Hey Brad, if you have 10-inches of ice you should be plenty safe with what you are talking about bringing out there.

I have the Otter Cabin. I am on my third season with it. Awesome shelter!!! I had always used a lantern but when I got my Otter I wanted to eliminate the chance of burning a hole in the sides so I purchased a set of rope lights. They worked at first but the rope lights were thick and got pretty stiff in the cold, and then eventually there was a short in the line and it was a pain to try and get the entire thing to light up.

Then I switched back to the lantern for most of last year.

This year I picked up a 48 inch strip of LED lights at the Blaine Hardwater expo from Northern “Bright” Lights. I installed them before I went out this year and have been very pleased with them. I also purchased a dimmer switch from them that allows me to find just the right amount of light.

It was a little spendy at $40 for the light set and $10 for the dimmer switch, but after using them about 4 times would do it again.

I strongly suggest the dimmer switch because without it the lights are just too bright, especially on first ice.

Here is their web page with the information. Minnesota Deer Classic Trophy Measuring

It is really hard to give you much for tips without know the type of lake you are on. Is it deep or shallow, does it have much for structure, and how big of a body of water is it?

This time of year you will mostly find the crappies in the deep basin areas over mud. In the evenings the bugs rise out of the bottom and the crappie schools swim around in circles over these muddy basin areas.

If you want to target them in the evening they tend to move towards the edges of the deep water right before dark.

Good Luck Fishing!

I have the IPhone 5S. Not sure what you are using.

When I updated my phone it did the same thing.

I just zoomed in on the area I wanted to see contours for and kept it there for a little while and it started to download where I was zoomed in on.

Good Luck!

I don’t know anything about JR’s rods, but I would say you are going to lose out on the sensitivity if you choose an ugly stick or other cheap combo, and a lot of those combo reels are junk.
I started out fishing walleyes with an ugly stick, they work but there is a lot better rods for not much more money. Get an ugly stick and that is what you get; a “stick”. They have their place but if you want a jigging rod and want to feel your bait, get a thinner and lighter rod.
I place more importance on the reel. You don’t have to spend a lot to get a pretty good reel. You need something that has a good drag, and I prefer something with full anti-reverse. Nothing like setting yourself up for failure like a cheap reel with a bad drag.
You can get a pretty good rod for $15- $30 and a reel for the same price and set yourself up with your own $40- $50 combo.
A JR’s rod at $30 is probably a pretty good value.

Good Luck fishing!

Here is what West Wind posted on their Facebook page.

West Wind Resort
21 hours ago via mobile
Not much has changed since the last report. Even with the cold weather we are not making much ice under the snow. We still are finding 12 to 14 inches of ice. The roads are looking good out the 2 mile marker. We plowed out some new area to the North and will have plenty of wheel house parking. The snow still limits off road travel and with ice conditions the way they are we do not suggest it with a pickup. We are only allowing smaller vehicles up to 1/2ton trucks and single axle wheel houses. Stick to the roads and do not go down blocked off areas. They are blocked for your safety! Also keep the speeds under 20 mph.
The walleye bite has been on and off from the weather. One day it’s hot all over the next day is slow. One day has a good bite over night and the next day it’s at sun down. When we get some stable weather the bite should even off. Yesterday had a great bite around 4-6 pm using a red rattlin flyer and a shiner. The fish are almost always around and many anglers graph them but have a hard time getting them to bite at certain times of the day. Once it’s feeding time, they get much more aggressive. 8 to 10 ft of water is where most anglers are now and doing their best. Merry Christmas!

Could be a gas tank venting issue. Mine has done something similar when I had the gas tank really full. After drilling a few holes it wants do die. If I open the gas cap and screw it back down I can drill a few more holes.

When the gas level gets a little lower then there is no issue.

Good Luck

I cut my fish down into bite sized pieces and put them in a bowl with beer. I don’t let them in very long, just long enough to mix the batter and for the deep fryer to get hot.

I mix a 50/50 dry batter with flour and the complete pancake mix.

I also add in seasoning salt, black pepper, and sometimes some lemon pepper to your taste.

The dry pancake mix already has all the milk and egg and stuff in it that most other people like to dip their fish in. Gives it a nice texture.

Put the moist fillets in the dry batter mix and shake like others.

Then deep fry and enjoy.

Looks correct. Try loosening the bolts and place a thin piece of plastic between the blade and the auger towards the front of the blade so that when you tighten the bolts back up it will tip the blades so it will grab the ice better.

Doesn’t take much, just cut a strip out of a milk jug or other thin plastic jug or bottle. A laundry detergant bottle is a little thicker if it takes more of a shim.

You should not need to press down very hard to get it to cut. It should bite into the ice on its own if the blades are sharp and have the right pitch.

Good Luck

I like to start big to attract fish in, and then down size if they show interest but won’t commit. If you rip either a slender spoon or a blade you can often get the fish to come in but sometimes they will back away. Then I go with more of a vertical spoon that doesn’t have as much action. Sometimes they like aggressive, and others they just want a real subtle approach. I start aggressive and back off.

Also a good idea to have a setline with a minnow nearby when you are ripping a bait because you can call fish in and they will take the easy snack just hanging there.

Good Luck!

One of the best ways to find walleyes is to find their food, most often perch. If you find an area near deep water that is holding perch, then there is a good chance that the walleyes will show up there to eat right before it gets dark.

There is no set depth that you have to be fishing. If you have been fishing 8-15 without any luck try moving out just a little bit and try that 17-20 foot range.

I like to be on an edge. If there is a steep drop I will sit right on top of it or on the bottom. I usually avoid sitting in the middle of a steep break. Try sitting right at the top edge of this deep water in an area where you can find some type of bait fish.

A lot of times on early ice these walleyes can move up in the weeds and look for bigger meals and may be eating sunfish. Then you are going to want to find some healthy looking weeds.

If you are on a clear lake with clear ice and no snow you do have to pay attention to how much light you are using and how much noise you are making. Sometimes you can’t use a big bright lantern, may have to step it down to just a head light.

Good Luck, Hope you find some of them early ice eyes! It is a thrill when you find them!

Had that same water heater. Just after the six year warranty it sprung a leak and the water would trickle down into the ignitor and then it would show error codes.

Don’t make them like they used to.

I am in a development and all the house were pretty much the same age. I know of 4 out of the 7 of us that have already replaced our water heaters at just after 6 years.

I replaced mine with an electric. Electric unit is cheaper and with rising LP costs it didn’t make sense to replace with another gas unit.

Good Luck!

Found my book; might let you know what is up with it.

It has more to do with your ceiling height than just door and header height.

If you have the height inside the garage then you can just lift the header, but if the height isn’t there inside the garage then you will have to lift the whole garage to be able to put in a higher door.

You can gain some height by using a thicker header, but it will be minimal and is not going to be the extra foot that you need for an 8 foot door.

The Clam Nanook might be what you are looking for. It has a lower, lighter weight sled. There will not be quite as much room in it as your otter, but it should be easier to move for you. It will have less head room too. It comes with two swivel seats and if you only plan on fishing alone you can leave one of the seats at home to save on weight.

You can add a hyfax kit if you plan on pulling it with an atv or snowmobile.

I was torn between the Otter Cabin and the Clam Nanook, and got the otter because they are built a lot stronger, but if you don’t use it 4 plus days a week like I do the Clam could be just what you are looking for.

I love my Otter Wild Cabin, but it can get a little heavy when pulling through snow by hand, and it is plenty heavy for one guy to load into the truck. I like the bench seat for being able to get my kids in with me.

Good Luck with your decision!

http://clamoutdoors.com/ice_fishing/http-clamcorp-com-ice-fishing-shelters/fish-trap/2-person/nanook.html

Strikemaster with the Honda. Lightweight and very little fumes.

Total weight 15.9
Big Walleye 6.5
Big Sauger 3.9

Warrior doesn’t even shoot their own glass. A company in Melrose MN called Carstens Industries makes both boats.

I have the Honda Stikemaster with the 8″ auger. I used it all last season and love this auger. Starts easy, cuts quick, and is very light for popping a ton of holes.

I have had the same issue with this type of plug.

Tried some different types of grease but that was only a short term fix.

Now we just use a rubber plug.

I use 2 pound and use the heaviest jig the fish will let me get by with.

Sometimes the heavy jig will spook them if it falls to hard, but when you fish deep I like to get down there as fast as you can.

Just came off the lake and was fishing crappies in 30-40 feet of water and the fish were moving so fast that it was hard to get a hook to them before they would move on.

When using two pound test be sure to check the knot often and retie after catching a bunch of fish.

Good Luck

I have a 1995 Alumacraft Dominator with side console and a 60hp Mercury.

This boat has served me very well over the past 15 years. Very solid boat. It has worked great but is starting to cramp my fishing style. The biggest thing being lack of rod storage.

If you don’t have, or don’t bring a ton of stuff with you it works great, but there really isn’t any where to put rods out of the way.

I have had a Lund cover on my Silverado for over 4 years and I think it is a great product. I have had no issues and it has held up very well.

I had an access cover that I had on two Silverados and I liked them too.

Not sure about the new models, but my Lund cover sticks up a little higher than the access cover did.

Mine has the thermal top, it does get a little frosted up on the sides but never drips from the ceiling. It takes very little to heat. It can get pretty darn cold out, but the low heat setting is usually plenty on my little buddy heater.

I love my Otter Wild Cabin.

I have a 7 and 4 year old and the bench seat works great for the three of us.

I purchased the cabin because I can get it in my truck. I am also able to roll my toneau cover over the top. It sits just a little higher than the box but I can still roll the cover over it and get the velcro to seal.

They are not super light, but that is only because it is built to last.

I also have and Ice 45. I really like it, for the lack of interference it picks up from any other unit. I like the flat screen as well.
I also like the digital read out for depth, it makes it really quick to know what depth you are in.

I also have a Vexilar FL18 and they work great together.

I have used my 45 to read through the ice, but you have to take it off of auto mode. Just pour a little bit of water on the ice and it seems to work just fine.

Good Luck Fishing

I was 4 1/2 miles out from Garrison Sports and we had 29-inches of ice last weekend. Had some room to spare.

Good Luck Fishing

I was just up there last weekend and we fished out on a small hump that came up to 26 feet with 32-feet all around.

We couldn’t find fish mid day. The bite was good in the morning, then nothing all day, and then they started coming through around 4 in the afternoon throughout the night.

My best colors were perch colors, jigging raps and varmint spoons. We also used set lines and the one that got hit the most was set about 3 feet off the bottom with a plain hook and a chartreuse bead tipped with a shiner minnow.

I also jigged about 2 to 3 feet off the bottom to attract the fish in. Then you just have to see what works to trigger them. A couple came up and smacked, but the rest was an up and down game to see what they liked best.

There was 29-inches of ice where we set the house up, so be prepared with a good auger and extra gas if you want to punch a bunch of holes.

Good Luck

We went out of Garrison Sports on Friday and we went off the end of the road and could get around. We were pulling a 16-foot ice castle behind an F150. If they get any more snow it could be tough. Make sure to stay away from the drifts because some of them are pretty big.

We had 29-inches of ice where we were at.

I fished out there over the weekend and picked up two 10 1/2-inch perch, but they were just loners, didn’t have any other marks with them. We were fishing about 4 1/2-miles out of Garrison Sports on a hump by Pelbergs Flat.

Did catch some nice walleyes too.