spring isn't coming fast enough

I am counting down the months till spring I have some new rigs I made up to try and I am gonna give the torpedos a try also. I learned a lot last year just hope this spring I learn more . I will say the members who contribute here are a great help to all . So few sites are as sharing I have only found one other that the members share tips freeley and its sister site is good also but they keep tight lipped a bit more because its all ice tips. I hope you all have a merry christmas and a happy new year may your stockings be stuffed with plenty of new rigs and not honey do lists LOL.

Now Bailey dont be rushing my snowmobile season away just yet I wont allow any talk like that untill late Feb. or early March....lol

Bailey - did you go the tropics? I remember you said something south going south in Dec. Fishkiller - I hope you get all the snow you can handle. Just keep it in your backyard.

I'm using the DROID and words get out of place when sending these posts. Sometimes it works ok.?? Hay I Just found if you turn the phone the other way the screen works much better. This window opens up larger and there is it more room to navigate.

Capt going in feb now to mid Florida, and the DROID is an awesome piece start looking at the apps some great ones for free if it is in your head sure it's out I there. Also fishkiller I want to see the trolling rig on your sled LOL. I like to ice fish but that is looking a ways off this year still but it is WNY that could change any second

While I am thinking of it any of you ever try running a trolling spoon inline ahead of your harnesses as an attractant I wanna try it

I know of people using a Dodger in front of their harnesses and they claimed to work like magic. Of course that person could never do anything wrong and had great secrets all the time. You know what I mean. Hay we need to give it a try. Something else that I saw was using a Rudder in front of the harness. I saw them chrone or stainless steel but now you can only get them in plastic.

I will see what I can find on the rudders they sound good for stopping that horrible twist. They also work for depth it would just be some more figuring to get the depth control.

My nighbor, who keeps his bost at Dunkirk used to use the metal rudders that I mentioned. The last couple of years he hasn't been using them. He believed that they didn't make any difference. He was catching fish but not like years ago when he was hammering them. Anything is worth a shot.

Capt You will find the DROID has a way of occupying your time the world at your fingers. I use mine even as a fishing aid navionics is even available on it now that is a great tool for those without gps on board. I think anything that adds just something a little different than what the eyes see everyday go by could help.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas to all! Be safe have a good time, I hope Santa brings you everything that you need and want!

I use a rudder once in a while. Depends on several things but I feel the main reason you get line twist is the snap swivel you are using. You need a real good ball bearing snap swivel, I personally use a #2 (55# rated) Torpedo ball bearing snap swivel, or equivelant. If they are not at least a dollar a piece dont buy them. Sometimes the line twist is unavoidable and it has a lot to do with underwater currents, especially with leadcore with real long leaders (60 Foot or greater). This is where a rudder comes into play, tie a 4' florocarbon leader and put the rudder on the front of the leader and again use a good ballbearing snap swivel at the harness and in front of the rudder.

Fishkiller - do you use a metal rudder? or a plastic? Cabalas only has the plastic type. At last the last time I looked that's the only type that they had. Your explaination about LINE TWIST is interesting. You are relating it to the harness. Sometimes when I'm using a Dippsy Diver, I've found that after having it out there for a while I will go to check it and found that it doesn't release. After a while I'll get it up to the boat and see that it's twisted around itself?? I believe that I let it out slow enough. Do you think that I let it out too far? And that caused the twist? Could it be the currents down there? Maybe the fish are twisting it. They can be playful at times.

I've experienced the same capt I think letting the dipsy out to fast gets me.I am going to try 3 way swivel behind my dipsys this year with stick on bottom and harness above just to make it more interesting.

http://www.walleyeweb.com/tipstricks...nglakeerie.asp ... here is a link to some rigging I am sure you all have seen but I shared it anyway.

I use the plastic rudders. The Dipsys will twist if they are let out too fast, currents, or by taking a turn too hard and putting slack in the line, then they start to"flutter" on their way down and twist up on the momentum of the flutter as it twists around it self. Joe yes the line twist is usually caused by the harness especially with any thumper, long willow, or any magnum style blade. sometimes its unavoidable. unless you run a rudder. Another way to rig your Dipsy or Jet is attach your harness, spoon, or stick bait, let out your desired line length then attach your Jet or Dipsy by using an OR16 clip on a 2-4 ft lead (I like 7 strand coated wire instead of mono) I have tried this with a Jet and it works very well. Its similar to running a Torpedo Diver. Ok I'm done giving out the secrets....lol

Thanks for the info. Everybody has great ideas and suggestions. I wish I could go and try them out right now. Oh yeah that's why this is - "Spring isn't comming fast enough" thread. [I]'ve been getting emails about the Toronto Boat Show. I've gone there before just to walk around, see new shinney boats, touch them, walk on them. They flood the ice rink and have boats floating around. It beats the Winter Blues. After you walk out of the exposition center you then get hit with reality again.

Fishkiller I like your rigging I would think it may make the lightest bight more easily seen as the line runs straight to bait. I am up to try anything new, sat I am off to gander to add to my gear I am setting up for lead core is there a better rod for lead? Plus I am setting my inline boards with tattle flags my guys can't see the bite unless they slam them. You would think after a few years they would catch on be it in rigging, boat control or seeing the bite. Rods can pop on the rigger and the ask is that one lol. Should start a thread on some of the more interesting experiences that have occurred sure it could give up some laughs.

bailey my favorite setup for lead is a okuma classic 300 level wind reel and a 9ft uglystik BWD light action rod i have 6 of this exact setup 4-10 color and 2-5 color im gonna set up 2 more with 7 colors this spring. i use 100 yds of 20lb berkley big game as backer, then your lead (27lb), then 60-80 feet of 14-17lb florocarbon leader. (i use such a long leader so as you start to trim it down you dont have to constantly tie a new leader.)

Bailey i dont use inlines i cant stand them i only use big boards. i however do have 2 sets on the boat i will use them once in a while to get an extra rod out in between the boat and the big boards especialy in ohio when running stickbaits. the tattle flags do help very much.

I love the jet divers so inline seems to me to be the better option, I would think jets would pull out of releases. Thanks for input on lead core for sure gonna rig em. Oh yeah looks like that sled time isn't far off now but give me ice fresh perch are sounding yummy now.

Can you tell me the advantage of using lead core? I've never used it but from what I can see is that you need to get the harness / spoon / plug down to a certain dept. You can do that by using a Torpedo Diver, Jet Diver, Dipsey Diver, Down Rigger or straight in line lead weight. To me the Lead Core Line is thicker than mono, fireline or wire. It would seem to me that it could spook the fish??? Fishkiller how many poles do you have on your boat?

I know my buddy runs a 10 color and it's way behind boat I think its 10 yards per color and it catches fish I think drop is 5ft a color also. So for my little boat a long line straight out is another rod. He uses lots of them off planers. I don't know advantage but they work.

Bailey, I run the big boards with 3 #40 jets on each side. I use a plastic clothes pin with a rubber band, holds the jet just fine.

2150 I may try that are the bands heavier ones? I am trying to get away from riggers its hard when they are king on Ontario habits are tough to break. But I do get a few eyes off them. I just got surprised with a great gift card for my favorite store so even more gear coming. Gonna be a great spring. How often do any of you do the night troll early on I have yet to try that myself on the big pond? I wouldn't mind giving it a whirl.

Joe, ill respond on the lead question this weekend i just saw it now i have been making venison sausage all day today not enough energy to respond to it now. we did almost 100 lbs of sausage today. regular breakfast, maple breakfast, italian, and 20lbs of just pork homemade polish sausage. Bailey i run the same setup on my big boards, and when its rough i use the weldon releases with no rubber bands just twist the line and stick it in the release right on the twist.