In this episode Jeff and Jason attend the Hard Water Freaks annual ice event and record live.  We four guests join us from the event Max from Hard Water Freaks, Caleb from Fishing For the Heart Meagan from Casting Queens and Robert from DryHootch.

In this episode of the hard water fishing show Jeff and Jason talk about sunfish identification and minnow hooking tactics.

On this episode of the Hard Water Fishing Show we talk to Roger Houck about yellow perch fishing in upstate New York.  You can find more information about Roger and Roger’s Rigs on his website https://bit.ly/3fJVCCz He is also on Youtube https://bit.ly/3IqFwKl

Jeff and Jason talk to Brian ”Bro” Brosdahl about all things ice fishing. For more information about Bro check out his website https://brosguideservice.com/

Jeff and Jason talk about recent ice fishing trips to Lake of the Woods and Mille Lacs Lake. It is the first week of January 2022.

 

Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Report

Jeff was fishing out of the Red Door Resort  on Mille Lacs Lake.  Walked out to the first break and caught some walleyes and perch.   I was fishing out of my one man Frabill Recon 100 ice shack.  Its super tiny but just big enough for me to fish out of and super light to walk out with.  I have no seat so I use one of those tripod chairs.  Not everyone likes them but I find them superior to bag chairs where you sit to low. I can fish out of them for hours.  This is not the one I have but its similar https://amzn.to/3JTnMsA  

For Presentation I used a few different lures. I was using a perch talker 1/4 oz drop chain with glow pink and white.  You can find a three pack here.  https://amzn.to/3n4eAIa . This lure got bit off on a big fish and I only had one.  Still searching for a replacement.  That is why I always buy two of them incase you loose one or to lend to Jason.  I also used a glow spoon, I have talked to a few anglers that have had success with these.  They work even if your glow stick is not glowing anymore.  I would go for the green and gold ones.    https://amzn.to/3zvdKJy https://amzn.to/3JOdf24 And get some extra glow sticks too. I prefer the red glow sticks https://amzn.to/3G79a6T red seems to work the best for me.  

I am running 6lb Trilene fluorocarbon line https://amzn.to/3q3EEFh  This stuff is a bit stiff and can have some memory, but I have been told it superior. I switch back and forth between this and mono. I have a ant swivel https://amzn.to/3f5nPn7 on this to take the twist out.  Also running a quick clip https://amzn.to/3qVH4oF  from northland to switch lures super easy. 

For location I was fishing on break from shallow to deep with a rocky bottom in about 19 feet of water.

 

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report

Jason was fishing lake of the woods on the Canada side, and had a ton of success.  He ran into some rod issues because he was using the wrong action rod for the target species of walleye.  He was running a medium light rod from St. Croix.  Because it was to light it did not have the backbone to get the fish through the hole.  Also it was not giving him the action on his lures he was looking for because the tip of his rod was to quick.  He will be looking for a new rod very soon with medium action when targeting walleyes.  

For Lures he used a few different ones but found that the VMC Rocker spoon really worked well.  https://amzn.to/3t8F1R0 .  He also found success with a red buckshot https://amzn.to/3G6iqbm and of course the go to glow perch buck shot https://amzn.to/3n8JhvY 

 

Legend

Last week I forgot my bibs when I went ice fishing.  This caused me to have to drive 45 minutes to Brainerd to find something to wear the next day for ice fishing.  It was an adventure for sure.

We talk to Max from Strike and Catch learning about the ice fishing culture in Sweden

In this episode of the Hard Water Fishing Show Jeff gets out on first and and we talk to Ericka Blegen from Women Anglers of Minnesota (WAM) about there upcoming ice queen fishing tournament.  You can find there website here https://bit.ly/3JbjDAb for more information.

Jeff and Jason attend the big one, the St. Paul Ice Fishing Show.  We meet up with A few listeners and friends and have a great time looking at all the latest ice fishing gear and gadgets.

 

Beer

The Statement of Purpose Martin House Brewing - A Peanut Butter Golden Stout https://bit.ly/3Ir8kDk 

Turkey Mountain Ale from the mountains of Iowa - Jason is drinking a home brew qualifies as an old man beer  

Patrons

Chris moved up to the Legend status, so will be sending him out a hat.  Thanks for your support Chris.  A zoom meeting will be coming up soon for our patrons.  We also talk to about how to get discord on your phone.  Here patrons can chat about ice fishing.  We ran into Leo a patron on the second  floor at the ice fishing show.  Its always great to meet our patrons in person.  We tried to meet some other patrons at the show but were not able to connect.

 

Show Business

Please use our Amazon Affiliate link https://amzn.to/3BBw6YN , its a free way to support the show

Swag - You can find shirts and hats with our log here  https://Hardwatershow.com/merch

The best places to interact with us on social media  Instagram and Facebook

Find our website hardwatershow.com  

We have a YouTube page where our videos are posted

You can email us at [email protected]

We ready everything, even if it does not make it on the show!

Listeners News / Current Events

Aaron G

Sent in a picture of his new HFS sweatshirt, thanks for purchasing one.

Kris ZCooler Case for your Camera https://bit.ly/3DCpHgW  

Screen is in the lid and he has a direction finder to show what way his camera is going.  Different than a panner. Unsure why this is better than a case but I suppose its kinda cool?  Love that its home made

Tri-pod Camera Mount

He put his Marcum 5+ camera https://amzn.to/3pCHlvX   on a tripod at amazon https://amzn.to/3Gq05Wn  and used a Marcum camera compass https://bit.ly/3dwtJgn   to control the direction of the camera. He said it works really well.  My brother in law used a similar setup last year. 

 

Calibrate your Ice Chisel

Jason talks about how to calibrate your ice chisel as you gage the amount of ice on the lake. Things such as your arm strength and chisel or spud bar type can affect how thick you are testing the ice.   As always there is no safe ice and be careful early season.  

 

Tim Asks About Minnows

When do you use a full minnow, head vs cut off the tail.  Charlie says to cut the tail off if your minnow is to active.  If the fish are finnicky use a fish head to get the fish to bite the hook.  Jeff has used minnow heads less than tails.  Jason says minnow heads and Cheetos are a bad combination.  Start with a whole minnow, if that is not working then switch to a minnow head or tail.  If your bait is getting stolen then move to minnow heads.  

 

Q: Critical things to increase your odds on the ice

A: Hope and Prayers

 

Check out hard water freaks for there big event Saturday January 29th. Looks like a great time and we would love to go.  https://bit.ly/3rL9G69 

 

Topic - St. Paul Ice Fishing Show

Jeff and Jason get together in person since last ice in March 2020.  

Ran into Joe Ole and Original Ole.  Who is the OG Ole we just don't know. Ran into Brian from the short rod show, Corey a Patron and Brian from Red Door Resort. Its like a big family reunion.  

 

Fish Daddy LED Spoons https://bit.ly/3IvJvWV 

We are going to try these out, why they could be better than the snap glow jigs

 

Wallace Decoys https://bit.ly/3lNHjQT 

Jason's wow moment was Wallace Decoys, he makes incredible works of art.  Jeff's favorite was the sun fish.  

 

Ice Spy by Winter Recreation Tech https://bit.ly/3lOwH45 

Its a righteous  buoy, it freezes into a lake and uses cell or satellite signal as the ice freezes to say how thick the ice is.  

 

Eskimo Outbreak 650XD https://amzn.to/3oACY5d 

The one with the full door.  Brother Matt explains that people are not he shape of triangles so doors should not be that shape.  This ice shack is a hub sh

Jeff and Jason discuss buying a used portable ice shack.  You can often find something really good for a fraction of the price of a new shack.

In this episode of the hard water fishing show Jeff and Jason talk to Colby Sabutis, who is a ice fishing guide based in New Hampshire and Vermont.