That’s a wrap

It has been a long, cold, windy, snowy season and I’m glad it is ending which is unlike me.  I know some people are still going to get out but with prior arrangements the season is over for me.  I want to thank everyone that has been supporting me this season, people liking and commenting on my articles, new customers for joining me out on the ice and the people I have met out on the ice.

I ended the season by planning an Ice Fishing Minnesota get together which I am a team member, and it was fun to fish next to others that share the drive and obsession of fishing like I do.  It is also a good time to learn other practices and get tips on how to improve yourself while on the ice.  Never stop learning!  No one person on this earth knows everything and you can learn something new from almost every single person, but you must be willing to learn first.

We started fishing in an area that had a nice break with some structure and the graphs lit up like a Christmas tree when we found the spot and it produced some very big fish but if you have a large group and you pick apart a school those fish will move out of the area.   We stayed on top of the fish for about an hour till the school got smart and moved.   They were biting almost anything we put in front of them.  A few of us braved the elements and stayed mobile and we were rewarded by picking up a few fish here and there, but the fish were extremely spooky and were moving quickly.  The use of a Livescope makes finding fish easier but at times very frustrating.  Since the big schools of crappies were moving around so quickly, we hit multiple spots on the lake and once we would drop down the Livescope the fish were 60-80 feet away.  Drill another hole and they were 50-70 feet in a different area.  Some days you cannot win but you cannot catch them sitting on the couch!

As stated I am done ice fishing so I take the time in the transitional period to make my busy fall a little easier on me.  The next few weeks I try to put all my gear away and organize rods and tackleboxes.  It’s a great time of the year to start doing inventory and making a list on what I need to repair or replace for next season.  This time of year, it is also a great time to shop some local businesses for end of season deals.  Also take the time now and store your rods properly because rod prices are not getting cheaper anytime soon.  I remove all jigs/hooks off the rods to remove any tension on the rods.  Graphite rods cannot be stored under a load, and it will affect it long term if you don’t back the tension off the tip.  I also do a last charge on all my electronics and store them inside with a few charges during the summer to maintain batteries.  Last but not least clean my ice fishing suit and store it away properly, and don’t forget to check the pockets BEFORE you wash the gear!

Spring will hopefully be here soon and by taking steps now it will help with organizing for the summer months and being ready for first ice in November.