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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?

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Side image depth finder and a few new spinning reels.

Also getting my boat revamped!

Cliff

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  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

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
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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:

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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

 

 

 

 

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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 

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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!! ;)

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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.

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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

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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?!?

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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

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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

 

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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. 

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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:

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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

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

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

20180328_160715.jpg

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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.

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

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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.

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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. 

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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?

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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.  

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

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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: 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
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    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
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