CARF Outdoors

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

WHITE BEAR LAKE PERCH

It's official - I have caught the ice fishing itch. I went out and bought myself a used single person flip over sled, 8" hand auger, and a real cheap ice rod combo. Now my Vexilar is no longer alone as the lone piece of ice fishing gear.

I will not ice fish without one of these.

I drove out on White Bear lake. Since there were roughly 3 billion trucks on the lake already when I pulled up to the boat ramp, I figured the ice would be safe enough for me to drive out on. This was the first time I took my own vehicle out on the ice, and let me tell you, it was extremely nerve wrecking.

It's so loud - I love it!

Using my Navionics, I looked for what would be the best spot. After driving out to the spot I had chosen that would yield fish, I learned that I was not the only person who thought that was a good spot. There were already quite a few ice houses over the exact areas I wanted to set up shop. I settled for an area somewhat near them.

Didn't realize my auger and shelter were from the same company.

I set up a tip up with a jig and tipped it with a few Gulp grub worms, and then I set up my shelter. If was much roomier than I had expected for 1 person, and it kept me out of the cold wind. I was loving it. I started jigging and marked a bunch of fish on my flasher, but couldn't get anything to commit. When I did finally coax a fish into biting the jig it turned out to be a MONSTER...not really.

Monster Perch.

The action was non stop with twinkie sized perch. I was entertained and super stoked that the CARF Outdoors #icatchsmallfish tour was on fire to kick off the year.

More Monster Perch.

Below is a live stream of the action that is ice fishing with CARF Outdoors. Don't look away, because, you might miss the action.

Real Time Feed of the happenings inside the ice shelter. Don't stop watching!

White Bear Lake - You've been conquered by CARF Outdoors.

White Bear Lake.

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

Flip Over Shelter - http://amzn.to/2G5c5ya

Auger - http://amzn.to/2GaGefl

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Monday, January 22, 2018

KEEP CALM & TIE FLIES

If you do not have any winter activities, and the cabin fever is starting to settle in just remember to Keep Calm & Tie Flies. A message I received from Partridge of Redditch hooks that I just wanted to pass on to all of you.

Minimum Cowbell: A fly.

If you don't tie flies, then I suggest you start learning. It's a great way to stay fishy, flex your creative muscles, and refill your fly boxes for Spring Summer and Fall fishing.

If that still doesn't do anything for you, order a pizza. Pair that pizza with an adult beverage of some sort, a sports game on T.V. or a classic trilogy like Indiana Jones or The Naked Gun, and you'll be happy...until the next time you order another pizza.

Keep Calm & Tie Flies

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

Rising Stellar Scissors - http://amzn.to/2yCE7wM

Vedavoo Bench Basin - http://amzn.to/2zGBU78

Rite Bobbin Half Hitch - http://amzn.to/2hzxKab

Peak Vise - http://amzn.to/2zXEBCd

MATERIALS USED FOR FLY

(Note: The links will not give you the color I used for this fly.)

Hooks - http://amzn.to/2Drt0co

Tail Filler - http://amzn.to/2rvwol6

Tail Flash - http://amzn.to/2rvwFo8

Body (Wrapped) - http://amzn.to/2DszFU1

Body (Bottom) - http://amzn.to/2Dw7wiP

Eyes - http://amzn.to/2rqv032

Head - http://amzn.to/2DrUmPA

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Monday, January 15, 2018

MONSTERS THROUGH THE ICE

Lightfield BBQ and I were back on the ice and exploring new hard water. I don't know what I would do without the phone app Navionics. It's seriously the best $10 I've spent in a long long time. Without it, I would have no idea the depth I am fishing in my raft, kayak, or when I am out ice fishing.

Is your Navionics working??

On this day, we were on the hunt for anything. Having only caught 1 fish in our previous outing "WALLY WALLY - WHERE YA AT" we decided that we would set out with the goal of just catching fish. Any fish. So we targeted some shallower water.

How Swiss Cheese is made.

After popping a popping some holes and contributing to making this lake look like Swiss cheese, we set up shop, and got our flashers in the holes and were immediately marking fish. Time to get our jigs down there and see who wants to play.

Hubbin'

Red illumination coming from the heater is a very welcomed sight when the temperature is in the single digits. Lights on the flashers are even more welcome, and get the adrenaline going so that you can temporarily forget about the cold.

The game of lights.

We both were making so many fish. I literally had my face in the hole as I was watching the fish take turns swipe at my jig. I spotted a few sizable fish with my eyeballs, but the small ones were the only willing participants. I changed jigs a few times to bigger sizes, but still nada.

Monsters Exist.

Lightfield and I had some fun none the less, hooking up with a plethora of small perch and 2 sunnies. Nothing worthy to keep, but still a lot better than just sitting there wonder if I was ever going to see my rod bend.

The long arm technique to make catches look bigger.

The release back into the ice hole.

This ice fishing sport is quickly growing on me, and I'm looking forward to getting out on the ice a lot more, and hopefully experiencing what it's like to hook into much bigger fish. My first fish of the 2018 year was this 10 pound perch (pictured below). I couldn't believe the gut on this one. It looked as if it had eaten a bowling ball.

10 pound perch.

Some advice for all fisher-people, regardless of time of year, fly fishing, gear fishing, and ice fishing. Don't forget to close up your tackle boxes before bumping your ass into them. That is of course, if you're not in training to be the best at the game pick up sticks.