King Slammin

I agree, after starting my ice season off with a bang icing trophies of nine different species ( my pb walleye at 25.5" and a 29" pickerel) feb has been a struggle. My first trip to Oneida was a bust. Our annual trip to black lake which has always yielded daily limits of nice sized crappie and pike, produced alot of small fish and another walleye at the cost of being stranded with a blown right front wheel bearing. Chautauqua last weekend overnight we found some crappie, but they were reluctant to bite in the 30 mph gusts. Feb is always hit or miss but the constant change in pressure and frontal systems definitely made this yr a tough bite. However, it seems if u were out on the days when the fish were ready to eat, the fishing was excellent. I did learn alot this yr though. I put over 100 miles on the wheeler which opened up alot more area for me to fish. I also did alot more big fish fishing and connected on some nice pike, walleye, trout, and bass but suffered alot of downtime as well. I'm hoping the last ice period will bring some hungry fish to my bucket and then the spring king bite to be insane.

30# maxima. Tough as it gets. Used 8# when fishing smallies in the Niagara river in all the rocks. Very abrasion resistant so I adapted the 30# to use on the lake

Glad he's well, and a good thing you guys acted fast. I definitely won't give up. The lake is beautiful and humbling when u see it for the first time. Glad I had my wheeler. I'll just have to make sure I get out there earlier to get in on that hot bite before mid ice blues. Might make it one more time this yr if action starts heating up again.

We were going to stop at Oneida on our way back from Black Lake next week but with our bad report and a bunch of others, we might hit Chaumont instead. I put 35 miles on the wheeler last weekend searching for active fish on Oneida. You were with the guy that passed out right? Hope he's recovered and back out there fishing.

Nice at least somebody found some eyes. We were out on the shoal Saturday too. Set up in 17 FOW by buoy 121. Worked the flat out to and past the drop off to 40'. Only iced a few keeper perch and no eyes. Where were you guys?

Don't walk over and talk to your buddy at his hut without opening the bail and securing your dead stick rod. You might come back just in time to watch it go down the hole.

I bent some aluminum coil stock and zip screwed it through the clear vinyl and wood.

Denver 28 Seattle 19

Scrap piece of luan Closed cell foam Aluminum c channel Zip screws Clear vinyl Industrial strength Velcro I made one for my stern and one for each side. I can't remember cost but was affordable and can be customized to fit perfectly

I made three of them for maybe $20 total. Wasn't aware he sold them. They are pretty easy if you are semi handy. I chose this model over the many others because they have a long travel, giving you more time to get to the tipdown before the fish feels it.

If u fish braddocks alot, a common setup for me is three tipdowns (search crappie guys tipdown on iceshanty) and two tipups (I use frabill arctic fire and they are smooth enough to catch crappie and large pike). You could use all tipups if they have a light trigger and smooth spool. I also swear by hole covers, however I make my own out of leftover foam backer from siding. I will jig a rod with a dead stick in the hole next to me and if nice enough out, a bobber rod as well. That's 8 lines in the water to maximize your spread on tough days. If they are biting well that day, 3 tipdowns will keep u busy and quickly get your limit.