Conference wahoo::fishing

    If you're not thoroughly familiar with the badies of water you
    intend to try, may I suggest you obtain hydrographic maps from
    the fish and game dept. Locate sharp drop offs from the 8/10'
    depth to (whatever) and pay particular attention to outside
    bends or points.  You can come darn close by tiangulating from
    land contours, then use your sinker to find the drop off point.
    Or portable depth sounder if available. I find that setting my
    live bait about 5' lower than the beginning of the drop off and
    about 2' off the bottom at that point works great.  Sooner or
    later ole hungry guts is moving up or down or just leisurely 
    ambling along his highway system and runs into a free meal.
    
    If there's no action in about an hour, we start marching the 
    tilts.  Will pick the two center ones and move them outboard,
    in opposite directions and will keep this up about every 15 minutes
    until action begins, and that's when "MIGHTY JOE AUGER" goes into
    action and puts a buncha holes in that area.  
    
    Then another little trick is to carry a pair of scissors and 
    to slow the bait down trim section of the tail, and to keep 
    him going in tight circles (be sure you have a good ball bearing
    swivel) a couple feet up from the hook) trim off one of the 
    side fins behind his gills.  When trimming the tail, don't just
    cut from top to bottom, for some reason, probably the lack of
    usual resistance to forward gain, they just give up and dangle.
    I trim inward about 3/4 the way then up. This takes a rectangular
    section out.  Adding weights above the bait is another way but
    this also for some reason makes them give up quickly. It also 
    restricts the area they cover to a very small radius.  
    
    My son and I will be headed out right after the new year comes in.
    Probably to Pittsfield for PIKE. 
    
    A question:  Where is there a good bait shop in that town? How early
    do they open?  Will be going north on RT 7 off the pike.
    
    Fred

>    SO LETS HERE IT BOYS??
    
    
    
>      JIMMY



	Hi Jimmy,

	Pointers>> Dir 555.46 >> Note 941 & 574

	
	Just a few basics...    

	I usually fish with bait and one of the important things to remember
is to bring a small net for getting the bait out of the bucket, you don't want 
to be sticking your hand in there.

	I set up my tilts with 50 yards of 45 lb squidding line, connected 
via a swivel to mono leader of 3-4 feet and a hook. for Trout and panfish its
6 lb mono and #6-8 hook, for bass its 15 lb mono and #4 hook and for pike
its 20-30 lb mono and 6" wire leader and a #2 steelhead hook. Also if 
fishing for heavy weight fish bring a ice gaff. But  before you put the swivel 
on your squidding line thread a Button thru 3 hole onto the line this will 
allow you to mark the depth where you sounded your hole, then after you get a 
fish you can just reset to the Button, and not have resound.

	Always be sure to test your tilt to make sure the flag will "pop"
when line is taken before you leave the hole.

	When fishing for Trout I like to leave 1 or 2 Tilts set 3-5 feet 
below the ice.

	Bring 2 or 3 sounders in different pockets with you, I am always 
losing them. Also bring a pair of needle nose pliers for removing hooks.

	On windy days orient the tilt so that the flag is blown onto the 
hook, this will prevent wind flags.

	For a bait bucket I use a 5 gal bucket with cover, gives me something 
to sit on after winded from running for flags.

	I use wool rag gloves with the finger tips exposed, usually this is 
enough, but on those cold days I have a pair of extra large leather yard 
gloves I slip over them to warm up the fingers.
	
	I like to bring some fs 454 so rub on my finger tips before handling 
bait so that the bait doesnt pick up any foriegn orders, espically if your 
using a gas powered auger.

	If its cold OK, if its cold and real windy bring a wind break or set 
up behind a natraul one like an island.


	That's all for now..... have Fun

	Johnny Roach

	You are about to have the experience of your life, ICE FISHING....

	Not only do you get the benefit of catching fish, getting out of the
house, BUT the biggest is the people that you meet.:) I have been ice fishing
for longer than I care to omit, and I have never gone home without at least
one new story or a new "TIP" on how to..

	Just a couple of tips, when fishing for small fish use small minnows,
when fishing for larger fish use larger minnows. I use 4-5 inch for bass and
pickerel, I usually hook them just before the dorsel fin, bass will take the
minnow head first, hooking the minnow this way you stand a better chance of
hooking him in the jaw and not his stomach. Because we want you to use the
catch and release method, if the hook is buried in his stomach, just cut your
line and always put the fish back head first down the hole. On hooks, I prefer
the 2/0 True turn with the long shank, this gives you the opportunity to get
the hook without using pliers (better if you have them).

Just 1 last thing, get a good pair of boots, Sorrel is good, never buy boots
that say steel shank in the instep, steel is cold and your feet will be as well,
$40-60 will buy you a good pair.

If you would like, you could call me at dtn 276-9232 for more info if needed.

Here is hoping that you ENJOY it as much as the rest of the "FLAGGERS" out
there.

Above all HAVE FUN....

Bruce (Bigbird)

	Besides the basic gear consisting of:

	. tilts setup as in a previous note 
	. ice auger/chipper
	. small aquarium-like shiner net
	. fingerless gloves
	. good boots (like Sorrel or Kodiaks)

	It is also good to pick up a scoop which is used to scoop out the
	slush and ice chunks out of your hole after it's cut and after it 
	freezes over.  Keeps the hands warm and works good!   It looks like
	the kind of thing used for removing deep fried food, and can be	
	found anywhere ice fishing equipment is sold.

	Dress warm.  Getting cold is not very much fun.  I like to use
	Polypropylene (aka Thermax and Thinsulite) layered with wool.
	Keeps you dry and warm.  Ginger Brandy for the coffee does that
	too ;-)

	When my friends go out, we always set up "camp" just offshore, and
	build a nice campfire for warmth and food.  We line up the tilts
	in lines straight out from shore.  Then take a can of ravioli or
	stew around 10, poke some holes in the top, and leave next to the
	camp fire, turning occasionally.   By lunchtime, you've got hot
	food.  That really hits the spot!

	Ice fishing is great.  There's nothing between you and the fish 
	except the hook & line: no rod, no reel, just the line in your
	hands.   Set the hook when the fish runs.  If you can feel the
	fish running and it's stripping line, it's going *away* from you
	and you've got a better chance at hooking it.   If you get to your
	tilt and the line is not moving, I tighten the line till I feel
	the fish very gently, and tug very very gently.  The fish tugs back,
	you tug back, and eventually the fish will take off.  Then set
	the hook.  This has worked real well for me...

	/Ken

    Well, ole Coonass tought he wud hab to do som ob dat ice-fishin dis
    Creasmoose. Wen I wen to de camp dat cold front come don an freeze de
    lak op. I wuz afraid to get de piroque out on dat ice an slip along to
    de deep water cuz if it broke an I flipped over I wud be wun cold
    Coonass!!
    
    Wun question-type for chew...I cud see rat don in de water to de bottom
    thru de ice. How kin chew keep frum spookin de fish???
    
    Coonass(who will leeve de ice-fishin to chew folks op dere...its too
    dam cold for me!!)

    Re -1>
    	Ice is clear here only until the first snow or it gets thick.
    I went out on ice early in the season once and it was a eerie feeling
    looking done to the bottom. Usually the ice is snow covered or turns
    an opaque white. 
    
    Paul

    I tought I wud do som ob dat ice-fishin so de nex day I brought out a
    posthole digger, but it warmed op to 60 degrees an it all melted!!
    
    Mebbe nex time,
    
    Coonass

    Yo Coonass,
    		You have to get some of those Icefishing "Tilts". That way
    you can stand away from the holes when the ice is real clear like
    that. When the little flag goes up, you run over and pull the fish out.
    How much ice did you have down there?
    
    Rich

    I dunno, but chew cud stan on it rat nex to de boathouse. My son did,
    but me, I don stan on nothin dat I cudnt stan on all de time!!
    
    It was froze as far as I cud see(de trees blocked som ob de view), but
    it got don to 0 obernite an dats too dam cold for me.
    
    It bak op to de 60s lak it should be now,
    
    Coonass