johnnyb

I was just south of Huntsville this past weekend, on a fairly shallow bay. There was a good 3-4 inches of clear ice, covered by another 8 inches of slush which had frozen firm enough to walk on without breaking through...the auger pretty much fell through it though. Depending on the lake you're looking at, it could be dicey by the 27th. Wherever you go, don't go alone, or without safety gear! And like irishfield says, lots more snow....it's already waist deep!

Well, I finally got to go up to the lake I've been trying to hit for first ice -- a lake which produces walleye all year long, but has yet to reward me with one through the ice. If not for my trip to Cuba a couple weeks back, I think I would have been walking on 3-4 inches of nice clear ice, over 7-8 FOW. Instead, I got up there after 2.5 feet of snow had fallen. Luckily, the minus 25C nights turned what would have been a slushy mess into about 8 inches of frozen slush and 3-4 inches of solid clear stuff underneath. After losing a couple pounds of sweat shovelling the roof on Sunday morning, my lovely wife and I headed out around 2:00pm, brimming with confidence, hoping to be ready for the sundown walleye bite, and finally get my first walleye through the ice. No live bait, but an assortment of jigs and spoons had us eagerly setting up over the last spot I caught walleye in the fall. Jessy was using a cheap spoon (imitation tingler) in a rainbow pattern, pretty much swinging it back and forth when she nailed this fat little perch. She went away to warm up, because the snow was soaking through her jacket and chilling her. I suppose she thought her work was done, because, she never came back I stuck around, checking out the local wildlife...from a distance As it started to get dark, I actually had two quick and ridiculously light bites -- but missed 'em Could these have been the walleye I've been looking for? Who knows...but...by the end of this winter, I will have one on my side of the ice! 'Till next time....

From what I've seen on predominantly U.S. boards, these things might really take off -- cost seems to be in and aroudn the $300 mark...if you were looking to buy your first auger, or already had a hand auger and wanted to go power, it seems to be a pretty good option

Cram -- I will try to stop at Angling Specialties in Mississauga and check it out...he usually has a good collection of Salmo stuff..will keep you posted!

I would go to the garmin website and start reading...it's pretty useful...helped me pick mine.

nice -- great post

I second the PowerPro! 30lb is exactly what I have used for my bass baitcasting adventures for the past few years...stuff hasn't given me any grief yet.

My top 3, too close to call for order of preference, would be: 1. Moosebunk -- creative, engaging, and usually jaw-dropping fish 2. Limey -- good mix of videos and pics, great sense of humour, and you can't help but be motivated to try new lakes after watching him hit one lake after another, just because it's there 3. Solopaddler -- the guy is not just a steelheader...I recall some dandy walleye reports, and he's one heckuva'n adventurer. HOWEVER!!!!! We are missing one of the BEST posts of the YEAR!!!! (My apologies if I have scrolled down to fast and missed it's mention) CCMT's video!!!! "Here at OFC--NN" If there is a posting hall of fame, that's the centerpiece right there

Hmmm....the one I had to put in my '96 with 5.2 V8 was about $300 installed....

Easiest answer to your question: Buy the one you like the most...you'll get unending opinions on which one is better, because, they're both great trucks! Drive 'em both, back to back if possible, and go with the one that puts the biggest smile on your face. The last thing you want to do is pick one because it got more "votes", then always regret your choice whenever you see the "other" one drive past And I am typing this from my desk at the Dodge dealership...so if you really want my vote....

I dunno...I seem to recall getting pretty tired with the hand auger out there last Feb...had to be more than 12 inches...I can't be that old already!

That's awesome!

Man, that sucks...but as our wise Uncle Buck says, way better to find out now, than in the middle of a lake. There's gotta be something positive that will come out of this...

Wow -- I don't know how you do it...gave up on river fishing a few years ago, but your reports really make me want to try again...good job!

yeah...I would be towing something for sure...'tis the season to buy some toys

Dec. 27th could be kind of early if you're not very far north. The best advice I would give is to either go with someone who goes on the ice regularly, or wait a bit until the hut operators are in full swing.

Nailing my pb musky was pretty spectacular But my best catch of the year was marrying this girl...who, incidentally is holding up her pb laker, which was a thrill to watch her bring in. A thrill for her that is...can't say the same for me, Terry, Wayne or Dan you guys'll let'er come back, right?

I did hear that there were a few brave (?! not sure if that's the right word) souls on the ice near Guilford on the weekend...wouldn't think that the warm spell helped anything though. not sure about Little Lake....wanna drive over and let us know?

Sounds reasonable to me...just give'em a call

It's such fantastic news, I'm suprised we're not seeing more about it in the papers and on t.v....oh wait a sec...it's GOOD news...right

Hot dang...that sounds like fun! I don't want to risk downloading it to the computer at work though

welcome aboard, Nathan -- you've found a great board...have fun

Nice! I didn't know Lakers were open season down there at this time -- makes my PB laker an in-season job, then

oh no....

Stagg chili and a can opener...assuming you have a heat source.