First hardwater trip of the season starts tomorrow. 3 days on the ice chasing walleye, jumbo perch, northern pike and burbot. Spent the last two days going through gear. Got to my lake house at 8 pm this evening and spent the night replacing line and tying fluorocarbon leaders. No drinking tonight as tying good knots with old eyes on 6 lb fluoro needs 100% focus.

Some of the gear sorted and ready to load:



Tying leaders and prepping 8 rods:



4 of the rods are set up to jig a variety of shiner tipped rattle spoons. The other 4 are setup for deadsticking with a hook and minnow or minnow clapper.

Having 8 rods preset and ready to go is not necessary but eliminates having to re-rig stuff in the cold. Something goes wrong or want to change up just grab a different pre-rigged rod.

Temp when we arrived tonight was -18 and going down to -24. Tomorrow's high is -12. Temperature inside the lake house when we arrived was -5. Took 3 hours and the woodstove running wide open burning seasoned white oak before it was comfortable. Season opened January 1st but i usually wait a week so the local Darwin candidates can find the weak spots in the ice. The place i like to fish is 15 miles offshore so i need to be certain before i venture that far.

Most of my ice rods are 28 to 42 inch St. Croix Mojo Ice with Shimano Vanford, Sustain or Stradic reels in either the 500 or 1000 series size. Do have the odd Daiwa 750 series reel as well but can't remember the model. All of them except one are spooled with 8 lb ice braid and tipped with 18 inch 6 lb fluoro leaders connected via micro swivel to the braid and then tied direct to lure/bait. The odd one out is entirely spooled with 10 lb fluoro and just tied direct with no leader or swivels.

How do you stay warm? It's 39 degrees in Austin right now. I don't even want to go outside with the dog to take a leak. Much less ride 15 miles on ice to a fishing spot.

Hopefully the Darwin candidates don't find any weak spots.

Be safe out there.

Looks like a work out just getting prepped to go out there fishing. Good luck, post pics when you can. Are you going with your nephew?

Had to look up Burbot fish.


The burbot is edible. In Finland, its roe and liver are highly regarded as delicacies, as is the fish itself. An annual spearfishing tournament is held near Roblin, Manitoba. One of the highlights of the tournament is the fish fry, where the day's catch is served deep-fried. When cooked, burbot meat tastes very similar to American lobster, leading to the burbot's nickname of "poor man's lobster"

I assume you're fishing one of the Great Lakes to be going that far offshore? Huron, Ontario?

Good luck and be safe. Catch a stringer-full.

Awesome hard water rigs there bud. Tight lines and be safe

I see the Buddy heater, I bet that one get a heck of a workout up there.
Is the smaller black hard case Bear Medicine?

👍👍

LOL - Bears are asleep. Smaller black case is overflow emergency backup rods and reels.

Actually fishing Lake Nipissing. Large (not great lakes size though). The 15 miles offshore is from where i have road access to the lake. As the crow flies though is technically only 6 miles offshore.

Iced a massive burbot Thursday. Largest i have ever seen and 3 inches short of the provincial record. Lots of fish and only one sketchy open crack crossed so far.
Will post a full report Sunday or Monday once we are wrapped up. One more day to go.

Actually my oldest son is in town so going out with him. Good guess though as my nephew is my normal hardwater go to.

Pop up hub shelter is about 75 sq. ft and insulated/quilted fabric and anchored to the ice with screw in anchors. Think of a pop-up hunting blind that is 4x the price and 4x more resistant to wind and insulated - also weighs a lot more like 50 lbs. Inside the pop-up we run a buddy heater that keeps the temp above freezing - but not warm per say.

Ride out/in though will put hairs on your chest - especially when you have to skip across open water pressure cracks. Had to do that this evening on the way back in - when in doubt throttle out and/or pin it to win it.

Looks/Sounds like a ton of fun!

Nope.