The new hoodie looks really nice. I’m not sure what size to order, knowing they run on the big side. I’m 6’1″ tall, but I’m not a big guy. My arms are long, so I normally order an xl in all hoodies because of that. Think the Large tall will do the trick? Thanks

So let me be more clear about what we are looking for, so you can better help if you can.

We will go next year with 4 to 8 guys. We want transportation to and from a heated hard shack each day. We will stay at our lodge for 4 nights and fish 3 full days. We want to stay in a cabin or some sort of lodge setting. We don’t need a resturant. We can cook for ourselves just fine.

Thanks to all.

Does Bry’s Bay have heated hard shacks, and transportation to and from them each day? Is a snow bear like a Bomber? Until my dad decides to quit going, that’s what he likes. I prefer to go off on my own, but it is what it is for now.

Here’s another question for all of you…Whether we go to Devils lake or LOTW, what is the best time to go? We were just at Sportsmans on Oak Island. We arrrived there on the 22nd of Feb. We left for home on the 26th. When we arrived, they were honest with us and said the fishing has been slow. Low oxygen levels I guess.

Thoughts? Thanks all…!

I just got back from Oak Island yesterday. The main road in from Youngs bay was ok in and out. There are slush spots here and there. The fishing was terrible to be honest. I thought the fishing would be better. We had enough keepers to have one meal in 3 days of fishing. Tulibees sure were active though. We brought a bunch of them home to smoke.

Sounds good Boatshateme. I live near the hospital in RF. I’ll be in touch.

Hey there Tucker. Thanks for the info. I sent you private message about our adventure. Really appreciate your offer to help us out. My dad is now 70. He’s in pretty good shape, and loves tagging along. He took me out when I was too young to recall. He started all this. Now it’s me who takes him out and teaches him new things. Full circle right? I hope my son will do the same for me when I’m aging. Join us Sat if you like. We’re a fun group. Kev

Grindstone is VERY deep. It does have many basins, but most are 45 ft or deeper. There are a few that are 25-35 ft deep. Focus on those right?

Hey guys,
When it comes to the modulus # on a graphite blank, the higher the # is more sensitive? Please clarify if you know. For example…a croix SCIV is 42 million modulus. The higher end croix rods are higher than that.
Thoughts?

That’s interesting. I very gently bent them back where they belonged when I noticed it. I don’t think I broke them. I was very cautious after that happened. I’ll just have be more mindful of that moving forward.

Thanks guys!

Hi guys, I just ordered a 32″ Perch Sweetheart from TB. Lonnie called today to let me know it is ready. I chose the “hidden hood” handle on that one. I’d like to have a power noodle made next. I’m thinking 32″ with the locking cork handle. I don’t know anything about that handle. Thoughts ?

Hey guys. I was at the St.Paul Ice Show today. I met the guy with the buddy heater grills. He is a nice guy. His idea is pretty great. I’m a machinist / fabricator by trade. His product is pretty solid. In my opinion, it not really a “grill”. It’s to heat up a jar of soup your wife packed for you for lunch. It also its for perhpas boiling hotdogs. It could be used for re-heating a nice, pre cooked lunch. You’re not going to grill burgers on this unit. But after talking with him, and looking at his products, I would buy one for my big buddy. I just didn’t have enough ” mad money ” with me today. Hope this helps. Good product, if you use it the way it was intended.

Augers and electronics too at 20% off? I’ve never been to the show. I’m going on the 30th. I have a “connection” to get a solid 10% off any auger or any Vexilar I want. I’m want to wait for the show to see, but I’ve got a good deal on hand. Thoughts?

Oh boy is my wife going to rage. I didn’t even start the WI 9 day gun deer season yet, and I’ll be on the ice the next day. This is awesome!

Shimano Sienna 500 FD. I own many of them. Never fail.

I have some inline reels too, but I’m not a huge fan so far.

THe Siennas always do what I need them to.

For local day trips I use a flambau hard case. It fits 6 long rods and reels. You can buy this at Fleet farm. When I go on a long weekend run somewhere not near home, I use a hard gun case, and bring all my rods. You can fit 10+ in, and don’t have to fold the reel handle in. Just a tip.

I went to northwest Ontario this August to a remote fly-in. Prior to leaving, I bought a Helix 7 with Chirp and DI. I converted it into a portable pack, so I could use it in a small outpost boat. It was a game changer! I loved it and was worth the spend. I am a very avid ice fisherman aslo. I live and fish mostly in western WI. (star prairie area) When I got home, I ordered the Ice kit for it. The ice kit comes with the ice ducer, soft pack and everything you need. I have the Ontario chip and now have the WI chip too. I can’t wait to try it out this winter. You can message me privately if you like. The unit is very nice. My plan is to use it most for knowing where I am on the lake, and how deep the water is without drilling a hole. I have no regrets.!

Here’s my 2 cents. When fishing summer or ice, getting sunscreen and or gas on your hands is hard to avoid. I bring unscented baby wipes with me every time I fish. I keep a small pack of them in all my tackle bags. If they dry out, you can add a little water to refresh them. I do at times bring some gel type fish scent in a tube. I don’t use in on my baits. I just use it on my hands to mask things like; my lunch sandwich or chips, gasoline, sunscreen, or anything like that. I’ve had great luck fishing summer and winter, using the wipes and occasionally scent on my hands if necessary. Hope this helps.

Sold mine recently. Sad, cause it had about 10 min use on it. I’m buying a 40 V strikemaster electric. No more fuel. I’d buy the strikemaster lazer pro 2 stroke for hole hopping though. No faster auger on the market for that.

Something to look at…if you don’t haul it correctly, or overfill the oil, it will get into the carb. I accidentally overfilled mine just a tiny bit, and oil would get into the carb. Trust me…it doesnt run very well when this happens.

Great question to ask. My dad and I are in the middle. We fish cribs, and we don’t need to drill more than 20 holes to get set up. If the weather is nice, we hole hop aggresively. Sometimes, I’ll drill 10-20 holes, and some days I’ll drill 100+. I think a 2 stroke is probably in my best interest. I’m looking at the strikemaster Lazer pro. 3 hp unit. 2 stroke. Thoughts?

Hi guys, I think I’m sold on the 2-stroke Strikemaster Lazer Mag Pro. Do I wait for the ice show in St.Paul to get a good deal? Fish USA has it on sale now at 10% off. I’ve never been to this ice show. Not sure what kind of deals to expect. Thoughts?

I didn’t mention in my first post…I currently own a Jiffy Pro 4 lite. I don’t like to re-adjust the idle based on the temp. The auger should not spin walking to the next hole. I’m tempted to just get a 2 stroke Strike Master and be happy. mxskeeter is right about how long they last. My dads Jiffy 2 stroke was new in 1992. Still cuts holes. Not sure what to do. I am not sure I want electric. I just want an auger that drills holes every single time I go no matter what. I’ll bring ear muffs perhaps.

I just tried on the climate bibs and jacket this week. I’m 6’1″, 202lbs. The Large bibs were perfect and the XL jacket fit me well too. I have long arms. If I didn’t, I bet a large would have been ok. I think I’m going to check out Dicks, or wait for the ice show. I will bring cash, and hope to get a deal. I’d be just fine with apx 20% off list.

The Marcum 485 has a very clear screen. That’s why I bought it over the other brands. The case is very nice. I have a power panner for it, with the remote control. No wires. That’s a must have. It does ok in murky water, but you just can’t see very far. The light helps, but not sure I want that on all the time. I bet they are all like that. Other folks are correct about using it outside. Very difficult to see the screen in bright sunlight. Cloudy days are pretty good. Check out Marcums website. Unless I looked at in wrong, it looks like they have a new camera out for 2019 that you can use outside in the sunlight. Not sure though. One way to look at the spend, is how soon are you going to buy another one? Buy the one you really want now, and take great care of it. Will last a long time if you do that. Just my 2 cents.

Stihl ONLY man. Mine can sit at times for a year and start like I used it yesterday. I now own a 2016 MS 390. 20″ bar. Love the saw. Never goes to the shop for repairs. ALWAYS runs and cuts as you hope it would.

I researched the tar out of this last winter. I’m a Vexilar guy! However, the Marcum cameras are a better bang for the buck. I ended up buying the 485 C. Used it all winter. My dad bought one too. Love the camera.

Brandon, Stay in touch as we get closer to the trip. I might message you to get more details if you’re open to it. My dad is not sick or anything, he’s just not young and as mobile as we all are. So my brothers and I want to show him the best time we can. He’s the one that showed us the ropes when we were kids, so now it’s our turn for pay-back. We’re way better at all this than he ever was, which makes our adventures that much more fun for him. I know he notices it. He’s a great dad. Please stay in touch.. Thank you!

Brandon, I’m going to see if the lodge will let us follow the bombadier out with my brothers f-150, so we can stay mobile. Then I can bring my auger, hub shelter…etc. We’re surprising my dad with this trip. He’s 70 now, and just fine to visit in the shack all day long. I don’t think I can do that for 3 days. I might lose it. I’m used to moving as needed all day long. So I hope the lodge is open to being flexible with me. I have a Helix 7 with mapping, so having that along I’ll be ready to move. Thanks for your help.

Brandon, did you guys head off for the day on your own, or did you fish in a Sportsmans ice house? I’m worried we’ll have some slow times. I’m squirrelly when that happens, and NEED to go find fish. Wonder if I can bring a small hub tent, auger…etc and go exploring..?

Great pics. Maybe we’ll see you there. I booked for Feb 22-26. We are staying in a condo I think. We will be in one of their 4 man ice houses. We’re coming up in a cream colored F-150. Hope you guys have a great and safe trip.