Ron…I’m really looking forward to the first trip this season. It could be with my friend up your way, probably on the reservation. My tribal permit is good until December 20 and I’m sure Twin Potts will freeze by then. When you and I fish together this season I’ll be glad to drill the holes.
I hope Starvation freezes by the end of December so we can get out there.
Nike
I can’t think of much I might want to add to my ice fishing gear except maybe the latest Deeper with GPS and Mapping.
But, having a lot of fishing gear doesn’t mean you can get to where you want to fish as was the case except when friends took me, loaned me a house and a four wheel drive truck for some ice fishing the last two seasons.
I wanted to greatly increase my fishing capabilities, so I did my research and bought the ideal additions to my fishing equipment that can get me to fishing destinations and perform well in some of the more challenging conditions because you can’t fish if you aren’t there and you can’t make advance commitments to be on an ice fishing team out of state when you don’t know that you can get there even in snow storm conditions.
Now, I can go fishing more and to places I wouldn’t have previously considered and particularly with making challenging driving conditions fun with my latest additions to my ice fishing gear. My latest improvement to my ice fishing vehicle are tires for fishing.
Black Friday sales were good and I bought both ice fishing tires and surf fishing tires for driving on loose beach sand. I already have high performance Pirellis for all season on the road.
Everything about tires is compromise. To get optimum performance in one category, you compromise in every other category. I was willing to do that by also having the different tires mounted and balanced on multiple sets of wheels to simply quickly change wheels for whichever event. In three of my different types of tires, I compromised greatly on tire life to have softer sticky tires that have optomised traction for the category for which they are specifically designed though at the cost of having to be replaced much more often. In contrast, most people go for economy and tire life at the compromise of less performance.
I’ve been driving on my “sand” tires the last two days. They make a huge difference in traction on dry pavement for high performance cars for which they are specifically designed. That isn’t an issue for most people as dry pavement traction is already considered good enough by most. But, it’s fun!
We’ll get some snow Sunday and Monday, so I might change to Pirellis or Blizzaks for that because the ones good for track racing are the worst in wet and especially not to be used for snow. The all season Pirellis are fine for light snow and wet roads. The Blizzaks are for the worst of winter driving conditions. But, I can make a very quick change.
I didn’t get the Blizzaks in the usual selection for my vehicle that optimizes for generally plowed roads though they’ll still be excellent. Instead, I optomised specifically for deep snow covering off road trails for the whole season by going wider and to the maximum diameter and load capacity possible for my vehicle. The 2800 pound load rating will make them tough for the bumps and roughness of off road driving and at the greater speeds and suspension impacts of the car’s capabilities while the larger diameter will give greater ground clearance and make the bumps and holes relatively smaller and easier to for the tires to roll over.
In each category of tire performance, the optomised choice will bring out the full performance capabilities of the vehicle and that part makes their selection make the most sense though for most of us I think we can generally agree that the fish we get from our expensive sport when we figure in the costs of boats and vehicles and all related that we are fishing for hundred dollar a pound fish. There are exceptions, but I’m at the other extreme of the range and will now have to catch more fish before they become thousand dollar a pound fish.
I also got new batteries, so when I go so far in winter off road conditions for ice fishing that a weak battery failing to start the car would be bad because it would be difficult to find a vehicle that could bring me a new battery out there.
I’m looking to enjoy a lot of ice fishing this season and I have an annual pass to our Utah State Parks.
Related posts (decision making details):
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=1023650;#1023650
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=1027127;#1027127
(Thinking about the Deeper)
http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=1025091;#1025091
I bought two new ice poles for this up coming season. A tickle stick from the company 13 fishing. I took that one out on open water in a friend’s boat and I love the sensitivity of that rod. I caught some perch on Deer Creek to break it in. I bought the 27 inch light action and I am excited for using in on panfish. The second ice rod is a custom made one from Thorne Brothers in Minnesota. I got that in a walleye sweetheart series at 28 inches long, medium action. I havent received that one, but am anxiously waiting for it. BRING ON THE ICE!!! Last season was too short, especially on Deer Creek. I only went on that ice twice last winter due to ice conditions. I was successful in icing my first walleye there. I caught two in back to back drops, then my battery died on my finder that day… still kicking myself over that one.
We bought 2 Clam ice jackets and bib outfits, one setup for me and one for my wife. Just need new snow pac’s for my feet. Picked up a new vex FLX 28 last year. Between my wife’s Vex FL 8, my old Fl 8, my son’s 2 FL 8’s and my new FLX 28 we are set with more than enough electronics. The snow mobile is ready to go and the ice tents and gear is all set. Just need some ice. Thinking about a drill operated ice auger to replace my gas auger. Been reading a lot about them and although the snow mobile drags all the equipment out on the ice, lightening up the drag would be good.
I just purchased a 6 sided Cabelas tent this year and doing so I needed a longer and larger sled.
I am also in the process of building a new ice rod. It has a super sensitive tip but with a strong backbone for trout and walleye.
Lots of new tackle.
You are going to have to figure out how to cover him . That is why I use my ATV until the snow gets to deep . I pull a train when I go out . First my QuickTime 2 two the I mounted on cross country skis with Teflon on the bottom . And then the large jet sled full of gear . I have to have covers on everything or it gets covered in snow behind the snow Machine when I pull the kids in the sl2d I put a long rope between me and them so that don’t happen .
Hey Curt, I’ll have to figure something out I’m sure he won’t want a snow shower. Thanks for the insight on that. Starting to get so much gear and junk I’m taking with me that I wonder if the sled will pull it. Time to remember the minimalist tripping again. I took so much stuff I didn’t need to this past weekend. But there wasn’t a time I didn’t have what I wanted. Although it was tough to figure out what those fish wanted. Was fun to get on your pond up there. I ended up with 4 fish one 20.5 and the others were from there to 21.5" but sure was a lot of difference in those fish for measuring the same. Anyway thanks for the tips. Later J
Sounds like some nice setups. I keep eyeing that tickle stick, they make good stuff. I’m sure with you on that ice wish. This week looks like it may start to get the water temps down to where it could freeze. Takes a lot of cold to lock things up and it’s been really warm this year so who knows when ice will come. Will be wished for some though. Later J
One big plus on the electrics is they are so fast and quiet, I don’t think you spook the fish nearly as much. The gassers do put a spook on the fish at least in shallower water. Good luck. Later J
I love the sound of that rod you’re building, I’ll bet you’ll have a ton of fun with it. Best of luck this season. Later J