Juls: Ladies (me) and Gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to our guest host for the next hour, Mark Martin! Thanks for taking the time to chat with all of us tonight, Mark. Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap....everyone feel free to ask Mark anything you want about fishing or hunting, he does it all! Have fun and remember, there are NO STUPID questions...only those that are never asked. :)
Bryon Schloemer: Join Room
Juls: Hi bluev and Todd and Bryon...you made it buddy...lol thanks for coming tonight guys
Joe Justi: I can mail you some snow if you would like fire line
Tom O: Welcome Mark
fire_line: welcome mark
chad: Join Room
Mark Martin: hi everyone, we got snow as high as my head in some spots in the Keweenaw peninsula
Juls: Mark, why don't you start off by telling everyone what your plans are this season....?
Juls: hi chad..thanks for coming tonight
Bryon Schloemer: hey Juls and everyone!
chad: Hi everyone!
chad: Hi!
CRB: Join Room
Juls: hi CRB...thanks for coming tonight
Mark Martin: I plan on fishing all four AIM events and doing a lot of promotions with my tv and media friends
Tom O: Mark, how is your Saginaw bay Ice fishing school coming along
Juls: how many tv shows do you do in a season?
CRB: Hey Juls
brandonprasnicki: I just got the lakemaster contour elite software today - anyone else use that at all? I'm super excited it looks sweet
Mark Martin: At last check in, we were a couple from being full at 25 students with a full field of outdoor writers and media folks
Don Loch: Join Room
Juls: Hi Don...thanks for coming tonight
Mark Martin: I use Navionics so I have little knowledge of Lakemaster equipment
Tom O: sounds great, with this weather, you should have good ice
Don Loch: Hi, Hi Mark how are you doing..?
Mark Martin: I guest host an average around 8-12 tv shows a year
Juls: Lakemaster maps are sweet...I haven't seen the elite software, but even the older maps are great...
Juls: what station carries your shows? Where can people see them?
sandacz: Join Room
Juls: hi sandacz...thanks for coming tonight
sandacz: hi
Mark Martin: I hope the ice will be great on Saginaw Bay for my school. We have a few weeks to go yet.
Mark Martin: Hi don
rmfboat: mark, where the best place to launch at the bay
Steve-In.: Join Room
Don Loch: Mark what is the advantages using the small boards over the bigger when trolling?
Juls: Yo! Steve...thanks for coming tonight
Steve-In.: Happy New Year Juls
sandacz: Join Room
Juls: come on people...here's your chance to ask a true fishing champion all you wanted to ever know ...we only have him for an hour....don't be shy!
Mark Martin: PBS stations - Michigan Outdoors and Buck Lavasseur's T.V. 6 "Discovery" out of Marquette.
Juls: same to you Steve...:)
Juls: hi sandervit..thanks for coming tonight
Mark Martin: Midwest Outdoors, Kyle Randalls show and few more I can't think of right now.
brandonprasnicki: I suppose we in mn can't consume that? no website? You sell dvd's?
brandonprasnicki: oh midwest outdoors I get
Mark Martin: Yes, I sell dvd's. Most of these tv shows are on my website, www.markmartins.net
Juls: which do you like fishing more Mark; Lakes or Rivers?
brandonprasnicki: what type of sinker do you use when rigging? not weight - just type
Juls: oops..we lost Todd
Tom O: Mark, would you describe your trolling outfit for big Spring Erie Eyes such as type of rod, reel, line and types of methods
pzeyefan: Join Room
Juls: hi pzeyefan...thanks for coming tonight
Mark Martin: I like both, they are both challenging. More boat control at times in rivers and even at times in lakes the boat control can be tricky. I like lakes and rivers but you have to know the techniques and methods for each at different times of the year.
pzeyefan: glad to be here
CRB: Hey Mark curious if you are using Side Imaging and if it makes that big of a difference walleye fishing or is it more so a bass thing?
Mark Martin: I use egg sinkers and roach sinkers.
sandacz: what spinner set up did you run at Winni?
AllenW: Join Room
pzeyefan: big water is something I want to learn what recommendations do you have
Mark Martin: I use Berkley 8 1/2 to 9 foot rods, Abu Garcia counter reels, 10 or 12 pound XL Trilene
Juls: hi Allen...thanks for coming tonight
Bryon Schloemer: how fast on average do you troll rigging?
AllenW: Thanks, keep missing it.. :(
Mark Martin: I've used HD side imaging from lowrance and I do see some benefits to using this type of technology. I'm still learning too!
Don Loch: Why the small boards? What advantage do you see?
CRB: Are most of the Pro using side imaging?
Mark Martin: I use Northland Holographic single hook if I'm using a leach, double hook if I'm using half a crawler. In the weeds I use bullet sinkers, 1/8 oz. in open water up to 12 feet, 1/4 oz. both are cast out behind the boat about 40 feet and troll 1.2 - 1.4 MPH
Mark Martin: If I'm live bait rigging, .05 to 1 MPH
brandonprasnicki: how long do you wait for a bite when you mark a lunker
Mark Martin: The small TX 6 boards by Church Tackle I use in shallow clear water so I don't spook the fish in the weeds and along the weeds as they think the bigger boards are predators. That's why I had Church Tackle come up with a small board for this presentation
feathercast: Join Room
rnj express: Join Room
AllenW: You tend to be fairly steady with speeds trolling or vary some?
Mark Martin: Judging from last year I would say about half of the professional fisherman use side imaging
Don Loch: Hey Feathercast
feathercast: Evenin Don
Juls: Hi feather cast and terry...thanks for coming..:)
feathercast: Hi Juls
rnj express: Hello all
Don Loch: Terry my man!
rnj express: I did not ask for sign in
rnj express: sorry it
Tom O: Mark, I'm going to Saginaw Bay as soon as I hear you can get out off of Linwood Rd. What is your go to jigging presentation and what are some good colors?
Mark Martin: Usually when I see a fish on my front bow-mounted electronics I usually figure within seconds I will contact that fish because my weight selection depending on the depth of water I will keep my presentation at a 45 degree angle from my rod tip
pzeyefan: do you vary your depth by the fish you mark or do cover the water column in general
Mark Martin: When I don't see fish I constantly keep the speed up to 1 MPH. When I see fish I slow down and let the fish see my presentation. That's where the real live bait fisherman are outstanding at catching the fish they see.
CRB: good tip
Bryon Schloemer: How long on average do you give a spot on tournament day, if your marking them but cant get them to bite?
eyeman_1: Join Room
Don Loch: In shallow water if you are back with crawlers along way do u have problems with the inside line crossing if the fish is on the outside? Do you have to reel in the inside? or do u let the board drop back (down the line or manually drop it back?)
rmfboat: hi eyeman
Mark Martin: My go-to presentation is having my Navionics chips and electronics finding the contour lines next to pressure cracks or ice heaves and drilling holes looking for fish or at least fishing for 20 minutes before I move to finding the fish.
eyeman_1: howdy
620: could you elaborate the "whys" on your go to ?
Juls: hi eyeman...thanks for coming tonight..:)
Mark Martin: Use glow in the dark early and late in the day. Natural colors to fire tigers and then jigging Rapalas #7 and Northland buckshot rattle spoons, macho-minnows, sidewinders, swedish pimples, and little cleos.
feathercast: What do the ice heaves & pressure cracks have to do with location?
brandonprasnicki: I just picked up some sweet do jiggers at fleet farm - I haven't seen them for a while... they are my favorite they have glow and sweet purple/green etc
brandonprasnicki: sadly haven't used them tho
Mark Martin: That's why I use 6 rod holders on each side of my boat. So I can take rods from one side even though the boards are planing to one side and reel them in and put them right behind the transom of my boat.
Mark Martin: That way I am still fishing while I reel in the fish from the outside.
Don Loch: Gotcha
johnnyv1008: Join Room
Juls: hi johnny..thanks for coming
Mark Martin: Ice heaves and pressure cracks create current breaks. When you see ice heave up, it also heaves down. It also creates hiding places for plankton (which attracts bait fish and predators). It also diffuses light penetration which walleyes like.
johnnyv1008: Hi Juls, Hi Mark
Mark Martin: Do jiggers are also a good choice.
620: ah ha ! THX I read that once but did not retain that info
Mark Martin: Hi Johnny
johnnyv1008: Do you ever use jigs with blades or whistler jigs
Don Loch: If there was anything you could add/change on the boards out there on the market (besides them catching your fish for you) what would it be??
Juls: lol
Mark Martin: Yes, I use whistler jigs and just plain jigs at times and sometimes this is the most deadliest lure on the ice that I have used across N. America
johnnyv1008: ever use them in open water
Mark Martin: The Church Tackle just came out with a new TX 44 board which will hold a pound and a half of weight and pull #1 dipsey's out to side as easily as pulling a plain crankbait off to the side of the boat.
Mark Martin: Yes I use whistler jigs in open water, especially in turbid water conditions
johnnyv1008: do you vertical jig with them mostly and let the current work the blade?
TAH: Join Room
rnj express: might you fish an FLW event this year?
Juls: 1/2 hour to go guys...get your questions in...:)
Mark Martin: At this time fishing all four AIM events and working with my media friends, if there's an opening or a chance, there is a possibility of it.
TAH: just looked, thats a he!! of a board have you tried them yet, on a med. trolling rod??
johnnyv1008: is AIM adding anything for June or July
Mark Martin: I vertical jig the Northland whistler jigs along with pitching and a slow hop and retrieve back to the boat along with casting and slowly swimming the whistler jigs back to the boat.
TAH: Join Room
reddog: Join Room
Juls: hi reddog..thanks for coming
rnj express: How well does the board work with lead
reddog: Thanks Juls. I'm listening to the Chili Bowl racing too, so IM probably just gonna watch tonight. hehehe
Mark Martin: Yes I have fished them this fall in Lake Superior for salmon, lake trout, splake, and brook trout. No matter how big or small the fish were when they hit the TX 44 board, you knew it immediately by the board dropping back and jerking.
Joe Justi: have you tried any swimbaits casting or behind dipsys?
Mark Martin: Go to Church Tackle.com and there are some pictures of me holding a giant trophy splake and their TX 44 board.
TAH: Join Room
Juls: hmmmm
Mark Martin: the board works superior with lead. Like I said, it will pull 1 1/2 pounds of weight out to the side of the boat with no problem. I can see people coming up with some pretty cool ways to fish this board.
620: DON use the Spot Lock
TAH: the what??
Juls: lol
TAH: Ha,HA!
Mark Martin: Swimbaits are some of the best baits invented in years. They are very versatile. You can troll them, cast them. The trick when casting them is to let them go to bottom and slowly but steadily retrieve them in.
Mark Martin: Maybe pausing which means quit reeling and start again. That's the only action that I apply to swimbaits and I'm constantly feeling for a tiny tick as I'm fishing them.
johnnyv1008: set the hook immediately when you feel a tick
sandacz: which swimbaits?
johnnyv1008: what is the best bait to use around and in weeds
sandacz: Join Room
Mark Martin: Yes, set the hook immediately and using 6 pound fireline also helps when detecting this kind of bite. It also works fantastic for cutting the weeds off when you get snagged. That way your not pulling them out by the roots.
Mark Martin: Tearing out the weeds will scare the fish away.
johnnyv1008: heavy jig or light jig in weeds?
antlers & eyes: Join Room
kregs: Join Room
TAH: Hey Mark I got to meet you this year and it was a pleasure indeed. I haven't found many anglers that I could not approach and talk to, but there are a few. Do you feel that attitude in the public goes along way and how do you assert yourself in public?
Mark Martin: Northland mimic minnows are my favorites. Storm also has some excellent swimbaits I use and Berkley has just made some cool Gulp swimbaits. When fish are hitting swimbaits, they all will work.
antlers & eyes: Brian&AthensArchery
TAH: so people know they can approach u?
Juls: he's always smiling and that tells people they can approach....
antlers & eyes: evening all
Juls: hi anglers and eyes..thanks for coming
TAH: absolutely!
Bob Devine: Join Room
Juls: and he shakes everyone's hand too
Juls: hi Bob..thanks for coming tonight
antlers & eyes: how's fishin?
dakangler: Join Room
sandacz: when would you choose to cast swimbait instead of crankbait?
Juls: welcome dak
antlers & eyes: I love the hard water season
Bob Devine: hi Juls and all
dakangler: sup
Juls: glad you could make it
Eyebanger: Join Room
Juls: hi eyebanger...
rmfboat: hi eb
eyeman_1: EB
antlers & eyes: where is everyone from? WI here.
Eyebanger: Good evening
rmfboat: in
johnnyv1008: besides joining the NPAA, what can a guy start thinking about when approaching sponsors, do past wins in local tourneys really matter
fire_line: in
redeaglekev: Join Room
Bryon Schloemer: MN
Mark Martin: A light jig on 6 pound fireline is the best when your pitching or casting weeds. If you hang up on a weed you can twitch your rod and continue swimming your jig from weed to weed.
Juls: this is a hosted chat until the top of the hour antlers....Mark Martin is our guest host until 8pm central time..then it's an open chat/forum after...:)
antlers & eyes: ok, sorry. I didn't know
Juls: hi redeaglekev...thanks for coming tonight
Juls: 12 minutes to go...get your questions in...:)
johnnyv1008: get your head out of your antler - just kidding
Juls: no problem antlers...:)
AllenW: You tend to be fairly steady with speeds trolling or vary some?
antlers & eyes: lol
Mark Martin: I try to treat everyone like I would like to be treated. It has worked for me for thirty years. I have many friends because I listen to them and try to help as best as I can.
AllenW: ? sorry me and comp are fighting.
Mark Martin: I choose to cast a swimbait when I want to keep my presentation down along the bottom for a much longer period of time.
wiredog: Join Room
rnj express: If you could only have 1 jig for the rest of your fishing days what size and color would it be?
johnnyv1008: do you use big swimbaits - like 5-6"
TAH: Alot we all could learn, your a true gentleman.
Mark Martin: When you are approaching new sponsors, always have a portfolio in your hand. Try to meet them face to face if possible. Tell them what YOU can do for them, not what you want them to do for you.
johnnyv1008: is it better to start local for sponsors, then fan out to bigger fishing partners
brandonprasnicki: Join Room
Mark Martin: If I had one jig to choose it would be a Northland whistler jig 1/4 oz. so I could use plastics and have lots of vibration and flash. It makes a very versatile jig. The shape is also conducive to vertical fishing rivers.
Mark Martin: I use anywhere from 2 - 6 inch swimbaits depending on the season. Most of these presentations, I also use Gulp spray so that any fish that ticks it and misses it (or I miss it) comes back for seconds.
johnnyv1008: how often do you spray the swimbaits
AllenW: Can you use planer boards for lighter tackle, say 4# ultra light rigs?
Mark Martin: I did both in the beginning of my career regarding sponsors. Never be afraid to approach a sponsor and like I said, always have a plan of how your going to improve their business or image!
pzeyefan: Join Room
bill-brown(Ind): Join Room
Mark Martin: I spray my baits every 5 to 10 minutes
rmfboat: hi b-b
bill-brown(Ind): hi guy
Eyebanger: Yo Bro
Mark Martin: Yes, the TX 6 boards work extremely well with ultra light tackle. They are the size of a playing card so the stress on your equipment is minimal.
sandacz: do you use whistler jigs with live bait?
AllenW: Thanks
AllenW: Thinking c r a p p I e s
Juls: Boy! That was a fast hour. I would like to thank everyone that came to participate in this chat tonight and I would like to extend a special thanks to Mark Martin for sharing his time and experience with us. It's very much appreciated! Job well done...clap clap clap clap clap clap! Best wishes for a successful 2011 season! :)
Mark Martin: Yes, that's all I used in my early days but the plastic revolution has now made some of the plastics as good as using live bait. I still do use lots of live bait to this day.
TAH: I'm just thinking OPEN WATER!!!!
Juls: feel free to stick around and chat freely...just needed an end spot for the boss man to archive the transcripts...:)
Mark Martin: Thank you everyone for making me type really, really, fast.
Juls: heheheh
rmfboat: lol
fire_line: lol
AllenW: Thanks for coming
TAH: How much weight will the small boards support, deep cranks?
sandacz: Thank You
johnnyv1008: Thank you Mark for the great advise, good luck this year, see you at Bago
Juls: you kept up really well Mark...good job
CRB: fastest typing I've seen yet.LOL
Mark Martin: If there are any other questions or concerns you can contact me at origchamp1990@comcast.net or go to my website markmartins.net and look at all the video clips and tv shows, articles, etc.
TAH: Thanks Mark, see you in Winneconne
Explorer: Join Room
CRB: thanks for your time. Good luck this year
Mark Martin: Thanks for the well wishes and talk to you soon. Mark Martin
Juls: nite everyone...got to run! thanks again, Mark! Poof gone...:) | 
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