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Posted

Is anyone planning on getting new gear for this season? I went from planning to get an underwater camera, to all new rain gear, to finally settling on merely getting a cheaper pair of rain pants to wear under my current bibs. I also got another ultra light panfish pole since it's always the most popular one on the dock.

Anyone buying new boats? New rods? New electronics? New cabins?

Posted

Side Image...

Posted

Side image depth finder and a few new spinning reels.

Also getting my boat revamped!

Cliff

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN
Posted (edited)

Fortunately I am set Boat is rigged to max. Maxed out thrust wise on front and the back trolling motors. Elite 7, Hook 7, vexilar fl18 in back. Front X 15. Definitely a Lowrance man. If that doesn't find me fish then  I might as well hang it up :grin: lol!  Maybe  get rid of my butt seat buy a new pro pole seat with the flip seat to lean on a little more. As far as gear Have my eyes on a Engel Bait cooler probably pull the trigger on one of those as they look good and have heard good things about them . Oh was down at the NW Sportshow today and added a new Okuma. Definitely didn't need a new one but  u know how it goes :grin:  Very tempted to break out the wallet a few times but resisted temptation. LOL ! Odds and ends here there but major purchases are done for a bit. 

Edited by IceHawk
Posted

A bag of 50 1/16oz jig heads,that's it so far....lol...

 

Posted

I need to pick up 1 or 2 Muskie combos by June but haven’t fully decided what I want.

Other than that, I’m taking it easy. My checking account is still feeling the effects Black Friday 2017. :cry:

Posted

I picked up new rain gear last year.  I took a layering approach and went with Gill. I love the stuff and can more comfortably wear it in warmer climates.  

jacket - https://www.gillmarine.com/us/fishing/foul-weather-gear/tournament-jacket-fg21j.html

bibs - https://www.gillmarine.com/us/tournament-trousers-fg21t.html?sqr=FG2 bib&

insul bib - https://www.gillmarine.com/us/fishing/foul-weather-gear/winter-tourament-trouser-fg25t.html

 

 

 

 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Anything i can without my wife noticing! lol

  • Yayyyy 1
Posted

A fishing buddy is moving to Olympia Wa and selling his great lakes gear ,,, May pick up some more great lakes gear from him

Picked up a used lund rebel a month ago that is only partially rigged to my specs ,,,, Need to load my walleye and musky gear in that boat (nothing to buy ,,just move),,, Watching the weekend fishing shows there is some tackle thats peaked some interest but at this point is a want and not a need 

Posted

I bought myself some good will from my wife. Started a bathroom remodel for her so I should be able to get away with murder (fishing and huntingwise). I usually get away with it anyway but this doesn't hurt!! ;)

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

I've loaded up with Jigging Raps. I want to make those work this year. A couple St Croix's from the factory store in Wisconsin and some CHIRP technology.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Jigging raps are awesome lures! I can't get enough of those. Just got a 5/8 to 1 1/2 oz jig mold with the wire bait keeper. Big and heavy for the old Miss. Now I need to rob some chickens of their feathers. They make some awesome walleye jigs

Posted
On 3/23/2018 at 2:48 PM, Cliff Wagenbach said:

Side image depth finder and a few new spinning reels.

Also getting my boat revamped!

Cliff

Cliff - what are they doing to your boat? Plush leather couches and a big screen?!?

Posted

Needed a few repairs under the deck so I am having a second seat pedestal installed in the bow.

Sure would like to install an air ride captains seat! :D

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Getting a 14' sea nymph handed down from an uncle.  It has no motor, so I've got to pick up a tiller this spring.  The boat will mostly be used on small lakes around Eveleth, but I'd also like to take it into trout lake 1-2 times a summer.   Seems to me for small lake purposes, I could probably get away a 15 HP, or maybe a 20?  But for Trout Lake, rolling heavy with gear/people over longer distances, I may want to go with a 25HP.

There's no shortage of opinions on this site :) so please weigh in.  I'd welcome information/insight so I can make an informed choice.

 

Matt

 

Posted

Go big with the 25. That should push that boat 30 mph or better. Gets on plane fast. Not much difference between the 15 and a 20. If you're transom can handle the extra weight. 25 2 stroke will weigh around 85 lbs. I used to run a 1987 25 hp the Evinrude on my old 16 ft. It flew, until I smoked a log going wide open. Busted the drive shaft in side the power head. Took it home got it apart and got the broken crap out and swapped it out with a different drive shaft and was back on the water in an hour. Older tillers are a cinch to work on.

Boat stands for.....bust out another thousand. Fishing stands for...  Well....fun. 

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • Yayyyy 1
Posted
21 hours ago, Cliff Wagenbach said:

I am having a second seat pedestal installed in the bow.

Great idea!

It amazes me that this isn't a thing with the bigger boats. When I fish with my buddies in the fall I have all the room in the world up front and the 4 of them are crammed in the back half tangling their lines up. Guess who catches most of the fish :grin:

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Matt,

A 25 hp is a lot of motor for a 14'  Sea Nymph.

I have a 14' lund fishing boat and a 15 hp pushes it pretty well. A 20 hp would be plenty and it will also troll great. Lighter also!

 4-stroke motors are the best but much heavier then a two stroke.  Nice to not have to mess with mixing your gas!!

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 2
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted (edited)

Bout the only thing I need new this year is two new rod holders in the back of the boat for the Grand-monsters.  Since they both got their first Walleyes with grandpa last year I think I stuck myself and fishing off the dock isn't going to cut it anymore.  :lol:

Edited by leech~~
  • Yayyyy 1
Posted (edited)

Visa rewards gift cards don't show up on the credit card bill.......where did this come from?!?!

20180328_160715.jpg

Edited by LBerquist
Posted

I ordered a new Terrova i-Pilot Link yesterday to replace my Powerdrive with Copilot. Now I can follow the contour hands-free. Can't wait for ice-out, but that won't be soon.

Posted

I'm getting excited for a late ice-out on Vermilion. Should be a whopper of an opener

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Hey all

So I tallied up my gift cards to scheels outfitters from the last 5 years. Got 500 bucks worth!!!!YEAH!!! time for a new sonar. Looking to spend around 750 to 800 on a unit. Looking at the lowrance hook9 , but it looks like they got some issues. Garmins 73sv looks pretty sweet, good reviews. Any tips on what brand people have luck with? My dad has a humminbird 998 , its pretty sweet even for a 3-4 year old unit. Just throwing it out there, thanks guys.

Posted

Humminbird Helix. I picked one up last fall and it’ll be one of those buys you can’t just do without anymore, with the mapping it feels like your cheating, almost. You still can’t make all the fish bite. 

Mapping, side, and down imaging  for finding that spot on the spot you didn’t know was there. Finding fish off to the side you normally wouldn’t find. Find humps or other structure that are not on any other maps. 

I only mapped one point on a lake before ice fishing and that turned out super. Let’s just say I’ll have a lot of fun with this when I get to know it even better. 

Posted

I picked up a helix 7 Side/down imaging, a new lakemaster chip and onboard charger. I've been playing with it on demo mode, I can't wait for open water. Naturboy, did you upgrade the transducer?

Posted

You guys are going to love your Helix. I have one on my smaller trout lake boat. Great units for the money. 

I didn't too much new stuff this year.  A new trolling rod and some tackle, but that's about it.  

Posted

Awesome!!! Thanks guys!

Posted

i bought the helix 7 chirp si gps. now i got install it. the fish are gonna be in serious trouble..

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted
5 hours ago, Alex wilhelmi said:

i bought the helix 7 chirp si gps. now i got install it. the fish are gonna be in serious trouble..

You might need to set it up as an ice fishing unit the first couple weeks.:lol: 

Posted

I wish I could. But We have no ice down here

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
    • leech~~
      Oh is there a Superbowl game? 😋😋
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