new ice fisher

[Kent]

Nate, it sounds like you did great for your first outing. I prefer either a Uni Knot or a Polamar Knot. You may have been using too stiff of a rod for 4 pound test. One is supposed to snap their wrist, rather than jerking with their entire arm when setting the hook. I often forget this myself and jerk with my whole arm. I use 6 or 8 pound test at Strawberry. The best way I have found to know when to set the hook is to lift on the rod slowly, and if you feel weight snap your wrist. Most of the fish at Strawberry seem to fall between about 17 and 19" long, with a few smaller and larger than that. Again, you did great for your first trip.
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