First hardwater trip of the season starts tomorrow. 3 days on the ice chasing walleye, jumbo perch, northern pike and burbot. Spent the last two days going through gear. Got to my lake house at 8 pm this evening and spent the night replacing line and tying fluorocarbon leaders. No drinking tonight as tying good knots with old eyes on 6 lb fluoro needs 100% focus.

Some of the gear sorted and ready to load:



Tying leaders and prepping 8 rods:



4 of the rods are set up to jig a variety of shiner tipped rattle spoons. The other 4 are setup for deadsticking with a hook and minnow or minnow clapper.

Having 8 rods preset and ready to go is not necessary but eliminates having to re-rig stuff in the cold. Something goes wrong or want to change up just grab a different pre-rigged rod.

Temp when we arrived tonight was -18 and going down to -24. Tomorrow's high is -12. Temperature inside the lake house when we arrived was -5. Took 3 hours and the woodstove running wide open burning seasoned white oak before it was comfortable. Season opened January 1st but i usually wait a week so the local Darwin candidates can find the weak spots in the ice. The place i like to fish is 15 miles offshore so i need to be certain before i venture that far.

Most of my ice rods are 28 to 42 inch St. Croix Mojo Ice with Shimano Vanford, Sustain or Stradic reels in either the 500 or 1000 series size. Do have the odd Daiwa 750 series reel as well but can't remember the model. All of them except one are spooled with 8 lb ice braid and tipped with 18 inch 6 lb fluoro leaders connected via micro swivel to the braid and then tied direct to lure/bait. The odd one out is entirely spooled with 10 lb fluoro and just tied direct with no leader or swivels.

That is some serious gear and preparation. I am looking forward to the fish pictures. Safe travels.

That heater ain't big enough.

Burrrrr...Too cold for me, but I'm sure looking forward to seeing photos of your catch...

I tried hard water fishing once when I lived in Kansas, overrated is putting it politely.