Scotty Laketroller Downrigger

Scotty Laketroller Downrigger

The Scotty Laketroller is compared a lot to the Cannon Minitroller. I am fortunate enough to have used both. Both are fairly basic, not a lot of extras. One difference with the Cannon is that it does have a line counter, however it does get off track fairly often. Each turn of the crank equals one foot so you can get a pretty good estimate at how deep you are. I always use it with a sonar and, if you set it up with this in mind, you can see the ball down below and know what depth it and the bottom are at. I liked that the Laketroller has some metal, it just feels better to me than the all plastic Cannon model. I am sure both have adequate strength. The honest reason that I chose the Laketroller is that I have all Scotty mounts so it just makes sense.

The Laketroller does everything it is supposed to do. It holds a 2-6 pound ball with no problem. It fits on my kayak perfectly and is versatile enough to use it on power boats too (although if this is your primary use I would upgrade). 

This is the perfect fit, and perfect price for a kayak or canoe. Hands down, this is the best use for this downrigger and there really is not need to spend any more for this purpose. Salmon and lake trout here we come!

Bubble Box

Bubble Box! Keep Your Smelt on O

This aerator fits the bill. It is currently on sale for for $7.99 (if its not on sale its still only $11.59). It works very well and helps keep your bait alive. When I get out early, I have to pick up a couple dozen smelt the day before, as we do, and using a bubbler is a must. This bubbler pumps air through a 24" tube and it comes out of an air stone. I had to replace my stone as I left it to freeze to the bottom of my bucket, they do sell replacements. 

It is rated for about 40 hours of run time with 2 D cell batteries. It does run on 1 battery too. The run time is fairly accurate. This run time is much longer than aerators that use AA batteries (usually about 8 hours). Bubble Box brand also has a AA item, I would stay clear. They just do not last.

There are a few of them out there. There are some good brands out there for plug in aerators that would be better if you were trying to add air to your fish tank, but for taking bait on the ice or boat....the Bubble Box works great for the price. 

The only one I would suggest over this is the Frabill Ice Aqua-Life (see below), which also comes with a car charger and can be used with 2 D batteries. You can purchase a wall charger for it as well. (pictured below). It is a bit pricier, but hypothetically you could make it for it with saving batteries.

So yeah, duh, you have to have an aerator to keep you fish fresh for a weekend of fishing. But, which one should you get? I will recommend this the Bubble Box.

Frabill Bibs: Quick Comparison

Frabill Bibs: Super Quick Comparison

Lets just take a QUICK look at the differences. Can you explore more and find some other differences between these bibs, sure. But these are the major changes between them:

                                                                   

Looking for an end of season sale to prep you for next year?

These are the bibs I own. They are all I need to stay warm and dry. I fish in all weather conditions from wet, snowy, windy, cold, anything. I adjust what I wear underneath these bibs based on temperature. But these bibs are the best outer layer I could ask for. These bibs keep you dry, they have padded knees and a padded rear. They have a mesh lining which does add some insulation. 

For the price they are right now, you really can not beat them. 

But, if you are looking for more, check out below because their are some pretty good deals on the higher end bibs too:

                                                                   

The big difference between the I3 and I2 bibs is that these have 150 grams of insulation. The I2 and I3 bibs are where the deals in price are currently. Take a look at the I4's below to compare.

What just a little bit more?

                                                                   

The I4 bibs have the insulation, the waterproof, but now add more pockets. That is the biggest difference here. Check out the I5 bibs for where the biggest change occurs. Would I pay the extra dollars for more pockets on my bibs that are often covered up by a coat? Nah.

                                                                   

The I5 bibs are the Cadillac and may be worth the extra chunk of change to some. These bibs have even more insulation and better waterproofing. The insulation is removable, so shoulder season fishing should be included in what these bibs can do. 

Frabills size chart is here: http://www.frabill.com/size-chart 

Dont forget to check out their jackets too....which are also on the rack at a good price!

Siege AA Streamlight Lantern

The Streamlight Lantern

This is a nice small item to have when fishing at night. I am not going to beat around the bush and say this will replace the need for a headlamp or a more direct beam light, but it sure does beat out larger, bulkier lantern style lights that take up more space. I used to haul out a Coleman Lantern which was great, especially before I got my Mr. Heater propane heater. The Coleman provided a lot of light and some warmth. But the heater is much better at doing the heating so I am sticking with that, plus the Coleman Lantern always needed new mantles from being bumped around in the sled. 

Highlights:

• It has a hook on the handle for hanging it. You can also use the small carabiner to attach it more securely. 
• This Streamlight is smaller than my hand and puts off enough light to see what you are doing while night fishing. The small size is great as I am probably losing space because of the bulk of the heater. I can throw this light anywhere in my gear. 
• It has three brightness settings that allow you to conserve battery and it has a red light setting. I am not sure how much I would use the red light setting unless I am using the lantern in more of a camp type setting. I pretty much keep it on the brightest setting except when I am using it as a beacon for walking off the ice.
• It's LED. So I assume it will last a long time. 
• The lantern is rugged. It is made mostly of plastic, but has rubber in all the right spots. That helps it not slide on surfaces and be more durable. The globe, around the light, seems to be the thinnest piece of plastic on the thing. I gave it a nice hard squeeze....and I am still writing this, so it didn't break. 

Lowlights:

• I have used it twice and the button turns orange in (only) the highest light level. Now, I am not one to read directions, but I assume this mean the battery is getting toward a mid-level and that it also turns red in time. So, in the cold, three AA batteries, yeah...I can see that this could dwindle these batteries over the course of 6 hours. Still, LED, I want it to last longer 
• The extras - I don't need a red light. I don't a blinky light. 

That is it. Overall, if you need a light for night fishing or are looking to replace a larger version, I would highly recommend this one. Nice small item to have.

Humminbird ICE 35

The Thrifty Sonar

I have used Vexilar, and Marcum, Lowrance, and Garmin. I have read articles and been in the shops looking at various models. When it came down to it, at the time of purchase, I needed something that had the features I felt I needed and fit the budget I could afford. There was one that fit my needs the best.

The Humminbird ICE 35 was all I needed. It had the luxuries of a higher end model from another maker with a lower price tag. I did not want to skimp on some of the traits I felt important. 

What did I need? I felt I needed a winter sonar (already had one for my kayak) and I wanted something I was familiar with and had seem other people use. Here are the specifics of what I was looking for:

- Duel Beam. This was important as I fish in a variety of depths. Generally from 20-50 feet of water, but sometimes up to 90 feet. The 9/19 degree transducer allows for use in a variety of conditions.

- Large screen. The Vexilar fl8 is a great sonar. But the base model has a small screen and is blocked from some angles by the sun/snow guard. 

- Zoom. You can still see the entire water column!!! Crucial for the high water lakers. Also great for seeing those bottom huggers! Love this type of zoom. They did it right.

- Price point. Look, its not inexpensive. But this sonar provides the most for the buck. 

Any sonar can help you find fish. But this one was right for me. Its a great unit and a great brand. 

The Benefits of an Inline Ice Reel

Inline Ice Reels

Inline ice reels are all the rage in ice fishing. I have been asking myself for a while now if it is worth putting one on a rod and giving it a try. The price line for these reels has come down significantly, since they first came out, making them a pretty easy buy for even someone who doesn't fish every weekend. With that being said, you still want to get the one that will most benefit you, and the one that will last. 

For me, that meant I ruled out the Frabill brand. I have plenty of Frabill logos on my gear, but any reel I have had with that name on it has not worked out well for me at all. I am sure there will be people that disagree, but that has been my experience. 

So, with a little searching, I narrowed it down between the Fiblink and the Eagle Clawl. Both seemed to have similar specs and both are very popular. The Eagle Claw edged out Fiblink in my mind. but I am sure either would be fine choices. 

In general, the reasons to get an inline reel are numerous. So, what makes these inline reels so great? Well, the first thing that you will notice, (as you significant other is pestering you to come in from the garage but you wont because you cant keep your hands off your new reel) is that the line twist is non-existent. Hands down, this is the biggest advantage. Even when running two pound line, there is no line twist. Whatever size line you have on, the last think you want, when presenting a lure, is for that lure to be spinning in circles when you don't want it to be. Having no line twist solves that issue and allows you to present the lure in the way you want it and the way it was designed to be presented. What else gives these reels an advantage?

- The star drag system is easy to learn and can be adjusted on the fly so you can change it as you fight a fish, which is great for fighting those large walleye or lake trout. 

- The free spool release works like a charm. You can control the speed of the drop. It is the smoothest spool release I have experienced.

- The smooth drag is also something that will make the fight go your way.

- 15.75" line retrieve per crank. Enough said!

When it comes down to it, this reel adds a few of the small things that could increase your success rate by a small amount. It wont catch the fish for you, but it might do a few of those minor things that may or may not help you in this endeavor. Either way, its a nice reel and well worth the simplicity and ease and enjoyment. Its a nice reel. 

The price is right for either the Fiblink or the Eagle Claw. I suggest checking them out! Well worth it.

Eskimo HC 40 Propane Auger

Looking for a new Auger?

Is the Eskimo HC 40 is the auger for you? Lets take a dive into this auger.

This propane-powered auger has been out for a few years now and is still looking like a top of the line option. I bought it the first year it came out, which made me a bit nervous as I usually like to wait and see how things pan out before I buy.  But now I have seen a few years of use. I am glad I took the risk. I got the 10" model as it was a mere $10 more than the 8" counterpart. 

Most of the reviews that were negative had to do with shipping; the box being damaged, plastic protectors cracked, so I wasn't too concerned to order this auger. I was really looking forward to propane which would negate the smell of gas in my vehicle and be a bit cheaper to run for the winter. I'm the type of ice fisherman to drill 10-20 holes or more in a trip and I fish every weekend. One or two propane canister lasts me all year. 

The Quantum auger is a great auger. The blades are replaceable (and I never go anywhere without a spare set) and they do need to be sharpened. With my usage, every year would probably work OK, however, if you are fishing for 'bows in shallow water and even touch the sand, or hit a log, the blades are done until they are sharpened. This is the reason I always carry a spare. But, buy a new set every couple of years, keep a spare and you should have no problems drilling through the ice. 

Does this auger to well in harsher conditions? It actually does. The program canisters can act up, and if you have the ability to keep them in a warm space (see the Shappell Wide House blog) that can help. Only a couple of times, in the harshest of conditions, have I had an issue. 

With regular maintenance; replacing the oil, storing it properly, checking the spark plug, you can keep this auger going for, well at least 3 years as mine has been. Hopefully it will be with me a lot longer.