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How do you keep ice off rods in the winter:
I used to pick it off with a nail, my cutters and other things but after losing fish from eye damage caused from picking. I put an over size eye on the end of rod and no more ice.
What do you use for a minnow scoop? I use an ice-fishing scooper, plastic, and attach an extention so it is easy to reach. The ice scooper is dry and easy.
I keep minnows in a cooler so they don't freeze. I taped a small board to the scope handle so I can reach it from my chair with ease.
I keep my Cheesebait in an igloo cooler so it doesn't melt and it keeps the odor inside.
I used to tie hair jigs for winter fishing and always did well. Then came the rubber era and I got lazy and tried melting hair to a twister tail without the twister and it not only works but also makes one heck of a floater with a great wobble triggers fish strikes.
I only use single hooks for cheater hooks; lighter diameter hook keeps the minnow upright, catches less debris, catches bigger fish with bigger hook size. I tie ahead of time, use a slip knot - I just slide it over hook eye and pull tight.
I added an oar on the back of boat to keep the boat from spinning in the wind; there is no skag to keep the boat straight. I used a thin metal bar, bolted it to the boat transom, then folded it back and bolted to a half an oar. This way I can easially pull it up if theres ice at the ramp, and it does bend up and back down if I run over anything like a log, and if I back up and hit something it just bends and returns to original position. In otherwords it is indestructable.
Pictured above rightside shows my transducer mount. Transducers don't get along with ice and after snapping a couple off I came up with a meathod that let me use the broken transducers and it cannot break because I easially bend it up out of the way if there is any ice at the ramp. I used a 4" piece of 2x4 board, drilled and carved out a hole the shape of the transducer and used calking to hold it in place. I then used a piece of galvanized metal for a brace and attached to the transducer and the boat transom.That thing has been on there for over ten years and still holds great and it does work while running full speed.
Catfishing - FISH CALL One day I was fishing for catfish and I had an old motor on my flatbottom with shear pins. Our river is shallow and rocky, and breaking pins was daily before they came out with the slip clutch prop that just wrecks the prop instead of changing pins. Anyway, I couldn't find and spare pins anywhere, so I was making one out of a bungi cord hook. All I had was a hook file to cut a straight piece out of it, and every time I started to file, my poles would bend over with fish on. Then I'd quit, and nothing. Back to filing and the poles bent over again. This went on for some time, getting bites mostly, but the file was attracting fish, bunches of them. I finally had to quit fishing to get the shear pin cut.
The Reel Tarp: This is another invention I can't do without. It keeps my reels covered at all times, even in use. It keeps the reels protected against the sun, sand, dirt, water, everything. Its easy to just pull a rod out and put another one under. you can flip it back, then in place again in a second. I have two in each boat, front and back.
Catfish Cheesebait Worm: This rig is totally snagless, I use it in brush piles or anytime I use cheesebait. I use a Bass worm hook, and that is basically what it is, a bass worm rig except I tear the tail off and punch holes in the worm to hold the bait.
I use a duck decoy for a marker bouy. I rarely use markers because I get landmarks but this thing fools them all!
Planerboard for Catfish: I haven't tried this because I don't fish for catfish much and never from the bank, if I were to I would surely use it. It is a home-made planer board, tied with a outline and secured to my boat (or a tree) it will go out as far as you want, just feed out more line and you can even fish the other side of the river if you wanted and as long as you have a decent current it will work. Once the board is out just add a shower curtain snap. Next loop a rubberband around your fishing line and attach the R-band to the clip. When the fish strikes it should break the rubberband and it is you against the fish. Try to use a weak rubberband. My son and I used this big board for Walleye and it works great.
Bobber stop: No need to use the string that comes with slip bobbers, and piece of monofilament will work. I prefer 17 pound test but lighter works also. Just tie half a square knot and pull real tight and there you go. It will slide through your rod eyes with ease.
Double rig for Catfish: Fishing for spring Channelcats I used to catch twice as many fish as others with my double rig. A fish bites and then you don't know if it stole your bait or not. If it did then you are sitting there with no bait on. This double rig lets you leave the bait out there to wait em out or to try for another bite. Tie two leaders off one swivel, add a floater or piece of rubberworm so the baits cover more water. Add an egg sinker before you tie it on, making a slip rig. I use my river trolling sinkers because I can cast out a ways to the side without the bait washing down current, the two legs holds it in place so I can cover twice the water as well.
The Button: Add a button to any surface lure for more action. I like to use these with rubber mouseys in the weed holes where you don't have much room to work the lure. This gives you twice as much action for twice the distance. It makes it look like a frog trying to catch a bug. Add a button before you tie on the lure. Peg the button hole with a tooth pick and break off excess.
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