Ice Fishing Present - Need Help

[Peanut]

All the posts asking for gift ideas made me think of a personal situation where I could use your help.

We do a gift exchange with our in-laws. The brother-in-law I got is a good fisherman, we've fished together numerous times. He also ice fishes, quite alot actually, and I thought some ice fishing gear would make a good gift. I'm not really into the hard water scene, so I'm not sure what would be good.

As I said, he goes alot, so he's got all of the basics. He also has his own shack. The other qualifier is a family rule limiting the gift to $50. Is there anything in this price range an ice fisherman would find valuable? Several smaller things perhaps? Any help from you folks would be much appreciated.

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!

[Larry L]

It depends what he already has and where he fishes. Tipups are good. Gloves or other cold weather gear are too. Here are some on line ice fishing catalouges.
http://www.877ICEFISH.com/
http://www.icefinshingupnorth.com/
http://www.thornebros.com/winter/icesale.html/
I have used the first one several times and have been quite happy with them. I think you can find many things under $50.00 in any of them.

[eyedoktr]

Something I wouldn't go on the ice without but I see very few others wear is a good pair of ice creepers. The type that have replaceable golf spike like studs are what I have found the easiest and most comfortable to walk in. I have seen others without them go for a long "ride" on bare ice in high winds.
Pete

[Dave in Mpls]

How about a $50 gift certificate to his favorite sporting goods store. I would rather get that and pick out what I really want rather than get something that I would have to exchange.

Regards

[Lund_Dude]

Have you considered a custom ice rod? If you know a good rod maker, they can make some very nice rods in your price range.

For example, I know a gentleman in WI who bought a bunch of StCroix blanks from Avid series walleye rods. The blanks were seconds due to bad handle area. He cut the rods into shorter blanks (eliminated the defective portion) and made some really sweet ice rods to the length of your choice. With custom handles, huge guides, custom wrapping and all the price was under $50. I bought one for myself and a couple for gifts.

[Larry L]

Pete, you are right on about the creepers. I have been using them so long that I forget about them. I went to the ice jogger type last year. They work great and fit most any pac. I use them on LaCrosse Ice Kings. I bought mine locally but I know Cabelas had them in the catalouge at one time anyway. I think that I paid $26.00 for mine. You can get replacement studs for them.http://surefoot.net/get.htm

[AquaMan]

I second Dave's suggestion. Get him a $50 gift cert to Cabela's.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[Peanut]

Guys - what brand of creepers should I be looking for? Also, Windlass tip-ups seem to be mentioned alot. Would these be the best choice in tip-ups?

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!

[Skis]

I also agree with Dave. You can't screw up a gift certificate at the local bait & tackle store or Cabela's. I wish my family would do this for me instead of buying stuff that I end up returning or not using.

[Cangl]

Frabill just come out with a nice ice rod. Graphite taper to straight blank with cork handle in the Medium Heavy it felt right, with the power in the handle end where it should be. $40 BPS. A gift ice rod was given to me and as a which he made. So as good deeds go I got him a walleye jigging rod, Walleye angler. I amagine hes still having trouble finding a reel that matches that green rod, suppose he could ask his wife she buy's the best? :+ You out there buddy? oops :)

[fishinnut]

Something I used last year for the first time and I really liked was a set of ICE CHAPS. Keeps your knees from getting wet when you have to kneel on the ice. Around $20.00 and well worth the price.

[Larry L]

Derrek
I have tried an awful lot of creepers over the years. I like the ice joggers that I am using now the best. You can get an idea of what they are like by going to http://www.surefoot.net/get.htm. There are others that as good, I just think that there are the most comfortable. I know a lot of guys that like the windlass tip ups. I am not smart enough to use them or something. I use the polar tip ups from HT Enterprises. I am also using the newer magnetic ones. Some of them have lites on them. I had good luck with the magnetics last winter. I am not so sure about the lites. I am experimenting with several different lite set ups. None of them seem to show up very far off. Maybe they would work better in the dark.:)
Larry

[Peanut]

Those sound like a great idea - is the name actually "Ice Chaps"? Are they commonly available?

derrek.

CANADIAN WALLEYE OPEN UP AND SAY "EH"!

[Mr. Sauger]

I second the suggestion of a custom or production ice rod from Thorne brothers. The idea is to give a gift to someone that they normally would not splurge on themselves.

[fishinnut]

Thats what they are called; Try www.877icefish.com $14.99 pair.