“The Falcon”
John Tanner

https://3dinstitute.com/

This course was the best perspective I ever gained for my career in coaching. It guides you to realize what is important and how you can affect that outcome. If you are serious about coaching for a while, it is worth the time and money. Wish I would have taken it back when I knew everything…. before that…lol
I do not know if it is still offered.

More like Boom King… Oh, it was full, just filled it. The set screw valve is really a nice feature. It was a perfect drop…right on the bottom ridge, created a very slight drizzle-of-a-leak. You guys are right…not worth messing with for a 1# amount of propane. I will leave it outside in the sun before it goes to recycle. I really like these refillable tanks. This was another ice fishing expense…I slipped and fell hard (wearing yaktracks too)…hurt my hand and wrist a week ago…bad grip. Dropped the tank like a ton. Coulda been worse. Thanks all

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From another viewpoint, I fish with a camera a lot….guys dragging a bare plastic sled over the ice are ‘sometimes’ scattering fish from long distances, maybe 100’s of yards. A “smitty” pulls easier, is much quieter especially on ice or crusty ice.

A friend cut strips from a plastic 55gal barrel, then drilled and screwed em down with stainless machine screws. Basically ended up with the same concept as Hyfax, with a little less expense and 10X the work.

bump?

Can’t imagine pulling a wagon through snow. Could see it working on practically bare ice. As for noise, I fish with a camera a lot and have been surprised at some observations over time, mostly on Miss River backwaters. Fish are often NOT annoyed by power augers, or augers in general… but they don’t like spuds- from often a very long distance, sometimes 100’s of yards. They do NOT like bare tub sleds, like most guys use, including me, dragging over noisy ice. Again, sometimes the fish will scatter from a basic tub sled 100’s of yards away! A smitty on ski’s seems to make a huge difference. Airboats: we humans hate the engine/fan noise, but I’m convinced the fish hate the ‘boat drag’ noise on the ice. Ice cleats: ya gotta have em, but fish don’t like em, especially on new/bare ice. Noise would/could probably be a thread of it’s own.
As to your point about noise…wagon wheels would likely be way more acceptable to fish than a drag behind sled.

Fenix, with 18650 battery. Rechargeable. Lithium. Use it for everything, including ice fishing. Bought it originally for hunting. It has durability, necessary brightness and longevity. My entire family owns them now, as do most of my friends. It’s one of the handiest and important pieces of equipment I’ve ever owned. Twice.. I have had it on all night tracking and carrying out elk. Absolutely love it inside my Otter, day or night. It really helps for extra brightness for knot tying. Use it almost daily for some task in the house or garage or boat.
I have owned some other popular brands. You It may seem expensive…worth it. Some will say it’s too heavy. I never notice the weight. All lighter models I’ve owned were less trustworthy. A new model sports 21700 battery…which lasts even longer/brighter/etc.
Just don’t use it when you are cleaning the house….everything shows up.
Here is an example of a useful tool:

New tanks need to be ‘purged’. They may charge you for that on your initial fill up

U Haul on La Crosse North side has filled my 5#, and 20’s. They won’t do expired tanks. Hokah Co-op.

Ordered the R12. 3Rivers- the video took me over the edge, as did M Johnson and Coletrain. I will post a review when we get some ice action. Thanks to all

Thanks for the responses! The little guy on my left shoulder says I don’t “need”. My first inclination is to buy the corded knife cuz that would be frugal and telling. But “no”, I’ll probably buy the R12 because it reminds me of my fantastic cordless Milwaukee tools. A big tackle outlet has $20 off today, and a bunch of other excuses…lol

The other day I filleted some nice perch. The next day I filleted some more with the cheap electric knife. Felt like I was cheating. The quality and appearance of the contrasting two unfrozen samples astounded me. The electric cuts were a lot nicer. So.. I don’t need an electric filet knife, but wow… I had two packages of 5 perch each. Guess which one we ate and which one I gave to the farmer who lets me hunt.

The Rapala Li Combo comes with 2 batteries, there’s also a Li heavy duty version with coated blades. The heavy-duty part I like, but coated blades are suspect to me, the charger looks better… Bubba looks gargantuan and I doubt I will need 4 blades.
The price of free fish dinner keeps going up..lol. Will never catch up to free elk though

Here is the truth after a weekend in the community holes in La Crosse. The IDO team, and Gillespie didnt drill these holes or fish in these accessible areas. Mc Cormick is a good guide in the area and can at least get you to lesser impacted areas. Mario DeGuzman, Stoddard, also. The fishing pressure here is unbelievable since the media coverage.

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Does anyone know: Is this deal available from other vendors? I had a pop-up ad from toolnut.com (sold out) and a review noted that Home Depot had the same deal…but I’m not finding it on-line.
Thanks! Thought I’d ask before driving all over the place

Energenic Sky, on Amazon. These have been great for me and I walk a lot. They’re great on bare or slippery snow covered ice. Not great on parking lot surfaces.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075V4WPM2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_3?smid=A5F6CH3VV4HMU&psc=1

If your tear is at a seam then it’s likely an area of high stress and should probably be reinforced, glued and stitched….all three. Repair method depends on the severity and whether you plan to do it while the fabric is relaxed, or while the tent is up.
This stuff is awesome: GearAid ‘Freesole’ aquaseal glue, and/or GearAid Tape.
When I’m reinforcing a tear in a tarp I often use ‘Gear aid ‘seam seal’, apply a layer then immediately cover with a nylon patch (no adhesive back, cordura would be good on a shack). Smooth it out and flat as possible trying to get air bubbles out. After a few hours I’d stitch.
Stitches are like perforated envelopes, each pinhole weakens the fabric and creates a tear line.
If you are planning to sew the tear back in place while the tent is up I’d (1).sew with quality thread or braided line as another post recommended, then (2) Glue that seam with the Aquaseal ‘Freesole’.
(3) probably use an adhesive backed tape ie Gearaid on the whole thing after its dry.
Amazon: search gear aid aquaseal
These products are great to have around
Good luck

Have you tried Mudhole.com? This one seems similar to my Meatstick 24″. It’s a seemingly better blank..similar bend. Trim the tip or butt, or both to get the feel you like….
I read this once, “fish have never had an original thought” so I doubt they care how much your rod cost. But it sure feels good when you have your very own ‘Green Hornet’ in your hands. MoJo means everything! lol

https://www.mudhole.com/MHX-Ice-Rod-Blank-FIB-26UL-MHX

Are they too small in the butt because you are planning to make a rod with a fixed reel seat? If so, Netcraft sells a ‘graphite arbor’. And there’s always a few wraps of masking tape. Again…I’m a hack, so don’t know what the pro’s use.

It’s that word “need”
I ‘need’: a couple bluegill rods, a couple perch rods, some for in-shack use, some for outside; some for hole hopping; some dead-stick rods; just the right setup for jigging spoons or Raps… Then there are walleye rods…. grin

Well I noticed from another forum, rod-building and comparisons can be a HOT topic. It’s important to know what YOU like and want, and what makes YOU satisfied. Piecing things together; messing around with my stuff; makes ME happy.
So…have fun with it!

I’m NOT a rod expert. BUT I know what I like. My rods look home made. So my opinions are based on my opinions. Here is what I have found. The storebought TUCR noodle is awesome, as is my TB Perch Sweetheart. The Thorne Bros blanks I purchased made awesome rods. For what the blanks cost I shoulda just bought a custom. (quiverstick blank made my favorite perch rod. I can feel so much! The TB noodle build competes with my TUCR for whichever is favorite when I’m in a light tip-watching-bite, and it too has great ‘feel’sensitivity) Those blanks are expensive. That being said, the rods I’ve built using basskhang (panfish carbon)seem practically the same for feel and I like them as much, with a huge disparity in price! Of course I’ve noted differences…maybe the blank-spine isn’t quite as refined. But I can feel the fish bite! I really liked the basskhang glass noodle rod too, just not my cup of tea…but I’d say that $8 blank made a rod I preferred over my Meatsticks, and it performs like the ‘Schooly’s’.
DH has nice glass blanks. We have a couple el dente’s in the family
My ‘Mudhole’ blanks are okay, but I can’t feel nuthin…

Like onepine said:

Ice Rod Blanks

I noted fast shipping

It would be tough to replicate the Meatstick. It has a proprietory handle and guides too. I have broken a couple and dismantled them for recycling. The blank is solid glass I believe. It’s got an interesting fast action. You couldn’t build it for $40. A custom built rod will likely be more money. Like BassnDave said, There’s no such thing as building ONE rod – you’ll end up making dozens…
I loved the Meatstick until I got a TUCR (as a gift), and some Thorne Bros blanks or two, and built a couple with blanks from Basskhang, and some other vendors too. Honestly I liked the ticklestick and Wicked 13 rods much better than the Meatstick as well. My point is, there are a lot of great options out there that will give you the backbone and sensitive tip you are looking for, both commercially or through a custom builder.
What you have here is a shopping opportunity. LOL

Did you break the flat end near the tip? I have fixed the flat tip area by overlapping the flat slabs about 1/4 inch, super glue or epoxy together with a clamp. Once the epoxy is set, wrap it with rod thread (actually I’ve used 2# superline, seal with fingernail polish or rod-thread glue. Not even noticeable.

I don’t feel the difference with a lost 1/2 inch in the rod, in fact have broken the picklestick twice and the wicked=once. To prevent this these rods need to be stored with the bail open or drag loosened.

Is the Daiwa QZ reel the same (size, reel handle) as the Jason Mitchell (Clam) 600, as found on a ‘meatstick combo.

I should have listened, and never started messing with rod building. I don’t care if they look great, just wanted certain features. Now I can’t go ice fishing without a pile of rods. And I used to be secure and happy with whatever I was using…..now it’s glass vs carbon; inside/outside,sitting or hole hopping; feel vs visual; and deliberation between length/handle/guides for situations. The other day I was camera fishing and could feel the bluegill bite, see the rod tip move simultaneous with the camera, on a Thorne Bros power noodle blank…..I think I’ll keep that rod…. But, it makes some of my other creations obsolete and I feel guilty for them. LOL

Anyway, my thanks to those who have posted tips. I lurked up a lot of ideas and have had lots of quality basement time during bad weather. Is that Thorne Bros blank really better or different than others? It’s more expensive. The MH blanks look so similar but my imagination says they don’t have the same feel.

2017 SR, I get 16-18 on the highway, 11 when I’m towing or with the slide-in camper. 13-14 general driving in the winter. Always been a F guy, drove a lot of them in my search. Drove one Toyota- bought it. My son did the same thing.
*Most American made truck there is…look it up.
Highest resale or trade-in value of pickup trucks.
There are other trucks with more gizmos/features, this has more than I can figure out already.
Payload is higher than an F-150, less than a 250.
Towing is adequate.Maybe not enough for a constant fifth wheel across the country, I dunno…
It’s been great so far 50k