gofishes ice gear

[gofish]

heres the gear i use fer ice fishin (when we git ice) take it with a grain a salt compared ta kieths....im more geared fer bigger baits an such....kieth an giller can hook ya up better with finesse or smaller stuff...i fish a lot fer bass an such then gills an crappie......

pic ones my lighter rods....top ones a ht glass ultralight 24"....the other 2 are ones im tryin ta find more of,theyre eagle claw artic ice rods in 24 an 30"

i dont use a spring bobber cause these rods specially the 30" are real sensitive...use 1 ta 3 lb test mono on em.sure gonna try that spring bobber idea of kieths this year though

pic 2 is the lure i use on these rods the most....clockwise from top left....1/32oz minnow head(usually with a plastic tail),#8 teardrop,#8marmooska,#6 demon,#6ratso,#6ratfinkee,#6 teardrop,and a #8 bannanna jig......catch tons of crappie,perch an bass on the ratso,and the marmooska is deadly when theyre negative/inactive an jus mouthin it

[gofish]

this heres the bigger stuff......

pic ones 24" ultra light and light action graphite rods....i have several an use anywhere from 4 to 6lb mono or up to 4 lb fireline/power pro depending on how deep or the kind of cover im fishin.

second pic clockwise from top left are the 1/8 oz cicada,small jiggin rapala,salmo chubby darter,swedish pimple,and a storm rippin minnow.....

i use the cicada as a search bait a lot,also tells ya real quick if theyres weeds below ya......if i git a hit but miss ill drop it back down.....nuttin goin ill follow up with the swedish pimple or ratso.....seems at times the cicada brings em in but the other baits git em ta hit......purty sure if i had a vexilar id do better but cant see spendin the money on one quite yet lol

[CrappieKeith]

A flasher is your eyes.
Without 1 your fishin blind!
I can work any fish that comes in through the water column & if fish aint there I know it instead of burning my time working dead water.
Being able to see the mood of the fish will also help in a huge way.
Now I know what to give em.
Otherwise it's all guess work.

People do not pay me to guess.
A flasher is like an american express card....never leave home without it.

You can use them in open water too.
They run on real time,no delays .
Now I can stay right on the break when trolling instead of going off track and spending my whole day gettting back to where the fish are .Not only that but I can see the fish.
Most LCD's will have screens that do not scroll fast enough.
A flasher is real time.If you see a fish under you,it's under you not 10 feet away.

My flasher always ghoes out the door with me except in the spring when I'm casting to shore working spring slabs&bulls.

In my opinion a flasher is a must like a good rod & reel.

[Fishaholic]

I have never used a flasher, or any other type elctroninc device ice fishing, I see no reason, I have ice fished for about 13yrs now my stepdad is in his 40s fished since he was a boy and my grandpa fished since he was a boy and we have never found a purpose for that gear, a hole, a pole and some bait. We do enough fishing during non ice that we know the structer/ bottom or area we want to fish and do very well. so here we see no use for that gear. Honestly dont see to many using it either.

[Screen]

Joe - Thanks! This should be great help for the beginner or pro.

Keith - dumb old me - whats a flasher?

[gofish]

kieth....i aint got a vexilar yet but ive got an extra transducer fer the unit on the bow of my boat......its got the option of "flasher mode"....use it all the time on the boat...got a rig i made ta be portable......truth be known though...most times its left behind me along with my shack lol.....i know the spots i fish well nuff i only use it ta find what depths the schools are comin thru at at the beginnin of the trip.....course it aint got the seperation capabilities of the vexilar iether.lol...nuther difference is im out jus havin fun,no pressure on me ta catch fish so i fish the way i want to......dont envy ya nun.....did the guide thing years back,got its rewards(sides gittin paid doin sumptin ya love) but tons a pressure on ya too....wish i was able ta sneak away an see how yer doin it in person with the vexilar..be kinda cool ta see but reckon ill keep wishin i owned one fer a while yet lol

[CrappieKeith]

I have never used a flasher, or any other type elctroninc device ice fishing, I see no reason, I have ice fished for about 13yrs now my stepdad is in his 40s fished since he was a boy and my grandpa fished since he was a boy and we have never found a purpose for that gear, a hole, a pole and some bait. We do enough fishing during non ice that we know the structer/ bottom or area we want to fish and do very well. so here we see no use for that gear. Honestly don't see to many using it either.

I've fished that way for 30 years.I never had a power auger or a rod and reel either.We caught fish too.
There were days when we caught nothing.We said they were not hungry.
now I know different.
Having a Vexilar I can see if there are there and what there mood is.
I can also go to new water and fish it like I've fished it all of my life.

For me guiding I need to get guys on fish....no matter the conditions.
I find that the flasher is one of my most important pieces of gear.
My GPS with map also helps me tremendously.
As technology improves so will the gear we use.
You can choose to stand pat or to take advantage of the new gear available.
I choose to use every tool available.

Potable house enables me to move with the fish unlike the old permanent that was stationary.
Power auger to drill countless holes with ease.
Rods with small reels that have great drags making even big fish come up my hole instead of busting off.
Potable heat!
Flashers to read my lure and fish
GPS helps me find areas to fish and it'll mark my exact spot for the next day without cluing in someone my spot.

When I can catch 50 fish in 60 minutes ,I think the new gear helps me have more fun.

[Fishaholic]

Fish are always hungry, just maybe not for what you got, sure theres days you only catch a few ,other a ton but thats why I love the sport, not to go out and let my High tech equipment fish for me, when that doesnt do good then Id say well this doesnt work need to upgrade to a better one, its like the darn video games for kids, every year they come out with a different one and every game kids gatta get it. I have 2 Humminbirds on my boat and I couldnt tell you how to work em as for findin fish, I can locate structure or just to know the depth so I dont tare my motor up!!!



thats not really considerd fishing to me!!!
thats like a saying I heard from Jeff Foxworthy
" you go out to your truck opening day deer season at 5am and someone throws a big buck on your hood and says good shootin jeff."

[CrappieKeith]

I'm not sure how to answer that and stay on the high road.

My electronics will not put fish on my hook.
I still have to know how to do that with the different conditions.
My electronics helps me locate schools of fish and it helps me identify their feeding moods quicker.

All I'm trying to do is teach the new ways of fishing.
These ways will step up your game on the ice.
This can not be disputed.

If a guy wants to fish blind that's his choice.
Like I said before,I'll use all of the tools available to me.

I've had the same flasher for 8 years.When it wears out I'll by another one just like it.
My 75 yr old dad just sold his computer.He said he could not work it.He said the internet is for the birds.
I guess maybe we should shut down the world wide web.

[Schoe]

Well I can re-enforce Keiths opinion on having or not having the electronics.

Years ago while on a trip to Min. I had no flasher and couldn't locate the the fall schools of Crappie no mater where we looked. Not by no means being even close to an expert me and my companion fished for three days at the hot looking areas without even a bite.
Then, a local came by and asked how we were doing and we told him our peril. Well fellas , he said pulling his hat off and scratching his head, where's your Flasher??

Like many others I had no idea what he was talking about. He proceeded to take his flasher out of his bucket and explained it's use and functions and invited us to join him, which we did

Making this story short and to the point I more than likely wouldn't have caught any fish on that trip without that piece of electronic equip.

By the way, I just got my first Vexilar in the mail last week and can't wait to use it in Southern Iowa later today and that will be another story. Schoe

[Soupy_1us]

and you said that "One of the Locals came by".....Your fishing might have changed because this "Local" knew where to fish to start with.


I know, I know...... Shut-up Soupy 'cause you ain't got no dog in this hunt !:fighting0059:


But, I have got an opinion. LOL
Just wonder how one of them things would work in 45 foot of water and 35 mgh current??? 'cause that's what we got down here right now.

[Soupy_1us]

And now that I've got your attention ! I noticed in those pictures you've just post at that last get-together that "Your" Little Buddy (Jason) Had a TEAM WHEREIFISH T-shirt on and no Bibs !!!!!! WHY ?
'nother thing ...how come I don't have one of them shirts? Or At least an " I Support TEAM WHEREIFISH.COM" shirt??????? I'm jealous !

It'll be worth ten or twelve bucks to me to have one !


And by the way............................I didn't even get one of them boat decals.......???????


I feel so lonely down here by myself.

[Schoe]

That would be Jordan, Mr. Soupy. Also his Mommy had that shirt made for him and I didn't dress him for this event.

Now, If you want to take this further I will PM you her E-mail addy and you could take it up with her, which I wouldn't advise as she could administer a good tongue lashing on the keyboard. Schoe

By the way, where's your shirt???

[Soupy_1us]

Sorry about the Jason thing.. I meant Jordan... Had Jason on my mind for some reason... No ..I don't want that addy... I got one of them women down here already....
And the other thing.... WUT Shirt?

[Soupy_1us]

Oh..................you're talking about my Sunday go Meetin' Dress-up Team (Pink) shirt you guys gave me.... I hate to wear it.... Don't want it smellin' like fish.

[Soupy_1us]

And don't forget that "Pink" hat I got to go along with the "Pink" Barbie Doll Fishin' Pole...and the "Pink" T-shirt"


Boy... you guys shore do dress me funny.

[Catbird]

I was reading this thread and I thought is was about ice fishing (something I have no interest in anyway cause if I made a big enough hole to get a big cat through I would probally fall in) now it is about T shirts...or the lack there of....I'm so confused...lol

[Soupy_1us]

Oooops ! Sorry....... I reckon this is called "Hackin' A Thread".... Won't happen again... I got carried away.....


I'll go back to my thread now.....Where I belong....



Boy, it's lonely up there.

[Soupy_1us]

I reckon you can say I tried to do some "ICE Fishin' " yesterday.......I was going to go out to one of the lakes to fish for some " Panfish" but, couldn't because I left my little boat uncovered and now it's full of "ICE" I spent all afternoon chippin' it out.
That's about as close to ICE Fishing as I'm gonna get.

[cattracker16]

Interesting thread to say the least. I myself don't have a flasher, but everyonce in a while i do play a flasher LOL this ice fishing thing aught to be informative for me. as i am kinda a sponge when info is involved. pending on how much i've had to drink the night b4. could be a mushy sponge

[Soupy_1us]

I hope nobody else has been offended by my posting on this Ice Fishing Thread... It's all in fun.....Even though I did get Jordan's name screwed up with Jason... Sorry again about that.
But, The way I think ( when I do) I was just saying out loud what some might be thinking...
I do have all the shirts from WIF that they have come out with and I do appreciate them very much, I do wear them as much as I can....
I do respect these guys that are trying to inform us on their style of fishing... It's got to be Cold....
I know they get tired of hearing my BS but, That's what it's all about....
I was told that this site would be boring if somebody didn't keep things stirred up.....
all fishin' and no fun won't make a good site...
I have learned a great deal from these guys.... One thing I have learned is ... I won't be doing any Ice Fishing..... It takes a special person to go out there in sub-zero weather and try to fish.....and then try to get idiots like me to understand why they do it...
I guess it's about the same trying to make them understand why we run these rivers trying to catch something we can hardly get in our boats.....(Big catfish , so you'd know what I was talking about cattracker).... I do appreciate everything these guys go through . Even Ole 'giller... Trying to convence me that Blue Gill is a fish...and not just bait.
Keep up the good work guys......

[Catbird]

I was just a messen with you Soupy...I was enjoying all of the input...exspecially about the T shirts...lol I am one of the worse persons to stay on topic because my mind wonders around aimlessly.

[gofish]

catbird....i have a ball catfishin thru the ice.......biggest was 18lb channel...10 inch hole.....tip ups couple ft bove bottom do the trick....ya oughtta try it its a blast when ya find a big school

[CrappieKeith]

I know that after a few years on forums centered in many different states we all fish differently.
I see some of you guys that fish rivers are kittycat guys and that's cool.
To me fish' is fish'n.

I'm a northerner,we have different conditions that we fish in compared to Y'ALL.

You guys know I tye jigs.
Well sharing that type of fishing with others has brought me some modicum of notoriety.
I am staff on several sites and for fishing industry businesses because I'll share what I know instead of hiding the secrets.
I'll spend time making videos and shooting pics to help complete the story as it were.
Just yesterday I received a letter from a forum "lurker" that asked to fish with me so as to learn all he could.
This fellow is 65 years old.He said since he's from the area he enjoys watching my posts to pick up tips and spots to fish.
It's this type of thing that I enjoy.Helping others!

They call me CK ,because I can catch slabs when no one else can.
It's the downsizing system that I'll employ and advocate to others all around the U.S. and Canada.Getting small works everywhere.
Albeit your small and our small are 2 different things ,the idea of slowing down and getting small with your baits will trigger more bites during cold fronts and other negative
times.

Using electronics helps if you know how to use the product.
It can get you dialed in much quicker.
I have a 6 year old rearing slabs 1 day and these 2 elderly gentlemen were outside the fish house telling me how tough the fishing was.
I brought up using a flasher and the like.
They began to tell me how nothing was going to get those fish to bite.
I then opened the fish house door to reveal this youngster hauling up another crappie.
We gave them 2 full limits and while they were amazed and admiring the nice slabs we had the boy reared 4 more crappies .

The point to all of this is there is always going to be another way to skin a cat.
If I can help I will.
If you disagree,thats your right .
I just know what I do works for thousands of guys wanting to step up their game and I'll conitue to try to help everyone that I can.
If your having issues with your gear,just ask for help instead of saying it's garbage.

[gofish]

well now....nuffs enough lol......started this here thread cause ole buddy screen beein new ta this needed some "visual" aids ta help git an idea of what everybodies usin......so how bout some more pics guys?

[Soupy_1us]

Kinda wut I was thinking..... Shut-up and show us some more fish..... Before I forget wut they look like .

and yeah... I seen the "Y'all" part too.....
Ifin' he (CK) hangs around here much longer he might become a Redneck too.
And I might git me one of them Porta-Potties to fish out of too.
But, I just don't think that "flashy thingy" will work in this 45 foot river with 35 mph current.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/IMG_27941.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/IMG_27931.jpg


http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/Soupy_1us/JustWondering.jpg Is It Spring Yet?

[capt.kirk]

CK,We enjoy your posts on how you do things up your way,keep it
coming. What some dont understand is that you guide and have to stay
on top of your game,Good Luck :icon_cool: Kirk

[capt.kirk]

No it aint SPRING yet,its time to clean your moniter on the inside,I did it
4 times and see much better now :icon_razz: Kirk

[CrappieKeith]

Yo Soupy.....a flasher will work ,but I doubt you can fish vertical with the current.
You'd be better off with a LCD graph for reading structure and marking fish.

As to redneck,heck ya.....my dog does have a middle name & I'll use it regular like.
"Buck Henry" get me my shoes darn it.

Hot damn !
Wanna see my new houseboat?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/houseboat.jpg

[gofish]

an them coolers even look big nuff ta put a blue in soupy!!!!! that theres a good un

[CrappieKeith]

ya siiiir I can fit a few of these hawgs in there.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture233.jpg

[cattracker16]

Now that there is what i'm looking for. i went over THE river today via musc bridge and there were 5 or so boats hangin round the lock, wish i was up there fishin with emmm instead i hadda do the "W" word. i was guessin they was after them there wallies

[Screen]

Ok! I asked a dumb question on the first page of thread.

What is a flasher? Is it a fish finder like we have on the boat or is it something different? Is it portable for ice fishing? Someone have a picture?

Remember, I am a 59 year old just learning and I think it's great guys like Joe, Keith, Schoe and others are willing to share so I might catch something before I get soo old someone will have to wheel me out on the ice! LOL

Maybe this is where I thank all of you for teaching me about many thing. Smoking, cooking, camping, traveling and fishing etc... I have lived a sheltered life. My father was a doctor who didn't take time for anything but his practice and I had two daughters who only liked fishing when they were little. So I have a lot of catching up to do. Thanks for the help from those who know and want to teach those who don't.

[gofish]

screen check out any of kieths threads....its in bout all of em.....flashers a depthfinder with a round screen that shows slashes of light stead of arches or symbols fer structure or fish.older units were actually mechanical,dont know bout the new ones.....best thing bout em is jus bout instant response time... what it shows is what ya see on the screen...no time lag cause of lcd and processor response time......they are very portable now, an even make extras where ya can use em on the boat an ice both ......fer a price lol......

[jason454ci]

Here ya go Screen. This should explain what a flasher is.

http://www.whereifish.com/thepond/showthread.php?t=3153

CK I would like to thank you for the info you so generously share with everyone here on the site. It is very much appreciated. I for one have never once been ice fishing. But I do really enjoy reading your post and watching your videos on the subject. I am a die hard cat man but if I lived in a place that had hard water as much as they do open water I would probably be draggin my butt out on the ice. Who knows maybe on day I might just have to give it a try. Heck after seeing all the photos and Giller showin me how to fillet bluegills I found myself eatin bait. :confused0068:

[CrappieKeith]

I went to vexilars site.
Hit the link and check out.... http://vexilar.com/pages/extras/extras_videos.html
Extreme Ice Fishing
Journey miles out onto famous Lake of the Woods

This will give you a good idea of what we do on the ice.
Now these guys are in some prime water.
You gotta love this video!

[gofish]

lookin at the map dont look like it could git much better that big sandy.....all that structure, take me a week just ta figure half them humps out in my boat lol

[CrappieKeith]

BSL does have a ton of structure.On some days when it's slow I'll pull out my H2Oc with the Navionics map chip that shows 1 foot contours and get lost.

[Screen]

Thanks for the info guys - very pricey - now if a guy could find and older but usable model cheap as a starter unit that would be great. I agree with Keith - without the tools you can't build the house.

Again thanks all for the help in learning.

[CrappieKeith]

Well I may be selling one of my vexilars.If I do $150 will be what I'll be asking.

[Illinoisgiller]

Keith, That is a good price for the vexilar FL8. Mike

[CrappieKeith]

I try to take care of my gear.It is 6 years old though.
There's plenty of snot left in the ole gal.
Not that it needs one ,but there is a rebuild kit for 40$.
I'm torn,as there is always someone that does not have one in the group.
They make fishing so freakin easy.