WALLY WALLY...WHERE YA AT

This was my first fishing outing of the new year, and we were on the hard water in search of anything...but mostly walleyes and crappie.

Lightfield clearing some snow for the hub.

We pulled up to the lake we were going to fish, and there were quite a few vehicles and ice shelters already out.  It was a good sign to my homie, but to me, it just added to the fear of being on the ice.

Poppin' holes.

A gas powered auger is a luxury...need to get one for myself.

After drilling some holes, setting up the hub, we were inside sitting pretty.  I have never had such luxuries in the few times I have been out ice fishing.  A gas auger, 4 person hub, propane heater, and camping chairs...I felt like I was in the Presidential Suite.  I could get used to this...

The Presidential Suite.

We each had 2 rods rigged up.  One setup to dead stick a minnow, and the other we were jigging with.  The fishing was really slow.  We were fishing in about 26 feet of water near some drop offs, with hopes there were be fish hanging around the edges.  We also chose our spot, because, there were a bunch of other ice shelters around. :)

Working it.

I could get used to this.

Waiting for some action on the flasher.

Late in the afternoon, just as I was about to go out to the truck for something, I had glanced down at my flasher, there were some extra lights.  Finally some action!  I slowly jigged my lure and then my rod bent.  I set the hook and began to quickly reel, but the fish came undone after 2 seconds.  Bummer!  It felt like a good one, too.

Shortly after my failed attempt to bring a fish in, my buddy Lightfield marked a few more fish and he was then hooked up.  This fish put a solid bend in his rod.

Lightfield hooked up on his custom FSA Custom Rods ice rod.

Lightfield found Wally.  It was the only fish that we caught, and it was a good one.  Would have been nice to hook up with a few more, but I was just happy to be out fishing.  Looking forward to getting back out on the hard water.  Just need to get some ice fishing gear of my own.

Lightfield and Wally.

INSTAGRAM - @JUSTINCARF

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

Lens #2 - http://amzn.to/2CLhwQZ

Boots - http://amzn.to/2CIGHUc

Yaktrax - http://amzn.to/2DbWDPG

Flasher - http://amzn.to/2CJ9iZx

LIGHTFIELD'S GEAR

Auger - http://amzn.to/2CGVjDl

Hub - http://amzn.to/2CXAeYY

Flasher - http://amzn.to/2Fik4HE

Heater - http://amzn.to/2CKHtjg

Rod Holder - http://amzn.to/2DcNoPr

Bucket - http://amzn.to/2CLcnYP

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

WINTER TROUTING & ROOT RIVER ROD CO.

PART TWO

Part One - The Pink Tutu

Jim perusing the selection for the fly of The Root River Rod Co.

After fishing all morning and only coming up with 1 brown trout brought in by the illustrious Jim. We (Grant, Jim and I) decided to take a walk down Main Street.  Here we are, 3 guys in waders carrying fly fishing rods and walking the streets of a small town in rural Minnesota, and we come across a fly shop none of us had ever been to - Root River Rod Company.

Shop owner Steve Sobieniak whipping up some lunch time bugs.

The shop was clean, bright, and welcoming.  The shop owner Steve Sobieniak was very informative letting us in on what the local fish are keying in on this time of year, and was even nice enough to whip us up some fresh flies for our departure back to the river.

Jim supports local business, but also knows how to get info.

Jim just couldn't leave without making a purchase to support the local business, but also being a resident of Minnesota, you can never have too many quality gloves during winter.  Jim was also excited to see a whole section dedicate to Root River Hackle, and he proceeded to rave about the quality of the feathers.

Steve pointing us in the right direction.

Jim's purchase also bought us some extra information, in the form of a hand drawn map.  Unfortunately, after Steve completed the drawing, we all learned that we could not take the map, because, it was kind important to the shop, but that's what camera phones are for, right!?

Steve discovering the map was on something important. :)

Stoked to get back out on the water with some local intel we stepped out of Root River Rod Company, and saw a watering hole across the street.  It's lunch time, and we deserve a drink for all of the hard work we put in on the water during the cold winter morning.  

Sitting at the bar in our waders, tossing back a $3 personal pitcher of beer, and enjoying the locals at the end of the bar cheer on Godzilla (We later learned it was King Kong) as he destroys New York City was one of the better lunches I had in a while.

Jim laying out some line with precision.

After the bar we set out to wet some lines with the intel Jim acquired with his glove purchase.  After a short car ride and Grant showing us how to properly jam out to some Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey, we found our destination.

Grant sending some smooches.

The spot had some great looking water, and looked promising.  We just didn't have what the trout were after that day, and with the sun setting at 1 PM (Kidding - It just feels that way) we had to make the drive back North.

I hope you all download this for your next phone background.

Not a bad day in our books at all.  Brushed off the early shivers of cabin fever, new water was fished, 1 trout was caught, cheap beer was drunk, Godzilla (King Kong) destroyed New York, and a new fly shop was shopped. 

End of the day and into the tall grass we go.

ROOT RIVER ROD COMPANY

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

ROOT RIVER HACKLE

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

5 wt Fly Rod - http://amzn.to/2CMGm2a

Waders - http://amzn.to/2BHwpnC

Wading Boots - http://amzn.to/2qiwU5p

Nippers - http://amzn.to/2CjYO2u

Sunglasses - http://amzn.to/2CM17Lr

Fly Box - http://amzn.to/2Cz6lO4

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

YAKTRAX CONTEST

Want to win a pair of Yaktrax Pro's?

We all love contests, and this one has simple instructions.  On Instagram simply post a photo of one of your winter adventures with the hashtag #STANDUPTOWINTER and tag @yaktraxtraction - Like I said, it's simple!

The winner will be selected at the end of the month, so, get those pictures posted and tagged!

Photo Courtesy of Yaktrax

LINKS

Yaktrax Pro - http://amzn.to/2E8nV9F

Yaktrax Walk - http://amzn.to/2BONcUJ

Yaktrax Run - http://amzn.to/2E90UDQ

Yaktrax Diamond Grip - http://amzn.to/2ChXDne

Yaktrax Summit - http://amzn.to/2Drf3Lk

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**