JWheeler

I have some of the same rods in the 8 ft version. A free Storm Lure and a 10 yr warranty for $14.

I know how can you go wrong for $14, you can't...

I bought 2 storm rods last summer for walleye. They are about 6' tall or so, the action is medium and they were awesome to fight some kings on. I paid 13.95 a piece, and they came with a free lure. Purchased at northwoods. I like them so much I am planning on picking up a few more.

Went to east side of the bay today. Lots of fish around, most on the small side. An enormous pike came through my holes, looked at my presentation for a minute, and skidaddled. Saw good number of walleye, not real big, maybe a few eaters. Also saw 2 lake trout:confused:. Nothing for the grill, but do think the location is worthy of another look on another day. Out at least 1 mile, ice seemed good, I thought it was around 6", buddy took his ruler to it and measured 9"....lot of quads and machines out. There was a crack west of where we were fishing. Scoped it out a little, maybe 4' of open water.

Good luck...

Well you hear about it every year, people getting caught on ice flows. With the crazy weather we've had lately it was only a matter of time. Off another fishing site is a report of some guys being rescued by the coast guard last night.

They were fishing the east side of the bay off of thomas road about 1-1/4 miles out, which would normally be just fine, but that wind had shifted around from the east yesterday, which sent them for a little ride.

Funny thing, some friends and I have been planning a trip to Mud Creek a little further north of thomas rd. I have said that the worst thing for us would be and east wind, well someone must have heard me. :angry2:

Anyways, be careful and be smart...

Those boys of yours sure look whooped in the pic of the 2 of them:grin:. I'll upload a few later, but, I just had a baby girl at the end of september, we are already practicing working with a fishing reel. Hopefully by the time she is 5 she will want to go with her old man, hopefully:D

Bring em' on!!!! I was out one time so far this year. I have been to damn busy to fish:angry2:, but am heading out this weekend to the sag. bay somewhere on the east side. Reports have been not good for fishing, but the ice seems to be OK. My friend is on a small inland lake as we speak, and says there is only 3-4" of ice. With that being said, I would still take your spud this weather has been crazy!!! Hopefully Sunday I will have a good report...

til' then

good luck...

Mike, I do this for a living. It is personal preference. I put them where people tell me they like them. Also, I have found that the mounting hardware they send is usually not adequate. I like to use toggle bolts instead of the molly's they send. Especially with the young ones tugging on that thing. I have been back to replace the screws with toggle bolts on more than one job, it's just better and more stout with the toggle bolts. Do it right once, and you won't have to deal with it later.

Had an awesome time!! Next summer I am going to try and leave the boat there for a week or two so I can really have a blast.

Out of the port of burton:confused: only an hour to the nearest launch. Rayman 96, I fished Erieau one time in July, and I love fishing there that time of year. Steelheading was awesome, and to bring in a bunch of eye's to go along, it just doesn't get much better.....

Yep that was real cool. Was the fishing good?

That is a mean lookin' walleye!!!! Wish it were on my wall.....is that a real mount? Or is that from a picture?

Mike you need to go one time when the action is non stop. It can be some of the most fun fishing you've done. It is just like anything else, you will only get out of it what you put into it. It is a good retreat for me when cabin fever is setting in. Great chance to get outdoors and do something that you love. Sometimes it is a lot of work, but when you get things firing on all cylinders it can be a riot. I don't get down with very many beers when I fish, like to be thinking straight out there just in case something ever happens. I probably caught upwards of 200 walleye last winter, some days you couldn't put your lure down for 2 minutes without a bite, like I said when you put the work in sometimes it really pays off.

Hey all, has anyone been hitting the hard water with any success around Michigan? Think it is going to be a long season this winter. Have been on Sag. Bay once with nothing to show for my efforts. Gearing up for some more fishing soon.

Good Luck...

Made it out on the ice today on the Saginaw Bay out of Palmer rd. Found a couple of inches of ice, enough to hold my skinny rear. Handful of others out, they brought shantys, I did not as I thought the ice wouldn't even be there. No strikes, not hits, no errors. Wind was gusting pretty good. May hit it again this weekend if the wind doesn't blow the ice that is there out. Spudded my whole way out, just to be safe. Good luck, don't forget your spuds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I too have fished Higgins years ago. We never had the best luck, always talk about pulling trout through the ice which made Higgins very appealing. Think we caught perch good there a few times but that's about it. As far as guiding, I don't know if that would be the exact word. Would be up for picking a day and time to meet up and go for some fish, that would be fun. Depending on how it freezes this year, I would like to try a little further North on the bay in deeper water. Caught a lot at the mouth of the river last winter, but for all of my efforts and the shear number that we caught didn't bring many home for the frying pan due to lack of size. It will be a long winter and I would bet we could throw something together for ice fishing on the bay.

Well Fella's,

It is almost that time of year. Time to break out the shantys and try your luck on the hard water. Just curious how many of you are ice anglers? Furthermore how many of you spend your time on the Saginaw bay? If things go right I think I will take my first trip this Sunday and try my hand on the ice for some perch or walleye.

Point taken P1. The only thing different with a diver on the end I could see is deeper and further away from the boat, and that is it. I will try anything once.

I think it would work just fine. Most leadcore setups have around 50' of mono for a leader, then the leadcore, then the backing. So in turn you would be able to set the dipsy/jet diver/mini disc and utilize it the same way you would on a normal line. My brother in law and I have been talking about trying this secret recipe all summer, but never did. How far to the side of the boat could that take it. Just think, Planer board and a dipsy set on #3, holy smokes that would be a ways from the boat.

I like the 3 riggers, 3 core, and 3 dipsies. Then I will adjust my spread to what seems to be working best. I like to put out some orange, double orange crush, up high looking for some steel, have been pleasantly surprised with a king on the end of an orange spoon. Let us not forget the blue dolphin, green dolphin or the blue/green dolphin. Super early, super glow from fishlander and/or moonshine. Flounder pounder, ultra glow green froggy and something with a bloody nose. Then put out meat, some flies and like mentioned above adjust to what seems to be hot. I like to work a lot as far as changing up when things slow down. I too like to run something real deep, close to the bottom, who knows that's where I have got some pretty good hits.

So busy with work right now, I have no time. Pulling the boat over to winter shelter Friday a.m. before I go to work. I think that I will take a rest Saturday and Sunday cause my a$$ is whooped from working so hard, but I sure don't mind the greenbacks. I actually have enough work to keep me busy until the beginning of February, which is what I am going for. Now I would like to start lining things up even further out than that. It's like all of the sudden the plan is coming together. WISHIN I WAS FISHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will take your word about the dipsies and deploy my arsenal on some unsuspecting walleye come next summer. Hopefully I will have the same success you have with them. How long of a leader do you like to run with your dipsies for eye's? Furthermore do you also use body baits behind the diver? All this talk about fishing and no chance in the near future for me to fish, I think maybe I oughta' drown my sorrows.

Disturbing news story about dioxin levels in the Titabawassee river, they are reportedly the highest of anywhere in the country.

Here is the whole story

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5784283

Personally, this is terrible. My buddies and I fish down river of dow for the opener every year. Hope this mess can be cleaned up!!

Wish I had the xtra money, the 12 gauge is exactly what I am looking for. Will check back with ya after the holidays to see if you still have it.

Nice, I am so jealous!

Just getting into the swing of things. Have hunted deer a little bit through the years, but nothing steady. I love seeing them in the woods, pretty sweet rush. Last year I tried for a turkey with nothing to show for my efforts. I think from here on out I will be spending more time hunting, when fishing is not possible. I used to fish the rivers a lot during hunting season, but anymore I don't spend anytime on the rivers. Friends have mentioned the duck hunting, and small game hunting, it is just another opportunity to have some memorable times with good friends and family! In the end that's the best part.