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There is no doubt that the new technology in today's fishing world has made things easier on our generation of anglers. There are new advancements being created every year to help anglers be more successful. There are a couple of key tools I use that help myself be more successful! One of my favorite ways of finding new lakes to fish is the use of the local netting reports that MN DNR puts out every year. Looking at these reports helps me determine which lakes have the number

Living in the Black Hills, I have had plenty of opportunities to get out on the ice for some trout this year. But, there hasn't been anywhere to go target other species. I had been dieing to get after some jumbo perch this year after ending last year with a few good ones. I did a bit of online research and got a few tips from friends about some of the glacial lakes on the Eastern part of the state. It looked like about a 6-hour drive and only having 36 hours before having to

Until this great weather that most of the Ice Belt is getting right now, about the only safe ice in the Black Hills has been the smaller trout lakes that are scattered about here and most, generally, have small trout in them. One lake, Roubaix, had reports of better sized rainbows coming out of it most of the summer, but I was unable to find any during my trips there. With a good 6" of solid ice on it, the lake was the place to be on ice at, save for a few other locations. Br

High pressure and cold slows fishing. Living in the Northland, one needs to have what it takes to handle these brutal temps, oofda. Before this cold system arrived, we were having some fair weather and successful fish outings. Now fish seem to have a case of "lock-Jaw". That's the way it goes sometimes (as I sigh). Best time to get out fishing in my opinion is right before a front sets in. Fish tend to bite good right before a change in climate happens. Since we were delivere

As the last week of the year winds down on us, old man winter has reared his ugly head. Temps have dropped and the mercury has fallen out of the thermometer. Ice conditions continue to vary across the metro area with 5-10 inches on most lakes. Some houses have arrived on Lake Minnetonka as of late. With these cold temps, ice will be very consistent and I predict atv's and trucks on the ice by the new year. Fishing has been steady for sure. Panfish have been striking hungry in

One of the best things about ice fishing, at least for me, is that it gives anglers the opportunity to fish with more than just one or two other people. I enjoy those few days out of the season when there could be five or more in our group of hardwater walkers because not only does it allow us to cover more area and see where the fish are at, but it also allows for lots of chatter and camaraderie on the ice. Recently, a few of my fishing friends came out for a morning on Roub

Every fisherman has their favorite go to lakes that provide a great bite. Unfortunately, these gems become discovered by others and obtain more pressure than one desires. Once the word gets out, it can deplete the population in a quick hurry. With the gaining interest in the ice fishing world, this is happening more and more and it can be very frustrating. One thing to keep in mind is that the lake is good for a reason, whether it's the forage that is present or the vegetatio

Finally, there may be a winter this year and hopefully it makes up for the lack of them the last couple of years. First ice always feels good being out there, but at the same time, great safety measures need to be taken as the newly formed ice sheet, will have irregularities to it. The ice was setting up very nicely with the week of cold temps, then enters a mid-week snow storm leaving 6 inches of snow and that didn’t help the ice conditions. There are patches of snow on the

Catching fish through the ice is always fun, but, when you can watch them swim up to your jig and inhale it, that makes it even more exciting! Watching the red mark close in on your Vexilar and having the ability to watch how a fish reacts to your bait and how your jig moves is priceless. It gives you a better understanding of why your flasher blinks, changes color, and how the fish is reacting to your presentation firsthand. It’s valuable information that can help you to adj

As someone who is very passionate about fishing and ice fishing in particular, I believe it is important to share that passion with others a