anything new?

[Paul Rohweller]

So did anyone splurge and buy some new ice equipment this year? I guess I've been the scrooge, only replaced my vexilar battery and bought some new jigging spoons, nothing major.

Been thinking about selling my otter resort portable and buying a smaller portable, time will tell. Dont need a big portable much anymore with the new last year big permanent type house. Spoiled having a tv and carpeting and a bed and rattle reels and a good stove and lights and a radio lolol!

[Dano2]

heh, heh, sounds comfortable.

Got a new hand auger from eyehunter, well its not new, but new to me. I make it a point to also grab a couple jigs/lures as well when I'm in fleet for something.

I bought a used clam 5600 last year, I like it, but since I'm always by myself, I should of loked for one of them smaller flip over types, but since I'lll be bringing the 4 year old out now and again this year, the one I got should be good for him

[ivegottabite]

i haven't bought anything too big in price. biggest item was a lowrance h2o gps. i have also picked up a couple of genz lightning rods and tica cetus reels, mora 6" hand auger, quite a bit of tackle-genz stuff and custom jigs and spins stuff too.

late in the ice season last year i got a used frabill twin, jiffy auger, and vex so didn't need any of that this time around.

still looking for a cheaper 1 man flip over for when i go out on my own.

[cliffy]

I have not spent much on new equipment so far this year..just one new rod/reel combo...need an extra one on hand for any guest that may come with me this year. I have been thinking of selling my FL-18 pro-pack....kinda have my mind set on one of those LX-3 units.

[Dahitman44]

I sold my FL-8 in just a couple of days in the best weekly paper in the area. The Hawley Herald. I got $240 for it. It was five years old and had the soft case, charge indicator etc.

So I zipped down 10 yesterday to pick up the FL-18 ultra pack with soft case. Boy did I think I was cool. Split screen zoom, front-facing charging terminals, an on and off switch -- Man, I was in love.

No fish, however. I hit a local lake with about 4 1/2 inches and no 'Eyes. No fins or scales for that matter. Zippo.

I'm not sure why I sold my old vexilar, it worked just fine. Boys and their toys.

I would NOT get the Marcum, however. My bro-in-law has it and he likes it, but everyone that fishes with it hates him. It interferes with any and all other units including vexilars. The guy at scheels says it has too much power. The guy at Gander Mountain says the "Cones" hit each other. Whatever the reason it sucks.

What I should have gotten was a new Ice drill. (Contact US Regarding This Word) Jiffy's.

[Dano2]

heh, heh, here we go with the vex/marcum debate again, heh! anyway, I had an FL-18 , used it for a couple days, decided to bring it back and have used and loved the LX-3 ever since, but I haven't had the problems hitman44 mentions since I'm usually always fishing by myself, and ot too close to crowds. The only thing (and maybe vex has gotten better in the last 3 years) I noticed I like alot better on the Marcum, is the seperation, and itjust seems to have an all around crisper reading.

[cliffy]

The reason I want to sell my FL-18 is because I have used the Marcum in the past and I thought it was MUCH better in separation and clarity. I love my F-18, works just fine but the Marcum just seems a step ahead. As far as the interference issues goes…I have had the opposite experience. I get all kinds of interference when I fish with anyone using a FL-8. No problems fishing with anyone using a LX-3. Anyway, if my LX-3 is causing some problems for my fishing partner, I guess that is his/her problem. As far as the auger issue...try strikemaster...I have been using the 10 inch Lazer-mag for a few years and have had no problems...cuts like butter...

[zelek]

Hey hitman.....I'm kinda eager to go try out some of my new equipment. How's the ice on Lee?? Is it thick enough to get out to fishable water yet??

After last year, I wouldn't be anticipating catching much for walleyes but it would be kind of fun to try out my new LX-3.

I promise I won't get too close to ya!

On another note, I just got off the phone with my brother from Roseau and he said there is 8" of ice reaching out to about 17 feet of water in some areas on LOW. A couple of his buddies from work said the bite is pretty good. I'm thinking there might be a little road trip in the works this weekend!!

[Cicada]

Got a Big Buddy heater. Liked the idea of having more heat than a sunflower and a fan to push the air around. Starting to wonder if I'll get to use it. (It feels pretty good in the kitchen.) Four inches of ice with five inches of snow on top kinda spooks me. Oh, and picked up a couple of cicadas too!

[Dahitman44]

I got a big buddy and the little buddy heater this year. the little one for the portable. I had a heck of a time starting the heater the first time. Actually, Woody had a tough time. I guess we should have read the instructions instead of the labe on our cool beverages.

The Big Buddy will be used in my new 8x12 I am still finishing. They say it will heat the house, but I don't exactly know who "they" are. I went with the Big Buddy because I can take it with me. I leave the propane tank chained to the house.

I guess that is one less reason for those worthless losers that break into people's fish houses.

If you are like my wife you are saying, "why did you get two buddy heaters. Can't the big one do both of them?" If you are a guy you understand the warped logic. Them Women-Folk just don't get boys and their toys.

Now, back to that stupid Jiffy ... Since when is a four letter word that rhymns with Jam a swear word? I think they say the word on the Smurfs.

[RK]

Hiya,

I finally broke down and bought an underwater camera. Picked up a Marcum VS 560 - the one with the rotating camera. It's pretty dang slick. Excited to use it on the ice - if I ever get the chance that is. Crappy ice down here in the Cities, and even when there IS ice, I think the BOSS (my wife) will be 'claiming' the camera a lot. Also really excited to use it in open water. There's a weight system that screws onto the bottom of the camera so it hangs straight down. There are spots I've fished on Crystal and other lakes my whole life and always wondered what they looked like. Guess I'll finally find out...

As far as the Marcum flashers - I have an LX-3 and I love the thing. Easier, I think, than the Vexilars to interpret (things are just a little clearer) and lots easier to see in direct light. As far as interference, I fish next to guys with Vexilars quite a bit and they seem to do ok. Main thing is you don't need to turn the gain on the LX-3 up all that much. It's a pretty powerful unit (1500 watts) so if you crank it up, it can blast everyone around you with double echoes (signal bounces off the bottom, then off the ice, and scatters all over the place). I don't think I've ever turned mine up past 2 or 3, even fishing crappies in deep water. As far as other units interfering with the Marcum - not an issue. The interference reduction really knocks out the clutter. Another nice thing is the battery charger that comes with them. Can just plug it in and leave it plugged in. When the battery's fully charged it goes into maintenance mode and will keep the battery fully charged without cooking it. Marcum sells the charger separately too, for like $35.

As far a augers go - I have a Lazer Mag Express, and it's been great. A LOT lighter than my old Jiffy, and cuts a lot faster too. Light weight is a big deal for me, since I hoof it into carry in only lakes quite a bit during the winter, and extra weight here and there adds up.

Other than that, not much new this year...

Cheers,

RK

[12lb8oz]

I have had a camera and have used it for about 4 years. I have used it at Lake of the Woods and it doesn't really do anything. You can only see about 2 feet because the water is so dark (reddish), stained. I haven't used it around the Detroit Lakes area. But if I was you I would make a trip to Mille Lacs and test out your new camera there. You will be absolutely shocked at how far you can see on that lake. I have only fished Mille Lacs one time, it was in March (I think) for perch, I remember you couldn't keep walleyes. But I am not joking you could see about 30 feet on that lake. I was fishing in a 16 foot house and I could drop the camera down any hole and spin it around and easily see every jig in the house. It was weird because you could look at the camera and there wouldn't be a (Contact US Regarding This Word) thing down there and all of the sudden you'd see a school of about 100 perch coming in. Then every bobber in the house goes down and they pass through. I am sure there are other lakes that are like that but Mille Lacs is the only one I have found to be so camera friendly. Good luck

[zackj91]

i just went and spent 20 dollars at quality bait and tackle not to much just enought for some jigs and line hes a nice guy and always knows about the fishing report

[gophish]

when i came up to college last year and knew i'd have all sorts of time to fish i dropped the big bucks on shack poles and vexilar. this year i'm breaking down on an auger and probably some more poles for when i bring guests. of course the auger has been an issue trying to pick the right one. nobody on here can make up their mind as to which one is best. hoping to get one for xmas. as far as i'm concerned, anything that is free is good high quality.

[ivegottabite]

gophish-

asking about an auger is like asking about ford or chevy, vexilar or marcum, etc. seems a guy has to make up his mind on what fits him best. i would love to check out a new strikemaster 4 blade. haven't heard any reviews yet but they look sweet! i have a jiffy and can't complain. bought it last year from a guy who hadn't used it in a year. put some gas and new plug and started on second pull! can't beat that.