Blog

There are a multitude of ways to catch a fish through the ice. Once you find the way that works best for that exact moment you are fishing for whatever species you are after, then BINGO, you’ve solved the fish puzzle for one day, because tomorrow that puzzle might change. I can’t tell you how many times that I thought I had it figured out before I got to the lake. I’ll have a plan, a spot, a species that I’m after and when I get there, everything I believed would happen, didn’t. I’d get to my spot and someone was on it. Which jigs do I need? Should I use my favorite lead jigs or try out t …

There is nothing as exciting as the rush I get from early ice. That first step on the ice is the beginning of a great new ice fishing season with endless opportunities on the hard water. One giant step for Walt, one giant leap for new innovations. But, the last few years I’ve cheated… I can admit it to you now. I’ve gone ice fishing out of my boat!Fishing early ice by boat What’s a guy supposed to do when the perch, bluegill and walleye are stacked? It’s a nice day, Temperature above freezing and my favorite lakes haven’t frozen over yet. Yet I want to be out there catching fish. T …

If you want a Net full of fish...you got to fish around some junk! No matter where you fish, there is going to be junk in the water. Junk is good, junk is where the fish like to hide. “See that junk over there?” “Yeah, what is it?” “I dunno, but you better make a cast before I do!” Junk is cover, junk is structure, junk can be weeds, a pile of rocks, a pier, a fallen tree...you get the idea. If you’ve got a fancy locator, underwater camera, side-scan or live scope, you can really see some junk...and if you look closely, you will see game fish too! You …

Slender Spoons have been working hard for us ice anglers for more than 40 years! Originally designed by Scott Stecher of Reef Runner Tackle, the Slender Spoon is a “must have '' for every ice fisherman! Currently Custom Jigs & Spins manufactures Scott’s original design and Chekai has been pounding them out in mass quantities in Croatia ever since. I have caught every species through the ice on Slender Spoons and have several rods dedicated specifically for each of the four sizes! Their size, weight and action duplicates a fleeing or dying baitfish and fish just gobble them u …

Without a doubt, when it comes to ice fishing, I have put forth more effort panfishing than other larger species. Looking back on thousands of hours I have spent ice fishing and ice jig making, two things are certain, a fish is a fish as long as it is the same species. It doesn’t matter if its bluegill, crappie, perch, or white bass, each species reacts, eats and attacks prey differently. If you build the right jig...they will come! I love my Livescope I have spent a lot of time staring at a spring bobber, wondering what was going on down below the ice. I spent more time watching a …