yup
started my days out with a chisel and 2 brass tip ups. Made due with what I had. Today it’s a three ring multi thousand dollar circle blast. Not only that you are paying to be controlled by more law overlords.
Flatlanders and associations that have posted their lands onto the waters illegally or legally. Every occupied house on the waters think its their back yard your drilling in to.

They should of had a buffer of at least a 1/4 mile built into a waterbody……In theory we all pay tax’s for the whole

Some gave the ultimate sacrifice for this Country, some through some green. But the protection of every water body should have been done years ago for access to everyone. This land is not a prized possession to be appraised with a price

The reels that are metal don’t stand the test of time, maybe if the reel was a one piece mold. The plastic reels don’t really ics up, but I do have future concern for the plastic tripper on the spool. The wing uts always get lose. Never keeping a tight tip up, that is another set up and storage disaster. The hook into the line on storage or pick up always becomes a nightmare of tangles and wasted times
I was just looking at the ultimate set up great idea for a lazy bum like me that likes to snooze on the fish site. But I don’t see those box’s not flipping over and moving in 50mph winds. Not to forget light shinning into the hole is another fish draw that the box does’t take in account. Maybe not in 100′ of water but those close to shore set ups. Not all water being the same in clarity.
The best backing line is a heavy waxed line, these finger cutting lines are a waste. I use a 17lb mono line as a lead line as the ice will beat your mono line up or easily cut with anything thinner. Hooks are another problem with makers not pay attention to barbs and the hook point being sharp. A good reliable swivel between the mono and the backing is very important as manufacturers just toss garbage together here.
Something for the hands quick dry with warmth would be nice, nothing like hands turning into numb branch’s.
Lets face it, there is no perfect day for a ice fishing person, never has been, never will be, right down to enforcement check ups….maybe just staying home, buying a great steak is the cheapest alternative. License cost are skyrocketing, gear is crippling the wallet, gas to the spot, work output to set up, picking up and putting the gear away. Always needing something else for the next trip, don’t analyze everything, or you will figure out you could be spending a week in the beautiful weather to the south, for all the hassle and money taken from your had labor for just a fish threw the ice.