Anyone into hard water fishing?

[camper4lyfe]

Camper, let me dig through the piles of Peshitta in my basement......pretty sure I've got a manual auger and some tip-ups that could be yours for the taking.

That would be mighty awesome of you, I have to say.

I'm not in a huge rush just yet. I can't put my boots on yet (and the ice is still iffy in done spots.)

[Lord Timelord]

Side note... how do you keep the minnow bucket from freezing?

That's what the little cooler in the picture is for (the white bottom with blue lid small cooler)! The Insulation of the cooler keeps the water from freezing from the lower outside temps. I also have a 2 D-Cell Powered Air Bubbler that helps keep the bait lively. It's basically a small plastic box that holds the two D-Cell Batteries and a small motor. It has a three foot hose that comes out of it that ends into a little Air Stone that helps oxygenate the water. It cost me like eight bucks at a pet store, and will run for a few days before the batteries go flat.

Most bait stores add a chemical to the water that makes it look a little Blue in color. This helps the bait fish to live longer, but normally 2-3 days is all you're going to get before they die off if you don't feed them and filter the water for fish poo/byproducts.

[Lord Timelord]

I may just have to suck it up and buy a manual auger (the motorized ones are expensive).

Now to find a good resource on current ice conditions. My biggest fear is falling through.

#1 Website in the World for Hard Water Fishing! Sub Categories for different states and countries for quick reference!
http://www.iceshanty.com/

[camper4lyfe]

#1 Website in the World for Hard Water Fishing! Sub Categories for different states and countries for quick reference!
http://www.iceshanty.com/

I found that yesterday and actually am already a member and completely forgot about it.

[Lord Timelord]

Oh, on the Ice Thickness Safety. SAFE Ice is CRYSTAL CLEAR, and will appear black in color. Four Inches of solid clear ice is enough to walk on safely. The more oxygen that's in ice, the more cloudy and white it will become. For ice like that, I would error on the side of caution and wait until it's about 6-7 Inches thick before going onto it. For 'pack ice', where it's refrozen pieces that were broken up from waves, I would wait until it's over 12 Inches thick.

Get a pair of Tungsten Carbide Spikes to wear around your neck. They cost ten bucks and will allow you to pull yourself out of the water safely if you ever go in.

Danger Thin Ice - Basic Ice Safety Tips

Ice Safety - How To Perform A Self Rescue

[RayKnobs]

I got a guy that wants to trade a Eskimo 4 man hut, 3 jigging rods, 4 tip ups and a bunch of jigs for my 10/22.
I got a heater, need an auger.

Thoughts

[Cgrutt]

He's allowed to own a 10-22 we right? So why doesn't he buy one? Sounds like a good deal to me but I don't really know much about the ice game....

[camper4lyfe]

I got a guy that wants to trade a Eskimo 4 man hut, 3 jigging rods, 4 tip ups and a bunch of jigs for my 10/22.
I got a heater, need an auger.

Thoughts

A hand auger is $50.

It doesn't sound like a horrible trade. The hut itself is probably worth the value of a 10/22 (I haven't looked up the value of either). The tip ups are $10-$20 each depending on the style, and the rods are $20 each.

[RayKnobs]

He said 10 years old "eskimo" pop up, green in color.

I dunno, i rather hold out for a big pile of gear / auger / sled then go in on a new shelter with a buddy.

Then I ask myself if I am f-ing crazy since I have never gone ice fishing before.

[camper4lyfe]

Ah, older pop up is a different story.

Having a sled is a HUGE help.

Ice fishing is a lot of fun. It can be really boring and really cold, but at least the beer is always cold!

[RayKnobs]

I guess i am terrible at fishing for an invite. Hopefully the fish like me better.

[camper4lyfe]

I don't have the equipment to go fishing yet (just 3 tip ups and 2 jigging rods), otherwise I would invite ya

[RayKnobs]

Have you been out before?

[camper4lyfe]

I have been a handful of times with my brother in law (soon to be former BIL) and his dad on Silver Lake and Honeoye Lake. His dad is the one with 98% of the equipment, and I had just recently started buying/getting as gifts, tip ups and jigging rods.

some of the pictures that have made it home https://flic.kr/s/aHsjtjah5k

[thughes]

That would be mighty awesome of you, I have to say.

I'm not in a huge rush just yet. I can't put my boots on yet (and the ice is still iffy in done spots.)

So I dug out my old equipment and it appears to have survived its hiatus quite well. PM me and we'll figure out how to cross paths for the hand-off.