Ratherbfishing

Actually, it isn't. Not the way I ice fish, anyway. I use a flasher and if I find fish immediately, I will "work" those fish as best I can. If they don't bite or the hole "dries up", I will move. I don't give a spot more than about 10 minutes tops if it doesn't produce and less time still, if I don't mark likely cover and/or fish. On some days, I drill a LOT of holes.

Too few lakes and too many people. But from what I hear regarding the eastern seaboard and elsewhere, I must actually have it pretty good. Still, I'd love to be able to choose from many unpressured lakes.

I'm less brand loyal than I am brand shy. But these brands are usually geared to the low end consumer market and not for the semi-serious to serious fisherman.

Oh, for the record, sometimes I do fish quietly in one spot. I'm not knocking anyone who does. It IS relaxing and can be a great way to regroup when I am tired and/or the fishing isn't going my way. I just wouldn't want to do it that way ALL of the time. And the friend I've referenced-I don't think he can sit still very well.

Tied for first place was a chartreuse and then a white Rapala (glass) Shad Rap. First runner up was on a Berkley Chigger Craw.

It's okay. I'm constantly having to cinch up my skirts too.

I plan to have a custom made casket with rod holders, tackle box storage, and maybe even a depth finder (so I can keep from going too deep-if you get my meaning). Are you asking what depths are most effective? If this, the answer depends on where the fish are, obviously. The shallower it is (assuming there isn't too much vegetation), the easier they are to fish using a standard retrieve. The deeper they are, the further you'll probably need to cast to get to the desired depth and retrieve. I understand that Redeye shad is more effective using a raise and drop retrieve than, generally, the Rat-l-trap (brand name) is but I have not much experience with this.

Agreed on the saving money part.

I've recently befriended a guy who doesn't fish. After determining that he wasn't actually dangerous, I asked him why. He said it looked boring-just sitting still staring at a bobber or waiting for the line to move. But as I think about it, I would probably get pretty bored too, if that is all I did. But I am constantly moving and casting and trying different things. Unless the fishing is stellar or I believe things will change, I will not stay in one spot very long. How many of you would give up (or sharply curtail) your participation in the sport if all you COULD do was cast to a few spots and sit and wait? I imagine the answer might be different if this were a catfish or crappie forum but since we're talking about bass here... Anyhow, I vowed to take my new found friend out at least once. I'm not sure he was convinced.

The scent may be objectionable (to some) but even when soaking wet (has been in the water a long time), I've never found Powerbait to be slimy at all. Gulp, on the other hand, very much so.

Sold my Tacoma 2 years ago but as basscrusher says, it fit perfectly (width-wise). It will not slide from side to side at all.

People have told me that my bobber has slipped out of place but USUALLY it isn't even when I'm fishing. I don't get it.

GENERALLY speaking, I think eating the occasional fish will not cause a great deal of harm. It is the people who eat a LOT of their fish who have to exercise more caution (with regards to where their fish are coming from).

Fishing, like breakfast, is best served in the EVENING.

I didn't get to use my flasher at all last year (for ice fishing) but I did manage to make it out today (before the next big thaw). The good news is that I caught 2 delicious bass and about 8 respectable bluegill. The bad news is that before I was ready to quit, my Humminbird flasher, apparently, was. It began displaying odd images (if it turns on at all). I am charging the battery now (though I thought it was fully charged before I left) and am hoping that is the problem (dead or dying battery) rather than something in the flashers "CPU." I guess I could just wait and see (if the charge solves the problem) but if not, that leaves me with deciding whether it will be worth it to have it repaired (it's 5 years old) or I if I should just zuck it up and get a new one.

a 5 gallon bucket is mandatory. Just kidding. Sort of. It depends on WHAT you will be fishing for and your particular fishing style. SOME people like to have a lot of tip ups (as many as the law allows) set up with minnows and move between them whereas I prefer to have perhaps one tip up but mostly hunker down over a well explored hole (or holes) with my flasher. I try to have two Ice rods (one limber one about 18 inches and one stouter one about 22 inches long). Small spinning reels are the "standard" but I prefer reels with larger spools and proportionately smoother drags. Line that does not coil too easily is very useful. You will definitely want an ice auger or ice spud and a slotted spoon to scoop ice and slush out of the holes. I generally use small jigs tipped with wax worms or gulp minnows but small baits such as swedish pimples and jiggin raps are good, too. You will probably want some small, quality slip bobbers and I find spring bobbers (that you place on the rod tip) almost irreplaceable. You will want to dress warmly in layers with a base layer that wicks water from your skin. Waterproof or, at the very least, water resistant boots are almost mandatory unless you like getting your feet soaked in icy water. There should be enough wiggle room in your boots for your toes to move. It is a "tightly packed" feet with "piggies" that can't move that will get the coldest the fastest. If you have the financial means, a quality flasher such as a vexilar or humminbird or Marcum will make finding fish and determining depths a thousand times easier. They are ideal for determining the depth your bait or lure is in the water column and can even give you information about how active the fish are. I've probably forgotten something but this is a decent start.

Outside of a bass, a trout is a man's best friend. Inside a bass, it's too dark to read.

well, let's see. If she's running right, my combine can harvest about 10 deer an acre. ; )

Hmmmm.... I found that on several occasions, shifting to a smaller bait made a huge difference-although NEXT year, larger baits might be the trick. You just never know. I guess I'll say being flexible in SIZE has been a great learning experience for me.

A REALLY bad day would be not discovering it until....

Been out with 4 members- two of which I still have pretty regular contact with.

go to mudeyelures.com

Are you sure you aren't talking about a government agency?

You haven't been fishing long enough, perhaps, to realize that it happens sometimes and should be "expected". BUT as you improve, those times will happen less often. This may or may not be good advice but the longer I fish, the more I learn when good days are likely and when bad days are likely. Unless you want to fish EVERY day or unless you are really limited as to WHEN you can fish, learn to discriminate and fish accordingly.

Bargain bins lost some of their appeal when i reached near "critical mass" and I don't have room to carry everything anymore (my pack elephant died). In the past, i would buy almost anything (brand name) if it was more than 50 percent off. Now I'm much more discriminating. It wasn't in a "bin" but when the local Field & Stream had clearanced some of their Shadow Raps and then further made them, "buy 5, get 5 free", I could NOT resist-even though I may be 95 before I get to use some of them (note: I already had about 10 of them).