Fishing Michigan

OK,  just in keeping in the theme, quickly because there are places to be this afternoon.

It’s not going to be any wonder if a lot of the deals that I  see online are going to be from Minnesota, their season lasts longer, and they have more speciality stores dedicated to winter than Michigan or even Wisconsin. 

This is from Joe’s Sporting Goods up MN way.  A St. Croix Legend, regularly 50 bucks for half the price.  The St. Croix bobber system is one of, or the best on the market.  This ultra light rod is ideal for tight lipped gills, rising crappie and finicky perch.  I don’t have many spring bobber rods, but this rod is what I do have.  St. Croix offers the best tech available in ice fishing, and put it all in this rod.

Its a good buy, plain and simple. 

As winter turns to spring, periodically I will be posting a few items that I find that are good deals available on the internet.  Items that I have used, owned or have tried out,  so I know you are getting a good value for the buck.  If I haven’t used the item, I will let you know that the info is based on good reports from people I know and trust their opinion.  No hard sells, no pro staff bias, just facts.

The first item(s) comes from Frank’s Great Outdoors up in Linwood.  These are rods from Rapala,  when they were first introduced years ago, they originally sold for over $20.  Rapala has decided to quit making these rods, actually a few yrs ago, but it doesn’t diminish the quality or the actions available.

I was debating through most of the winter about picking some of these up,  my buddy who lives up there owns several, so a couple of trips ago I got to take a look at the rods first hand.  The three that I bought were 32 inch medium heavies, for $9.99 each.  The eyelets are straight, the action is right for spoons and jigs, and stiff enough for swimbaits like Northland’s Airplane Jig or Rap’s  Jigging Rapala.

Drawbacks, only a few.  First they have a reel seat, and I like Tennessee handles for taping the reel where I like.  This actually is not a bad situation in this case because of the short handles on the rods.  The length works well for jigging and handles well.  Second drawback is actually the length,  this rod doesn’t really work well with the rod holders that I like to use (HT, WRH-1 and WRH-2).  There just isn’t enough back end to secure the rod in the holder.  Again, not a big drawback since in my case I have 15 other ice fishing walleye rods to choose from.  Really the only rods I want in the holders are my dead sticks anyway, so again, not a problem.

Why the 32 inch rods for my choices, because I can use them in my Fish Trap Pro and I like the extra length for fishing outdoors and moving following the fish.  If the length is too long for your method of fishing (in the shanty, heater kickin’, hunker’d down for the night), not too worry.  There are three 28″ models available; in heavy, medium and medium light actions.

Heavy action works well with swimbaits, heavier spoons and bigger jigs.  Medium, along the same lines, just downsize  your baits to fit the mood of the fish.  Med. Light rods are ideal for finessing eyes with six pound test or even four if you feel adventurous.  There are times when you have to kick it down a notch to get tight lipped fish to bite.  Adjust your drag where you can hook the fish, but allow the fight to happen and work the drag to get the eye up through the hole.

These are nice rods, you will like them, and the price is right.  Good time to gear up for next year.

All things being equal, the ice on both Saginaw Bay (and all pts. North) and out in the Irish Hills should be in great shape all weekend long.  Depending on where you would like to go, it might get dicey after this upcoming Wednesday.  Warm weather seems to be coming.

Dicey means leaving the machines at home, and treating your trips onto the lakes like first ice conditions.  With late ice though, even more caution is needed.  What can look like good ice, can in fact be rotten underneath.  Pack light, take the essentials, unpack the spuds and spikes and try to fish with a partner when possible.

Mom used to have a saying back in my early driving days, you can be right, and you can still be dead.  Course she was referring to following the rules of the road, but always use caution, you never know what the other drivers are going to be doing.  Same holds true with ice fishing (and lots of other outdoor activities),  you can do everything right and you still might end up dead. 

Instead of looking out for other drivers though,  be aware of the ice conditions around you.   What is the wind doing?  Where did all those other anglers go all of a sudden?  Why am I the only one still fishing?  All these can be tell tale signs of something changing in the conditions of the ice.  The latter two, are specially true when you are fishing on bodies of water not totally familiar to you.  Consider how rapidly things can change on big bodies of water compared to inland lakes, and make your decisions accordingly.

Late ice can be some of the best fishing of the season.  Walleye, pike, crappie and bluegills will begin staging for their spring rituals.  All will be looking for food where they can find it in anticipation of the spring spawn, and the action can be fantastic.  You will enjoy every bit of it, just be aware of the conditions and take the right steps to enjoy it for many years to come.

good luck