Then you might find the answers you are looking for when it comes to ice fishing. The clique of those fishing on the ice are some of the most sharing people you will find in any type of angling. Even if you are just the shy type and do not want to get actively involved in participating, sign up and surf the forums and groups available to you.
Lots of info available, just watch out for the pitfalls. Sometimes these forums are sponsored by manufactures and they pump those products to keep the bucks flowing in. Same can be said by some who frequent the forums often. They like myself could be sponsored, or on the pro staff of a company. Unlike myself though, they will not say that out front, and even if they know the product is inferior to another, they will still shamelessly stick to their guns. Do not get caught in the argument trap, get you can use, and leave the rest of the bs to the others who live for the confrontation. They probably get it from watching too much reality tv!
Below is a list of forums that I have found most useful. I might make a comment or two on each, and then again….might not.
Fishing Minnesota : This is a site I really enjoy, but realize that much of the information is skewed to Minnesota fishing. Not that it’s entirely a bad thing, but they still think big jigs work better up there. Experience tells me that start small, and then go big depending on the mood of the fish.
IceTeam.com Ice Team is back, one of the founding ice forum leaders made a rebirth last year. Still a growing site, there are many of the top ice anglers in the field making comments on this site. Its second on the list strictly on potential growth.
IceShanty.com Love this site, even though they push the company line when it comes to sponsors. Some of them are pretty good. Again, New Engenders are still fishing a bit on the large side, but are coming around quickly.
The Fishy Spot: This is the website where all the guys come from the NAIFC tour. We try more stuff, and go through product probably more than any other group. It gets tested tuff.
Ice Fishing at OutdoorsFirst.com Not the best site available, but there is a dedicated core that provides some valuable information.
Michigan Sportsman.com Lots of good local information without so much of the sponsor guff
IceFishingChat.com Still not sure what to make of this site, just joined it late last year, some good, some bs (which ones don’t) and I think some new folks just getting their feet wet. Has potential.