Watching the Bite

I wouldn't have caught the perch in the picture if we hadn't been watching the MarCum underwater camera view. You see the fish only grabbed the bait's tail initially. It bit decisively enough that I would have set the hook for sure if I'd been fishing by feel, but I could see the action clearly and knew the fish didn't have the hook in it's mouth. As soon as the fish finished the job, I set the hook.
Might fun stuff.

Dave Lefebre took the cool photo with his phone. Actually he has a whole series that surrounds that image on Dave's Facebook page (along with many other photos from the past few days). Be sure to check it out.

Why Wait for Ice?

The new MarCum LX-9 combines digital sonar, high-definition underwater video and DVR functionality in one portable unit.

One inevitable effect of ICAST and all the reports that come from the world's largest sportfishing trade show is a surge of anticipation in the fishing world. Anglers everywhere read stories and watch reports, but most of the best stuff hasn't hit full production, and some may not be available for several months. And so we anticipate.

The waiting is even worse when it's stuff made for ice-fishing. No matter how quickly the manufacturers get production up to speed and make their products available, it's tough to ice-fish without ice. You can jiggle a new rod, hold jig between your fingers or even set up a shelter in your yard, but somehow it's not the same as really putting it to work on the hard water.

Such is the case this year. One of the coolest product introductions I'm aware of from this year's show, the MarCum LX-9, was designed primarily for ice fishing, so my guess is that some Minnesota lake will have to freeze before I'll actually get to see one in action. This portable unit combines digital sonar readings and high-definition camera, visible together on a split screen, and adds DVR recording capabilities. Talk about getting a seriously good picture of what's below you as you fish and being able to truly study the fish's behavior!

The more I think about these units and all their functions, though, the more I wonder why they should be only for ice. I realize most boating anglers rely upon in-dash units, and my guess is that changing bottom depths and a moving boat could create some challenges for the depth setting of the camera. Still, so much boat fishing is from a stationary position, with a lure or bait dropped straight down from the rod tip. It would seem like an LX-9 would be be immeasurably valuable to a drop-shotter working a school of suspended bass or a crappie fisherman jigging spoons beside a bridge piling. Or what about a scouting angler who is slowing going over a hole and is trying to figure out of he's seeing stripers, catfish or something else on his electronics?

What about dock fishermen, small-boat anglers or even back-of-the boat fishermen? Serious ice fishermen all carry their own electronics from hole to hole on every lake they visit. It seems to me like we might be "missing the boat" in the open-water world, and that the LX-9 is too seriously cool to only use when it's seriously cold.

Ice Gear in Orlando?

Folks don't set up ice-fishing shelters in Florida during January, let alone July, but the shelters will be going up tomorrow. At the same time everything from ice lures to augers will being coming out of their packaging. Orlando is the host city of the International Convention of Allied Sport Fishing Trades (ICAST), and all segments of the sportfishing industry -- including ice-fishing -- will be represented at the show.

One new name in the ice world at this year's ICAST show will be Ice Force, which is not a new brand but instead a new marketing alliance of several classic ice brands. Otter, Strike Master, Mora Ice, MarCum, Rapala, VMC and Sufix together make up Ice Force. Collectively, these brands offer ice-fishing shelters, augers, electronics, lures, hooks, line and more.

You can bet these brands will break out some new stuff that will have northern anglers seriously longing for colder days. One I've heard about is an ice-specific version of Sufix 832, a high-performance superline.

Set-up for the three-day show begins tomorrow. ICAST activities begin with a New Products Showcase preview reception Tuesday night. The show runs Wednesday through Friday, so look for lots of buzz about new fishing stuff.

Ice Games

Having just returned from my third ice-fishing outing of 2011, I'm more intrigued than ever by the game of pulling fish through holes in the ice. It's partly a novelty thing, I suppose. Living in Georgia, where hard freezes and snowfalls are major events, I'm amazed by the fixed white landscapes and by the idea of driving out onto the lake on a snowmobile, a pick-up truck or one of the WWII-looking track vehicles used on Lake of the Woods. My interest goes far beyond novelty, though. I enjoy the many games of ice-fishing.

First there's the cat-and-mouse game. Say I'm jigging a Northland Macho Minnow and watching my bait's every movement on a MarCum Showdown. When another mark suddenly appears beneath my bait and starts moving up, that is a fish that is showing interest. At that point I have to figure out how to prompt that fish to strike. Some ice veterans choose to keep the bait moving slowly away from the fish to cause the fish to chase. Others opt to jiggle the bait more in hopes of prompting a reaction strike. Still others resist any movement at that point in the game. All continue to watch the fish and adjust their presentations based on what they fish show them.

Of course, the way fish's response is an aspect of another game. If it shows interest but never quite commits, I'm forced to consider whether my presentation spooked the fish or whether I'm using the wrong size, color or style of lure. Often it takes a few players to begin to figure out what the fish are wanting that day.

Then there's the "stay or go" question. Some anglers believe in holding tight if they think an area is good - remaining patient trusting fish to move through. Others prefer to do more searching, moving from hole to hole, watching with the electronics and paying close attention to which holes produce the most action.

Of course the most important game is that of choosing the location. Being an ice-fishing novice and having done all my trips with tournament pros and guides who have years of experience, I've stayed out of those decisions. I've asked plenty of questions, though, and it's interesting to hear the thought processes. The fact is that fish relate to the same types of rockpiles, points, weedbeds and such under the ice as they do in the open water, and most holes in the ice that look like they are in the middle of nowhere are where they are for a specific reason.

The list of games could continue, but for me more ice play will have to wait until next winter. For now, the bass and bream are moving up in the ponds near home, and the trout are waiting to be caught.