I remember the older days when ice fishing was a more simpler approach, now recently ice fishing has been wizzed into this high tech complicated world of this and that, one of the last sports to be modernized I would say. Years ago we could go out in a snowmobile suit with a heavy flannel and just some basic gear and have real fun, now it seems you cant have the fun and must put on some fancy show of all the latest gadjets? Well maybe Im being old fashion, just my thought... times past.

I am one of those guys that love the new gadgets for ice fishing BUT you have to remember that just because you have these new things they do not necessarily catch fish for you. A person has to know how to catch fish first. Just like summer fishing, same thing. You can go out in one of the nicest walleye boats and not catch fish if you don't know how. Several years ago I went out on the Saginaw River to ice fish. Never did it before but wanted to go. So I take my stuff out, set up a nice shanty etc and sit there jigging. Wasn't long and I watched a guy walk out carrying a 5 gal pail and dragging an ice spud. He set up probably 15 yards from me. I watched him drop his line in and start jigging BANG he got one, Bang he had 2. That was shocking to me. lolol You can bet that next day I was in the sporting goods store buying a doz of the lures he had. ha Yes it is high tech these days and yes if you know how to use these gadgets and know how to catch fish they will work in your advantage! Skeeter


Use the WALLEYE CENTRAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY "Skeeters Stuff" under marine supplies (boat cleaning supplies), it really does work.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/yellowresult.php?goal=Detail&ckey=29&primaryField=description&category=Boat%2FMari

Ol Lee,

I remember when folks had time to go fishing which was before they had gadgets. Every year it seems my time to fish is shorter and shorter. Nice to have the gadgets to make it more enjoyable. At least if I cant catch fish I consider it a successful day if I at least see them on the camera. I usually learn something about fish behavior to add to my memory bank. Back in the day you never knew anything was down below until the bobbers went down.

ChadM

Virtually everything has evolved as technology is developed.

How in the world did they ever catch fish back in the days before there was good sonars, GPS, Gore Tex parkas, superlines, jet divers, inline boards, and Reef Runners? I bet their expectations were a lot lower when they hit the water.

Lewis and Clark could have made their trip in a few weeks with a Lund/Optimax combo and some ATVs. Would the Alamo have been lost if Davey Crockett and his boys had Encores with Pyrodex pellets, power belt bullets, and 209 primer ignitions?? Do you think Hitler would have taken so much territory if the rest of Europe had Tomahawk missles?

I like technology.....Makes me feel glad about the era I was born in.

The beauty of fishing today is that you can be as modern as you want. High tech stuff can be a help but nothing matches determination and knowlege of the lake. I still wear wool pants at times because there is nothing better IMHO./

"Years ago we could go out in a snowmobile suit with a heavy flannel and just some basic gear and have real fun, now it seems you cant have the fun and must put on some fancy show of all the latest gadjets?"

If you can fish with friends all the time, you can certainly have fun without catching many fish. However, most of my icefishing is done alone, maybe after work for a few hours or maybe my friends don't want to get up as early as I do on a Saturday. It's at these times when my "fun" is determined by how many fish I catch, and the "gadgets" help me catch more fish, it's as simple as that. I'm not putting on a show, I just want to catch fish. Do you need all the fancy stuff to catch some fish, no. Will you catch more fish with a Vex, camera, GPS, etc.- YES!

Dave S

:exactly: