PebHmong Discussion Forum

Sports Category => Outdoors & Recreational Hobbies => Topic started by: VillainousHero on September 05, 2021, 12:39:30 AM

Title: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on September 05, 2021, 12:39:30 AM
Ah all summer long, all I think was ice fishing.  That simple minded idea of pulling up a fish at your feet through a hole in the ice.  It's just so satisfying.

Although it does take some work to find fish.  Sometimes it's just luck, drill a hole in the ice and boom fish are biting.  Sometimes it's no luck, and it's just wasting time out there.

So it helps to get a few gears together to enjoy the time and peace of the tranquility of snowfall on the shelter roof, bare the freezing windy conditions, and just sit in that camping chair and doze off.  Let's see what this next season will bring us.  What's the latest gear?  What's the latest gossip?

And always, the best'est secret'est fishing lure or techniques.  The big fish stories, whether they be true or full of embellishment.  Or the tried and true methods of old will always produce.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 20, 2021, 05:55:57 AM
Looks like Diawa is releasing a Kage series of ice rods.  :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on October 24, 2021, 06:58:09 AM
I’ve ice-fished once.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on November 02, 2021, 10:18:57 PM
I’ve ice-fished once.

Ice fishing is fun man
Keep warm or its going suck
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 07, 2021, 04:48:15 AM
It's getting close, so I better go unpack the ice fishing shelter.  O0
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 10, 2021, 09:56:23 PM
I'm looking at my lures and deciding which ones to move over to ice fishing.  Really all one ever needs is just a sinker and hook with some bait.  Still choosing which jighead type or with spoon type is kind of fun in a hobbyist way.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on November 11, 2021, 07:19:12 AM
No ice yet on my local water
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 12, 2021, 03:11:15 AM
I see some snow precipitation.  However it all just means that I can't really deal with the leaves that just gotten knocked down from that.  Bummer...unles s I wanna rake up some really wet leaves.  Not gonna happen.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on November 14, 2021, 07:08:56 PM
The cold has not been extreme enough so far. No one should get on any lake yet.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 25, 2021, 05:48:05 PM
This is the weekend where everything will start to change.  Cold temps will begin to make ice on many lakes.  Most of the ponds around locally have just about capped up.  As usual the sunny northern sides of the ponds where it gets the most sunlight are usually still free of ice.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 26, 2021, 09:11:36 PM
Another cold day, but next weeks forecast is mid forties...blaa aahhhh.  :(
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on November 30, 2021, 08:09:43 AM
I won't be ice-fishing this year. Got too many other things to worry about.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 30, 2021, 08:49:55 PM
I always just plan on hunkering down at home and poof, I go ice fishing.  Same for just normal fishing.  It seems that a big plan and all, will always be subjected to change.  When young and having more energy and free time it's fine to make plans.  Simple things like fishing opener or hunting opener, those are usually pretty well locked in plans.  For other plans, especially winter fishing, there's no telling if it's gonna be a blizzard or sleet/rain storm.  The winter weather isn't always so nice.  If the subarctic winds dip down a super frostbite scenario is just as bad.  At -20 F everything starts to really freeze and propane heaters start to not work so well.  Truck batteries may freeze and you're SOL. 

Last season, on just about the days I was able to go out, it was raining and it was mostly miserable terrible.  Even with shelter set up, by that time I was too wet and cold.  Still I was able to at least hook into a fish or two, so it was okay.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 02, 2021, 01:59:44 AM
I'm thinking that maybe this year will be the year that I will buy an actual ice fishing suit.  Well I did buy the Arctic Armor suit like over ten year ago but that thing was a sweat suit.  It gets really cold while wearing it as all my sweat condenses inside of it. 

I'm getting older and it does get colder. 
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on December 03, 2021, 07:22:04 AM
Looking good man
Ice is forming in the small ponds and lakes
River is forming too

Almost time
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 05, 2021, 01:50:45 AM
With Joe's Sporting Goods Customer Appreciation Sale, I snuck in and purchased a Simms Challenger insulated bibs and jacket.  $300 a piece retail and sales discount of 20%.  Not too shabby afterall.

I have been wearing over twenty year old winter clothing.  As last year, when it was sleeting, rain/snow storm, I got drenched cold on those days.  I was very miserable.  So this year, I should be in a better comfort level.

Why I picked the Simms, well mainly the bibs are slightly more slim stylized.  Most of the other brands have an excessive oversized for larger dimension folks.  So when I wear it, it seems baggy on me.  The Simms are well fitted to me. 
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 15, 2021, 05:25:14 PM
Without any snow on the ground, it makes ice fishing worse.  Hard to drag a sled full of gear on gravel ground.  Need that snow to get to the lake.

maybe it's time to get some kind of wheeled transport for the sled.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 16, 2021, 08:54:28 AM
Okay here we go again, getting some snow and cold weather.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 22, 2021, 04:07:34 AM
I actually went ice fishing.  Caught a few crappies and deal with the high winds.  The winds almost destroyed my Eskimo 250XD shelter but it was holding.  On my way back I stepped onto some thin ice.  It was an ice crack in the middle of the lake.  I saw the ice moved down as I was about to cross it.  It was thin ice and I could've been swallowed up.  Well it's didn't break so here I am.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on December 23, 2021, 01:23:32 PM
You were lucky.

Each year that I don't get to shovel much snow, I don't have faith in the lakes holding up. Then I don't think about ice fishing.

Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 25, 2021, 07:24:42 PM
Christmas day and ice fishing again.  The storm front came through, some moderately high winds and hailing snow pellets, also wind blown snow pellets.  I actually caught a few walleyes.  Nothing big, just small table fare size.  The ice is holding at 5" solid.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on December 27, 2021, 11:04:31 PM
Damn

I haven’t gone out yet
We keep getting rain
We got rain again this morning

I just don’t feel safe
Im going wait for at least -5 to -10 degree f
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 29, 2021, 11:34:57 AM
Well light snow storm and now deep freeze today and through this weekend for sure.  To ice fish or not to ice fish.  Well, I decided that maybe I will try the evening night bite, so beginning to pack up in a bit and get out to go freeze my behind.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 30, 2021, 01:12:52 AM
Just got back and I limit out on walleyes.  I haven't particularly fished for walleyes in years so this was almost an attempt in the dark.  It was really a dead sea, but the few walleyes that came by were willing to bite and I caught them. 
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on January 04, 2022, 10:02:50 AM
I went out ice fishing again.  This time there were quite a bit of people out there on the ice.  Only that the fish were almost nonexistent and even the few that showed up were just not interested in biting.  I did see other activity on the sonar.  So it's like a baitfish or aquatic insect schools.

I think this is where the surface activity of people shuts down the fish.  The first week or two or so of people busting activity on the ice spooks or makes the fish wary.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on January 13, 2022, 06:46:37 PM
Nothing but slush on the lakes...waitin g for some freezing weather to put a stop on that.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on March 01, 2022, 06:34:29 PM
It's March 1 and maybe have to hang up the ice fishing...
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on March 03, 2022, 08:32:17 PM
Wind down now. The melt has started.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on March 15, 2022, 10:14:19 PM
Really dangerous on the green bays bay lately
Loud ice crack sound
People are crazy going into thin ice
I’m going have to give up fishing in the bay next year
And just stick to the local lake and pond
This gobal warming ain’t good
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 03, 2022, 08:00:04 PM
It's November...pee ps are deer hunting, but I'm thinking ice fishing.  :D

No new gears or lures of interests to me yet.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 22, 2022, 02:00:25 AM
Upper Red lake is posting on FB with 5" of ice.  hmmmm...I need to go to the local lake and check out how much ice!!!!

Time to dig up the floating assist suit, hand auger, hand chisel. 

Or should I go all out and grab ice fishing gear and all.  Well looks like forecast for next few days are well above freezing thaw so, maybe no ice fishing.  We were so close to ice fishing Thanksgiving this year.  But as long as the temps are below freezing at night, maybe Xmas will be a go for sure.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 24, 2022, 03:41:52 AM
So there are still some open water in the middle of the lake, so not even gonna attempt.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on November 29, 2022, 04:07:29 AM
Bad sign if here's still water anywhere on the lake.

I don't do ice-fishing, so I don't really care though.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 30, 2022, 10:00:18 AM
And now some snow, so definitely gonna wait out till Xmas.

Snow on top of ice, builds slower ice.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Reporter on November 30, 2022, 03:35:04 PM
Many people are already fishing up north.

Christmas is a good time.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on January 25, 2023, 02:49:18 PM
Terrible winter for ice fishing...I still haven't gone out yet.  Cuz the driving conditions just isn't there.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 04, 2023, 02:43:59 PM
Another year, another season...

Which new lure to try?  :D

Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 24, 2023, 04:13:30 AM
Clam Corp lures sounds very popular.  But it's to catch fishermen.  :D

Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 27, 2023, 10:27:04 AM
Welcome to rain season.  :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on January 25, 2024, 11:37:49 PM
Probably more wishing this season rather than ice fishing.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on November 28, 2024, 10:39:37 AM
With this cold weather on week of Thanksgiving.. .maybe the daring will venture out this holiday weekend.  I will not as older me, will not swim alive from a dunk.

Ah the good old days of two inches of ice was enough.  ;)  No longer young and strong...and daring stupid in the wind.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 08, 2024, 11:55:06 AM
Another year, another St. Paul Ice fishing show...goes.  :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 11, 2024, 05:46:13 PM
After a few years of really not ice fishing...seem s like it's all just wishing now.

no enthusiasm for me this year.  It sort of seems like things have plateaued or the niche has become saturated.

The bait casting BFS is still not emerging into ice fishing, after so many years.  I've been at the forefront of it, but I'm not an influencer so it's just an old man's secret technique.  Actually super old before the spinning reel trend.  But I know I started the inline flyfishing reel trend, not really as it was actually old timer's method, but I sort of re-lit the fire under that.

Getting older and less energetic.  For sure less risky.

Nothing new for common folks, except for rich people stuff - like electronics and recreation vehicles.

Wish they would just really create insulated portables...do uble wall shelters, double paned windows, double zippers, weighted shelter skirts or at least skirt weights,...lots of other ideas lost at the back of my head...
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on December 11, 2024, 10:28:26 PM
give me your fish finder

Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 12, 2024, 05:34:05 AM
nice wish  ;)
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on December 12, 2024, 08:58:59 AM
bro

let me have your fish finder
since you don’t ice fish no more

i will put it to good use

 O0 O0 O0
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 13, 2024, 11:41:58 AM
but I need a guide...or a workhorse buddy.  Getting old and weak now.  :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on December 13, 2024, 01:14:09 PM
don't waste anymore money, man
just buy fish at the store

much cheaper

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: theking on December 13, 2024, 11:56:58 PM
Real "fish whisper" don't need no stinking "fish finder"...BUT THE IDIOT BELOW IS A FAKE SO MAKES SENSE...

<<<< im known as the fish whisper here in PH


Versus:


give me your fish finder


"SEEING IS TRULY BELIEVING YO"

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 18, 2024, 12:49:42 PM
I don't really go fishing to catch fish.  If I want to eat fish, yeah buying at the store probably makes the most sense and also time wise too.

Fishing is to get away from all other things in life.  Then again the fish warden is always sneaking up on ya and trying to have a conversation with ya.  Geez some are nice but some are just as hole. Well maybe a mermaid in bikini is better for a conversation but she won't be a fish warden anytime soon.  :2funny:
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on January 08, 2025, 10:19:52 AM
How did I forget the fisherman saying, "New Year, New Gear!"

 ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on January 11, 2025, 03:20:58 AM
I don't really go fishing to catch fish.  If I want to eat fish, yeah buying at the store probably makes the most sense and also time wise too.

Fishing is to get away from all other things in life.  Then again the fish warden is always sneaking up on ya and trying to have a conversation with ya.  Geez some are nice but some are just as hole. Well maybe a mermaid in bikini is better for a conversation but she won't be a fish warden anytime soon.  :2funny:

Any mermaid warden, she will have the fear while I flee to the truck.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on January 11, 2025, 03:22:39 AM
How did I forget the fisherman saying, "New Year, New Gear!"

 ;D

I don't make that my practice. Each time I see a new pole at the store, I stand to admire it.
As I think more and more about what it can do, I realize whatever I already have at home
works just as good or better. At most, I hold it for awhile at the store and then put it back on
its shelf.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on February 05, 2025, 02:19:28 PM
People driving on the thin ice by the power plant warm water discharge... :D

Did they forget, car is not a boat.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on February 27, 2025, 03:35:04 AM
Every year there's always some vehicles falling through the thin ice, but this year seems like it's was more than ever.  The week of cold frigid temps, to the changing week of 50's and the ice is just constantly changing.  End of season came so fast.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on September 27, 2025, 04:30:47 AM
Another new ice season is around the corner.  So looking like, it's gonna be all electronic fish warfare.

What's is going to be the new hype up products?
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on September 28, 2025, 07:57:22 AM
I had not heard of that before.

But this one can disguise as a net and then
secretly captures any fish that comes near it.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lnn1-vaQEbo (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lnn1-vaQEbo)
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 09, 2025, 02:20:23 AM
LOL don't forget to wear rubber suit...else one might get zapped themself too.  Or at least get a wooden handle.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 09, 2025, 03:44:14 AM
October is usually the month that the retailers bring out the ice fishing stuff.  :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on October 28, 2025, 10:43:28 PM
you still ice fishing??
man, i just don’t trust these warm weather

too dangerous

i usually wait till we get like the first -10 degree before i even step out

no clue when this might be

gettin longer every year
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: theking on October 28, 2025, 11:05:24 PM

no clue when this might be

"no clue" is pretty weak for a person that claimed to be "the hmong Nostradamus and is always right".. :idiot2:

NO WONDER he got "SKUNKED" every time he goes fishing...(hmgLIAR's WORDS, NOT "we all"..)

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on October 30, 2025, 05:30:38 PM
you still ice fishing??
man, i just don’t trust these warm weather

too dangerous

i usually wait till we get like the first -10 degree before i even step out

no clue when this might be

gettin longer every year

I'll say it like this.  I go ice fishing not for ice fishing but for some other meaning to life.  ;)

In the last few years, I've probably bought more fishing gear than I have over my life time of fishing and not even a fair comparison.  I'm kind of old school, so not so much into electronics, but then mostly for ice fishing as since that really is the game changer.  Gotta have at least a reliable basic flasher unit or two for backup.  Basic bait and gas probably cost me more, than the tool and gears ever will.  But since I was probably one of the first Hmong ice fishing person, the days of early ice with an axe or hammer are long past.  Those were the foolhardy time of youth.  Never will I forget the steel drink can, line, and bobber.  Oh and you gotta have a rock or two, maybe better with those glass marbles as bait alarm in the steel drink can.

If I die by falling through the ice, well it's a good way to die.  To enjoy life to the end.  Please do not drag my body out of the iced lake.  ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on October 30, 2025, 10:28:14 PM
early ice is cool
but man
too risky

you get like 4 inches and then 1 inches in some areas
some barely hanging on

i need at least -10 degree
and maybe artic blast

 :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on November 02, 2025, 10:01:48 AM
I don't ice-fish. I like to be able to cast all over the places in long-distance shots
for fun. I don't like sitting there for something to bend the poles for me.

So, on equipment, I have purchased just five reels and four poles. Still hunting for one more pole for the
that Shimano Stradic reel so I can have a complete set for life. Trouts, white bass, eyes,
cats, carps, sturgeons--all kinds of freshwater species, I'd be ready for.

I'll say it like this.  I go ice fishing not for ice fishing but for some other meaning to life.  ;)

In the last few years, I've probably bought more fishing gear than I have over my life time of fishing and not even a fair comparison.  I'm kind of old school, so not so much into electronics, but then mostly for ice fishing as since that really is the game changer.  Gotta have at least a reliable basic flasher unit or two for backup.  Basic bait and gas probably cost me more, than the tool and gears ever will.  But since I was probably one of the first Hmong ice fishing person, the days of early ice with an axe or hammer are long past.  Those were the foolhardy time of youth.  Never will I forget the steel drink can, line, and bobber.  Oh and you gotta have a rock or two, maybe better with those glass marbles as bait alarm in the steel drink can.

If I die by falling through the ice, well it's a good way to die.  To enjoy life to the end.  Please do not drag my body out of the iced lake.  ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 19, 2025, 06:35:28 AM
So I'm wondering where are all the falling through the ice reports this year?

 :D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on December 22, 2025, 04:51:44 PM
I guess I was a few days too soon.  The reports of vehicals falling in through the ice are coming in.  Early ice, is just not for full sized trucks with permanents ice shacks, big ones.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on February 16, 2026, 08:54:33 PM
+50F temps in February is so rare. 
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: hmgROCK on February 16, 2026, 10:18:13 PM
hit the ice during those -20 to -30 a couple weeks ago
it was hard fishing
my buddy heater die on me

100% inside tent or die to extreme cold

 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on February 22, 2026, 06:27:48 AM
Well temperature swing back to freezing...als o all that bare ground is again covered with snow.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on March 06, 2026, 12:00:03 PM
We don't have frozen lakes and rivers here. But I know I'll enjoy water-fishing for fish more.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: VillainousHero on March 15, 2026, 10:33:32 AM
Wow...old man winter just won't give up.

I thought this winter storm was just another exaggerated weatherman hype...but it's a respectable winter storm.
Title: Re: Ice fishing is Nice wishing
Post by: Prude on March 18, 2026, 12:06:54 PM
I think the ice should be letting go now.