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Posted

Guys I wanted a start a thread to help out the new teams get off to a great start this UPL season. So lets here the best tips for the experienced teams!!

I'll start off with this tip. Measure and weigh each of your fish to get your best 7 and 7 gills and crappies plus bonus fish. There are many times when a 8.5 inch gill weighs more than a 9 inch gill and same with crappies. Don't just eye ball each fish and assume it weighs more.

To add to it also pay attention and weigh some fish while prefishing. There are many lakes were the 8.5 inch average gill will weigh more the the average 9 inch gill. So the goal would be to find the areas and target the 8.5 inch gills.

Many teams use digital kitchen scales and use grams to get the best comparison between fish.

Posted

Thanks for opening up this thread. I have one of the new teams this year so this is helpful and much appreciated.

Do the digital fish scales out there typically not get to a low enough weight to compare pannies?

Thanks,

Kyle From

Posted

It's why most teams run a digital scale that weighs in grams. I'm testing out the rapala tournament scales that hang this year to see if they make a difference.

Posted

Another tip is two bring a good water scoop for your fish bucket and change your water and least 3-4 times during tourney hours. Keeping your fish alive and fresh seem to save weight. Having a good scoop makes changing the water easier and gets you back to fishing faster during tourney hours.

Posted

These are two things that I wondered about - fish scales for panfish and tips on keeping fish alive and available for a cull.

Posted

Great idea!

In my first winter UPL ever, I just went out on the edges of the main community holes, and used the techniques I was most comfortable with, and did a lot of hole hopping. When a lot of people fish a deep basin, they can move the fish off just a bit,and you would be surprised on how much you can catch by just making little moves! I ended up winning that contest, and I still cash in doing that often! it is also a good tip for weekend anglers who don't have time off during the week to find those secret honey holes!

Posted

It also helps to have two buckets (each partner having one). There fore you can swap fish while knocking off ice off the other when its real cold.

Posted

I keep a cheap egg-timer in my rod box. Set it to 5-10 minutes and when the bell rings I will change up my bait, color or presentation. I found myself getting married to whatever jig or bait I was using. You can also use a timer on your phone, but the more it comes out of your pocket, the more likely it is to find the water.

Posted

I keep a cheap egg-timer in my rod box. Set it to 5-10 minutes and when the bell rings I will change up my bait, color or presentation. I found myself getting married to whatever jig or bait I was using. You can also use a timer on your phone, but the more it comes out of your pocket, the more likely it is to find the water.

Well I know one thing if I hear dinging coming from your area the fish aren't by you, lol. I too seem to have bait remorse after tourney's. Thinking "Dang I should tried that jig or plastic yesterday". Your timer would work for moving to a new hole also.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

This is great stuff Thanks Lawrence!!

Posted

Another important tip for newbies: It seems a little bit silly, but I've seen it happen in ice leagues as well as open-water leagues. Keep ALL of your fish that are over the minimum length until it's time to cull. We've had a few teams frustrated with themselves because they were short a fish or two and a few that went back would have ended up making a difference in the standings.

Posted

Another important tip for newbies: It seems a little bit silly, but I've seen it happen in ice leagues as well as open-water leagues. Keep ALL of your fish that are over the minimum length until it's time to cull. We've had a few teams frustrated with themselves because they were short a fish or two and a few that went back would have ended up making a difference in the standings.

This is a good tip. I've seen this come into play during summer bass tourneys/leagues.

Posted

One of my favorite buckets to haul fish in is the tidy cats bucket. My dad has cats and keeps them for me needless to say I have zero right now as they always get stole. Dress warm and dont forget food cause by the time 11 rolls around you usually need something to keep going hard. This is my second year in UPL and it was fun. The amount of information in this group is awesome. The biggest thing I learned last year was dont forget your bucket and make sure you have 2 augers with. Lots of things go wrong when your out there and its sometimes tough to catch fish when its -20 below.

Posted

What is the minnimum length set at?

Posted

7 inch gills and 8 inch crappies

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Can anyone comment on the Brands or Quality of the Digital Scales (that weigh in grams) that are typically used by UPL member? It appears that there is a wide range of prices ($20-$160) and I'd imagine the price reflects quality.

Posted

Taylor Digital scale ($26) at Target is the one to get. I'm trying out the rapala tournament scales. Problem is those tournament scales don't work well when cold so I'm try the new smaller one that will fit inside my Jacket.

For the Taylor scales keep some extra batteries in pocket till weigh time if real cold.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • monstermoose78
      Ok the ice was 15-16 inches and less than 2 inches of snow. It’s was -15 this morning and the weekend looks to be cold again. The fish were there but not biting with change in weather. 
    • Dash 1
      I guess the vikings are a lot like fishing.  Very entertaining but frustrating at times. I've probably been cheering the vikings for 50 plus years  that i can remember and once again it's all about (there's always next year).  
    • Dash 1
      I remember Jeno's boxed pizza years ago.  Mom made it every Saturday night while dad and I watched All Star Wrestling.  
    • smurfy
      Chef boyardee box pizza. Good stuff 
    • smurfy
    • leech~~
      Smurf, still trying to get his lure jigging down when using the camera!  🤭   https://www.facebook.com/reel/517510734635573
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore... Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters reporting thickening ice conditions with two feet of ice in some areas.  Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.      Some good fishing this past week.  As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 - 32 feet of water.  Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore.  Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.     It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW.  Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water.  In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught.  Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.      Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail in gold / pink, gold / glow red, glow white / pink, or Wonder Bread have worked well.     Especially in the deeper water, some anglers are finding success on rippin raps or using jigging spoons with a rattle as well.     On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.  One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.     Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.  Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.   On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings.  A jig and minnow working well.   Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them.  An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.     Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.    Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing continues to be very good up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud.  A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix.     Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon.  Mud is more of a slower bite but all day.   The ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles.  Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services.  Venmo is also available at all resorts.  Work through your resort for specifics.   Ice fishing is in full swing across Lake of the Woods and there are openings for lodging, fish house rentals, sleeper fish house rentals and meal plans across the area.  Ice fishing is extended on LOW with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye / sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.  
    • Brianf.
      From your fingertips to God's ears...  Finally got some snow!   Several inches of new snow fell before and during the weekend.  Sunday eve when we left, the high winds had already begun to create some drifting on the lake.  It was fun riding for sure.  Lots of folks on the lake this past weekend too.  We fueled up the sleds at Shamrock and saw as many people fishing in that area as I've ever seen in the Winter on Lake Vermilion.     Our weekend results were decent.  Jeff and I and a buddy caught probably 50 walleyes between the three of us, mostly fishing a jig/plastics with our three biggest being 24", 25", and 25.5".  We also got one large pike of unknown length.  During the midday on Sunday, we targeted whitefish and Jeff managed one big one.  We released all of our fish, except for three small walleyes that our buddy wanted to bring home for a meal.  Definitely a fun weekend on Lake V!   
    • leech~~
      The Vikings are the Vikings so it's nothing new.  It is kind of sad that Darnold's off season stock is now going to drop like a rock after these last two games. It kind of shows he's not a big game guy.  🤔
    • smurfy
      I'm blaming leech... his food selection has been lacking game days recently  🤣
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