What are your must have fishing set ups for the major game fish in mn? I officially suck, so I could use a starting point.

Well I live in Illinois and my most hopefull set up right now is some ice. Im about ready to get the shorts and canoe back out and go fishing. I usally go up to MN to go ice fishing around the super bowl (damn packers) but Im proboly not going to make it this year, So hopefully we will get some ice soon down here. Good luck to you!!

A portable shelter, Mr heater, and a 6 of Summit beer

A potrable shelter, Mr. heater and a six of guiness extra stout.

Go to Fleet Farm and get a medium ice combo and a swedish pimple, a Lindy Flyer, and a couple of back-ups. Tip with whole minnow or minnow head. That's for jiggin walleyes. A tip-up with some dacron line and a quick strike rig for pike. Then, an ultrlight, super-whippy little rod pared with bro bugs and waxies for gills and crappies.
Go to a lake that has fish an start jiggin' and moving around looking for fish.

quote kabloona: "A potrable shelter, Mr. heater and a six of guiness extra stout."

I usually skip the first two and just bring an extra six pack. I dont usually catch much for fish so I might as well catch a buzz. Haha.

Would like to work on the catching fish part of the whole experience...

I like to stay local so a portable shelter, Mr. Heater, and a six of Grain Belt NordEast! ! !

I'm not a great fisherman but I have an interest in it and some experience (we're about the same age). I have found that using a flasher (vexilar, marcum, humminbird) really helps you put your bait in front of their face, which increases your chances of a bite. Ask at the bait shop to see how deep they are biting and start there. Drill a lot of holes at different depths and move if they're not biting. There is probably no substitute for time on the water. If you fish a specific lake a lot, you'll find out the w's of that lake. (what, when, where). Not groundbreaking advice but, those are the most common tips I've received by fishermen much better than myself.

As the previous poster said, a flasher...Marcum, Vexilar, or Hummingbird all will work. Once you use a flasher you won't bother fishing without one. If the fish are in a neutral or negative mood then it will be the difference in having a good day and gettign skunked. Plus they make fishing a more active experience for me.

T

I have to agree with the flasher. Its the single most important piece of gear I use for ice fishing. Finding depth and suspended fish makes all the difference.

quote HenryParsons: "I'm not a great fisherman but I have an interest in it and some experience (we're about the same age). I have found that using a flasher (vexilar, marcum, humminbird) really helps you put your bait in front of their face, which increases your chances of a bite. Ask at the bait shop to see how deep they are biting and start there. Drill a lot of holes at different depths and move if they're not biting. There is probably no substitute for time on the water. If you fish a specific lake a lot, you'll find out the w's of that lake. (what, when, where). Not groundbreaking advice but, those are the most common tips I've received by fishermen much better than myself. "

Agree totally, cant say it any better . p.s. A portable shelter and heater are must haves for me also.

quote togue: " I have to agree with the flasher. Its the single most important piece of gear I use for ice fishing. Finding depth and suspended fish makes all the difference.



"

+4

With how much additional work ice fishing is to get started, the two items that will get you finding the fish the fastest are:

1. a flasher, without it you are fishing blind.
2. A decent lake map chip on a GPS unit. This really helps you find structure before going through all the setup.

In addition - multiple rod setups. You can get these cheaper than soft water rigs and it makes it so much easier to have multiple presentations ready when trying to figure out what they want.

quote wb4syth: "

quote togue: " I have to agree with the flasher. Its the single most important piece of gear I use for ice fishing. Finding depth and suspended fish makes all the difference.



"

+4


With how much additional work ice fishing is to get started, the two items that will get you finding the fish the fastest are:


1. a flasher, without it you are fishing blind.
2. A decent lake map chip on a GPS unit. This really helps you find structure before going through all the setup.
+1

In addition - multiple rod setups. You can get these cheaper than soft water rigs and it makes it so much easier to have multiple presentations ready when trying to figure out what they want."

+1

A good auger! Get maverickie and DRILL BABY DRILL!

Clam Shelter
Mr. Heater
Vexilar
Strike Master Auger
Rod and Reels w/ matched line for rods.
Skimmer
Bait
most important...
the wife.

So all you guys that claim a flasher is important, what are you fishing for? Walleyes, panfish, and trout? Does it make that much of a difference when setting tip-ups for pike? My idea of ice fishing is pretty basic - just grab a sled, 5 gallon bucket, hand auger, tip-ups, bait, and a lot of warm clothes. I've just never thought of using electronics for targeting pike. Does it work?

I need Ice down here in Nebraska....please send Ice, Have everything else! Even the beer!
SunCatcher

quote Woodtick: "So all you guys that claim a flasher is important, what are you fishing for? Walleyes, panfish, and trout? Does it make that much of a difference when setting tip-ups for pike? My idea of ice fishing is pretty basic - just grab a sled, 5 gallon bucket, hand auger, tip-ups, bait, and a lot of warm clothes. I've just never thought of using electronics for targeting pike. Does it work?"

Other than finding the weedege,I never use electronics for pike, just fish them the old fashioned way with tip ups. The Vexilar is for everything else .

quote Basspro69: "

quote Woodtick: "So all you guys that claim a flasher is important, what are you fishing for? Walleyes, panfish, and trout? Does it make that much of a difference when setting tip-ups for pike? My idea of ice fishing is pretty basic - just grab a sled, 5 gallon bucket, hand auger, tip-ups, bait, and a lot of warm clothes. I've just never thought of using electronics for targeting pike. Does it work?"

Other than finding the weedege,I never use electronics for pike, just fish them the old fashioned way with tip ups. The Vexilar is for everything else ."

Agreed - no need for the electronics when going after slime darts.

I agree with the flasher. I used to fish all the same holes. Sometimes with luck with, other times skunked. I fished with a buddy of mine a few years ago. I had not been sold on the flashers until that day. He caught 5 to my 1. (pan fish). He could drop the bait right in front of their face. I was amazed. I had to go get one and have never looked back.