bunks next morning. Guys jumping on the rails doing whatever it takes to break them loose while a stack of boats are waiting to launch LOL!

Have a group of guys that go in on a split every year been doing it for many seasons and it’s very economical. We order bulk late fall from Speedy Worm or Vados. We then split them in groups of 1,000, personally I’m more of a plastic guy but will never step foot on the ice without meat. There’s times it will outproduce plastics no doubt. I Will second Fletchers Denny and his family run a top notch bait company. I will sometimes go out of my way to run a extra hour up to his shop just because of the variety and quality of the bait especially minnows he has on hand.

X 3 on Liam Neeson and lately not a movie but one of my favorite characters Rip in the TV series Yellowstone. AKA actor Cole Hauser just love the series can’t wait for it to get back on !

I just feel they are better used in shallow water because of there weight and slower fall time . Takes less time to get to the fish in say 10-15 foot vs 15-30 foot. But sometimes that slow wobble as with the leech flutter and slender spoons may be the ticket to fire them up so I won’t rule them out in deeper just a preference . If I’m fishing deeper basins I just prefer to fish the pinhead, small pea, buckshot and other weighted spoons. As I feel getting down fast to a active deep school is the key to picking off the most aggressive feeders before the school moves on. Kind of like when your on a school of active jumbo’s hence why we use the piggy back system on them. The quicker you get back the better down to them and keep them interested the better your odds of keeping a school in your hole or area.

Even though none of us would probably admit this we may all have been guilty of doing a few of these things at least once hopefully not twice. Mine is the guy unloading his truck and un tarping his boat rig on the ramp with no rush, as I’m waiting impatiently to launch. Have to admit I’ve done the plug thing myself boy does that make the cheeks pucker when the water starts flowing in instant bilge pump time LOL!

Tim As we all know ice isn’t always safe and if it makes you feel more comfortable punch couple holes, especially between the cattails. And to answer your question yes there is a nice road and trail heading out there. Tim there have been 1/2 tons crossing there for about 2 weeks already. I drove my Dodge out there a few times already. Now on the fishing the gills have been a little tough out there as of late

17-20 inches

B-Man that’s hardcore to the max!!!

Braved the elements today wow she was a little brutal, but I guess you can’t catch them from the couch. Fishing was actually better than I expected. One thing about weather like this it’s a true test to the equipment you use. Any flaws or weak links and they show themselves real quick!

Nice fish Joe. Love those big pies! Nothing like spending some quality family time in a fish house. If more people did this the world would be a better place.

I was on Long smurf.

I was one of those crazy’s out there in a portable today! Fishing wasn’t to bad got on some crappies bad part was they were shallow on a sand flat and moving a around a bunch . Hole hopping would of been a way better more successful option but wasn’t in the cards on a day like today. Oh well squeezed out enough to make it enjoyable on such a blustery day.

One of my best seasons ever other than having to deal with alot more activity and pressured fish. But by getting off the beaten path and doing some searching I have found some very good bites!

Small spoons tipped with euro larvae or plastics can be deadly especially on Aggressive crappies. If the fish are real aggressive go without anything and just use the spoon itself. The Tingler is a great spoon for a shallow water presentation, now for getting down quick to deeper basin fish or very active pods cant beat a pinhead spoon. As far as what to use in this weather it all depends on the pod of fish you are sitting on finiky go small tungsten aggressive go with spoon. I will say this spoons useally get the bigger fish.

Have many cases I really like the eagle claw case for being able to fit a few combos and few jig plastic boxes. It’s especially nice when using my truck fits right in back seat and being able to sit it on the tailgate and have access to many setups is the cats meow. Now for early ice when walking out or using the ATV I like to use break down shotgun cases they fit right inside my Clam XL perfectly!

Saw a few over the years new couple old timers who used them on panfish.

Its a old school hook out. Clip attaches to jacket etc. Use the little metal part to push hook pop it out.

Great Accomplishment by a guy that fishes hard Great Job Darren! Well earned

Catmando have to admit when the bite is tough I pull out my tripwire also. Hands down a great rod to downsize and see ultralight bites of finiky fish. Bearcat I have a 28 inch.

Great Job and Thanks on the Releases. We have a rule with the group of guys I fish with any gill 9 inches or better pic if u wan then released. No matter Male or female.

Had one on the feeder todqy.

Plus 6 on the Thorne bros. I own 3 Perch Sweethearts in various lengths for my eye fishing. Love the weight and sensitivity and haven’t had any problems iceing big predators with them. To me the Walleye Sweetheart was a little stiff for my likeing.

Muck Artic Pros, Thin silk sock and then a wool sock over.