I was looking at Mille Lacs earlier today. Until my friend reminded me that it is a 13 hour drive. Looks like a cool place though. I'll check out some of your guys closer suggestions.

Does it count if you bought it for yourself - or did Santa have to bring it?

I ordered the Frabill 371 quicktip combo for myself. Sounded like a good deal to me.
$100 -- reduced to $50

Link OK ? - if anyone is interested? 
https://icefishingdeals.com/2016/12/14/frabill-371-bro-straightline-quick-tip-combo-30-49-99/

Merry Christmas to all

Yep. Sure enough.
I just stopped at Veterans park and there are signs that somebody has been out on the ice there. Fishing- and looks like the kids have been playing hockey too - they've got a rink setup.
 Darn it! I could've went out yesterday probably - maybe today too. It is like 40 degrees now and warming up through Monday, I think they're saying. Maybe I just learned Veterans will be my first area water to freeze up. - And learned I better keep my eyes wider open.

Hi Everybody.
My name is Tim and I live in Mentor - about 30 minutes eat of Cleveland.
I have not been on the ice for something close to 30 years, since I was a teenager. Got the itch to try it again so I have been gearing up and reading up all I can. Got some buddies from work fired up about it too. We are all looking forward to it. We are all a bit older now so I bought a pop-up shelter to get us out of the wind. A hand auger and a bunch of other goodies, including some safety gear.
Hoping to learn a few things from you all, and maybe even be able to contribute something worthwhile here and there as well. I'll surely be checking in for the latest ice condition reports - and fishing reports too! I hope we get some good ice this year so we can get some use out of the new toys. It seems we don't usually get a whole lot of ice some years.
Anyhow thanks for letting me join in with you all here.
(praying for ice now)