Sk8man

Be real careful out there I've seen guys stranded between the pressure ridges in years past ...had to walk from Canoga to the extreme north end to get off the ice. With this warmer weather we're supposed to get this weekend it could become a reality again

I don't feed them but keeping the water cool (not hard in this weather) helps keep them longer (warmer weather) and I never use chlorinated water....lake or stream water

Bait-taker - I got to try out the Vexilar digital "gizmo" on New Years Day and it worked fine. Nice to be able to see the depth from a distance (with my eyesight ) and I checked against my hand held Vexilar and it was within 2 tenths. I'm glad I sprung for it (about $50). Mine has a dual beam transducer (9 and 16 degrees). My feeling is that I would opt for the standard single 12 degree transducer if I have to get another. Most of the ice fishing i do is relatively shallow water stuff and either beam of the dual works OK and I think one in the middle is all you need for most stuff and is a good compromise...i.e. the12 degree. I feel that the Zoom is the best part of the flasher and use it all the time.

I also use the duolock approach most of the time and as Tim points out a high quality swivel is also used with it (to keep the line from twisting) but for spoons small ball bearing swivels with solid rings are used.

The DEC folks want people to destroy them and not just "let them go" some place. The receipt that you are supposed to have is good for 10 days....I keep my unused minows in a bucket with an aerator in the garage if I am going back out within that time frame.....otherwise they end up in the ding weeds out back

I only do it with stickbaits like Rapalas

For many lures it seems primarily a preference issue although they are easier to put on a swivel snap in the cold weather . I have them on most of the 1500 or so spoons but there are a few that came without them and I've left them that way

There often is slight variation on the size charts of manufacturers (those that provide one) but size 2 or 3 is usually pretty good. There is no way anyone can predict the quality of the brown fishing (or any other species for that matter) but Fairhaven has always been pretty good for browns and baring some drastic weather change that time period should be good for active browns close to shore.

Me too....going to be a long winter I'm afraid....

Hey Mike.....I think you forgot to take your meds

I know videos are nice and it is a little more work but still photos of the objects can be easier to deal with when you are trying to itemize and also if you only need to supply part of the photos to validate a claim. It also pays to make copies (e.g. a flash drive) and locate it with a friend or relative outside your home (in case of fire) In fact this is something that is desirable to do with everything in your household.

I haven't set the hook on trout or salmon in over well 40 years. Gill T is correct. Let them do it themselves (and make sure you have sharp hooks).

It isn't a shanty as designated in the DEC regs. They are considered permanent structures usually made from wood and left out on the ice when not in use and could be considered a navigational hazard in the Spring.

You want the smallest target separation e.g. 3/4 inch you can get and the highest degree of power is desirable as well. Target separation basically refers to the ability of the signal to differentiate between two separate or distinct objects and to be able to display them as such singly (instead of blending them into one signal.