Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and are able to spend some time with friends, family, and loved ones this holiday season.  That and hopefully, you are able to hit an frozen lake or two!

New Product Spotlight: Cold Snap Rod Clamp

As fishermen, it seems like most of us can never be content with just one of something.  I will be the first to admit that I have a crankbait, tungsten ice jig, and soft plastic addiction.  I need to have back ups for my back ups because heaven forbid if I were to lose one; I would be lost!  A similar lesson I learned from this experience is to never critique my wife for buying purses or shoes.  For if she was ever to see my collection of crankbaits, tungsten ice jigs, and soft plastics; I would be eating a lot of crow!

So what does any of that have to do with Cold Snap rod clamps?  Simply put, when you go ice fishing, do you just bring along one rod?  I'm certain that for the vast majority of anglers, the answer to that question is "no".  Many anglers will take anywhere from three to a dozen ice combos out on the ice with them.  A lot of fisherman like to utilize a second rod with a minnow and bobber while they jig with another rod.  Here in Iowa, we are limited to using only two rods on the ice, minus the backwaters of the Mississippi and Missouri River where fisherman are allowed three. In other states more lines are allowed.

So, how does one go about securing the other fishing rod(s)?  With the price of rods and reels increasing each year, one cannot afford to have numerous fishing combos go through the ice and to their watery grave.  There are many rod holder options available. I've certainly used many in my fishing endeavors, but I was never truly satisfied until I started using the Cold Snap rod clamp last winter.  What is nice about this rod clamp is that it attaches directly to the poles of your shack, is adjustable and removable, and is sturdy.  It keeps the rod up and off the ice where it could get accidentally stepped on or kicked in the hole.  For the anglers who do not fish a minnow/bobber setup, you can clamp extra rods right next to you allowing for quick presentation changes.

So, the next time you are thinking about what might be a good option for a rod holder, you may want to consider the Cold Snap Rod Clamps.  They are relatively inexpensive, work great, and have a small footprint in your shack.  The only caveat, is these clamps attach to 7/8" poles like in my Fish Trap Yukon and Fish Trap Pro ice houses.  Shelters with smaller poles, like the instant set up Fish Trap Scout TC or Fish Trap Trapper, do not have large enough diameter poles to support these clamps.

Weekend Report 12-9-11 to 12-11-11

It's always nice to get out for that first time on the ice.  Unfortunately, there isn't much ice around Des Moines so heading north was the best solution.  Below are some of the specifics and observations from this weekend; hopefully it will help some fisherman put some fish on the ice.

Ice Conditions 
(These numbers are from Friday through Sunday and are measured with a scoop which has a ruler; not eyeballed or guessed numbers)
Spirit Lake: 5-8" mix of snowy ice in some locations and crystal clear ice in others 
West Okoboji:  4-6" mix of snowy ice in some locations and crystal clear ice in others.  Middle of the lake is wide open.
Upper Gar: 4-5" snowy ice

Water Clarity
Spirit Lake: Depending on location, anywhere from 5-7 FOW
West Okoboji: Aquarium clear
Upper Gar: 3-4 FOW

Suggestions
-Try to work away from the crowds.  We all know Anglers Bay is an early ice destination, there were at least 30-40 shacks there on Friday afternoon and by the time we left early Saturday morning.  Most reports were poor from Anglers; pressured fish are notorious lookers.
-Typical early ice locations (rock piles, standing/green weeds, etc) are great places to start looking.
-When fishing gin clear water, stealth is the key especially when there is no snow on top of the ice.
-Having options while fishing is key; keep mixing it up until you find what the fish want.
-Be safe out there!

A few photos from the weekend; enjoy!

(First fish of the year; 13" black crappie)

(Still plenty of adult perch left in Spirit Lake)

(Dinner time!)

(Full moon fishing)

Go Time!

We dodged a bullet here in central Iowa with the area mostly receiving rain and not the large amounts of snow once predicted.  Over the weekend, we ended up with about an inch and a half of rain around Des Moines, which should add some much needed water to the local lakes, ponds, and rivers.  With our forecasts looking very favorable for ice formation, it appears like we might be able to fish some of our smaller bodies of water this weekend around central Iowa.  For those heading out, be sure to exercise caution and try to keep dry!  I know I made use of this weekend by getting the rest of my gear organized, putting fresh line on my reels, and making sure everything is ready for the weekend.

(First fish from last season; small little guy isn't he!)

One tradition I started many years ago was to take a picture of the first fish I caught each ice season.  It's fun to look back at the different fish and it helps rekindle fond memories of ice seasons gone by. In the past, I didn't take the time to photograph fish or scenery while I was out fishing, however, over the past few years I have made the time and am very thankful for doing so.  The next time you are out fishing, make the time to take some photos of your catches, the beauty surrounding you, and/or you and the people fishing with you while on the ice.  You will be glad you did so, trust me!

Finally, with the season kicking off this weekend I won't have as much time to write entries as I have these past two months.  My plan is to continue writing something up for Mondays which will include product reviews, fishing reports, and lessons learned that weekend.  I have a bunch of fantastic ice gear, much of which is new to the market this year, which I will continue to highlight once each month.  So stay tuned, the good stuff is just beginning!