went with fishrmn out for a few hours this morning on main lake.  Fournd 9-12 inches of good ice.  Stayed away from recently open areas such as mouth of marina and campground plus area in midlake where geese kept open.  Definately need to check as you go out but most of lake fishable.  Lake was popping right n left putting on good ice even with snow.  Sharpen your blades cause it' will be 15" before the weeks out the way it's goin

Fishrman and I hit the ice this afternoon and only had to drill a few holes.  We hit the marina and found over 5 inches of ice.  I'm sure the main lake has 4+ except maybe in a few areas that held snow or the geese kept open the longest.  Unfortunately that area is close to the foundation.  We fished from 3-6 tonite.  With the stiff wind it was hard to keep warm even with the shelter and heater.  But the fish were biting.  Fishrman schooled me with over 50 fish but I got him with the kicker 13+ crappie thanks to his big fish breaking him off.  The fish weren't shy about hitting for an hour but had to be worked before and after that. 
     Main lake should be good for going out by thursday.  Hopefully we don't get too much rain this weekend and we may have good ice for weeks.  Heard some good poping going on  I'm starting to get excited at the prospect of a good year.  I'll be out for the rest of the week.  Tomorrow afternoon, thurs am and friday all day if I can get away with it.  Just remember to check ice as you walk  areas that retained snow may be unsafe even if the wind has blown it off before you get there.

    It happened again last week and happens several times a year.  Guys (and 1 girl so far) see the stickers on my truck see the Prostaff sticker and ask how they can get sponsored.  They have fished a few tournaments and done well.  Now they think its time to get paid.  I hate to bust anyone's bubble but.  If your serious about getting sponsorship, you want that prostaff patch on your tournament shirt then keep reading.  
     I've gotten tournaments paid and tackle over the years but I'm not in the league with Pro's like Mark Brumbaugh who's the top Ohio Walleye angler.  I first dreamed of working my way up to the big leagues after several successful years on the local circuit.  To me the best way to get information of fishing the pro's was to fish Pro-am tournaments and pick the brains of the contestants.  The Professional Walleye Tour PWT was my intro and that led me to pre-fish with Tommy Skarlis on the Detroit River.  I thought he'd get tired of my questions but not only did he give me sound advice he offered to critique my resume.  I like to share some of what he told me and what I've learned over 20 years.
     How you finish in tournaments counts for less than ten percent of what a possible sponsor looks for.  Sorry to say that but it's true.  The bottom line is money and what you can do to make them more.  To even approach any sponsor you must get your homework done first.  Keep records starting now.  Keep a copy of any printout of tournament finishes scanned into your computer.  When you build a resume include just a few that standout.  You took first place with 40lbs and second place only turned in 6lbs.  You can add that you've had 20 1sts and 60 top ten finishes over your 135 tournament career.  Keep it brief.
     Get to know your local newspaper outdoor writers.  Get written up in your paper and make sure to include the names of any sponsors or lures from sponsors you'd like to get in the future.  If you do any community service and can have that added to an article the better.  Offer to call in tournament results for print.  Check around for any radio stations that have outdoor shows and offer  to come in and talk about a special technique.  Get used to speaking because you'll be doing it allot.  Start checking as to when your local bait shops or marinas have an open house and offer to do a seminar.  Keep a journal of every time you talk to someone about fishing and what about. Sponsors want to know your promoting their products.
    Start writing articles and submit them to magazines, newspapers, start a web newsletter  for your club.  Blog on fishing.  With a digital world you can get your face and name out there in many places.  Promote club products and other anglers.  Be honest treat every article on techniques like the reader is picking up fishing for the first time.  
 What your doing is building a resume.  The same time your doing the above get to know your computer.  A resume can be done using microsoft word or other software products.  Get someone to fish with you that can use a camera.  All anglers have magazines so pick 20 poses (holding fish out, lifting fish from the water) to use for your resume.  Get good shots.  Anchor your boat just off shore with several camera quality fish in the livewell.  Swap out fish regularly so they stay vibrant.  Have someone wearing waders taking pics.  Put your hat up enough so your face shows well in the pictures.  Have the same picture taken from several angles with and without flash.
     Want a good resume?  Fish the Pro-am circuits  Arrange to pre-fish with the Pro's if you can and ask to see their resume.  If they aren't carrying at least one with them you won't see them in the business long.  Most Pro's are great guys and will let you look at one.  Read it carefully and quickly and you'll get ideas on how to build one.  If you make friend with one maybe they will e-mail you a copy for a reference.  Keep in contact on facebook or twitter with them.  If you get to know them well enough they may willing to be a personal reference on a resume application with a tackle manufacturer down the road.  If you approach a sponsor who might be interested but wants a big name to start with you'll have that Pro to suggest which in turn gives you an in when the sponsor expands the Prostaff program.  
     Your resume should be no more that 10% achievements, 40% of what you've done for other sponsors, newspapers etc. and 50% of what you can do for the sponsor your approaching. Spell check everything and look for corrections that need to be made.  It must look professional. Once you've built this take it to an office store and have it put in a comb binding  Make sure there is plenty of color.  Have your best photograph of you on the cover.  Have a clear cover and a strong thick back cover.  Also have your resume burned on a CD.  Send a copy of both.
     Start small when looking for sponsors.  Go after your local tackle shop.  Offer seminars, weekly fishing reports, offer to get thier name on your tournament shirt and stickers on truck and boat.  Look for a discount on product.  Go after a car wash.  After all you want the truck and boat shiny when going to an event.  Get as many local sponsors as you can.  Some may even offer to pay for a tournament.  If you can get and keep local sponsors for a few years then the bigger sponsors will take you more seriously when they see that on your resume.  
     If you get a meet and great or interview with a sponsor remember though we may not wear suits you need to dress properly.  A clean pressed pair of slacks and a button down shirt go a long way.  First impressions last.  Well hopefully I've given you a starting point.  Good luck

     Sometimes talking Ice fishing can lead to some eye opening experiences being shared by other anglers.  I was in Northern Ohio at a truck stop eating dinner when another driver asked if minded some company as open tables were hard to come by.  I always like company during dinner if nothing more than to take my mind off the open road.  Said he saw my ICEARMOUR hat and knew another ice man was in the house.  So we talked lures, electronics, bait but somehow got talking about bad ice.  He was from Minnesota and he talked about laying ladders down to get from shore to ice over a foot thick.  But what got to me was when he talked about taking a so called friend with him one day.  He said the guy was "iffy" to start with.  Said he wanted to go then would back out and finally he went.  It was early and the ice was decent but not thick in areas.  Using a rope he led this guy out and the ice gave way and he went through.  His "buddy" dropped the rope and was gone as quick as he could run to his car and gone.   I know as the story got going my eyes were getting big and round.  Anyway he tells it was an acre pond and he knew he was only in 3 feet of water 20 feet from the bank.  Using picks he got back up and made it to his own car.  When he called his so called buddy to find out why he deserted him the only answer was "I can't swim"
   It got me thinking.  Do I trust everyone I take ice fishing with me.?  Are these guys who can keep their cool under pressure?  Will they panic if they fall in or I do?  Am I willing to put my life in their hands?  In my younger dumber unmarried, no kids/grandkids days it never mattered but now.  I guess we all know this is a great sport but there is danger involved even if a minor chance.  You want to know the people you share this sport with have got your back on the ice.  If there is a foot of good ice no problem anyone who wants to join me is welcome but I think in the future when it's 4" or less I'm going to be more selective of my fishing partners. 

     Welcome to the wonderful, always exciting, sometimes expensive, never a day without learning world of ice fishing.  Throw most of what you know about soft water fishing out of your mind and save it for April.  Before you ever set foot on the ice be prepared.  Exciting can be dangerous if not prepared.  As one who has fallen though the ice and learned the hard way I hope you can learn by my mistakes.  The first thing you need to invest in are the proper clothes.  Thermal underwear is a must.  Not the old style cotton or wool ones your grandfather wore to work but the new The newer Poly underwear is lightweight and warm.  Over this wool or fleece the thinner the better as not to soak up too much water should the worst happen.  Over this an extreme outerwear such as Ice Armor Extreme suit to keep out the cold and the warm in.  Add a pair of sub zero boots and a ski mask and your on your way.  if you want to know how much actual weight you may have to pull out of the lake throw all the clothes in the washer let them soak ten minutes put them in a basket with your boots and pick it up.  You could be adding 30 lbs. before you know it.
     Next you'll need crampons for your boots so you won't slide all over the ice.  Get a set of ice picks to go around your neck in case you need to pull yourself out of the water.  Get a five gallon bucket and attach 50 foot of line to it and coil this in the bottom.  If someone goes through you can toss the bucket to them.  It never hurts to carry a whistle, cell phone in a zip=lock bag and remember to always bring a friend or fish in a pack of other anglers.  You should never be out by yourself.  There is a section on the website for safety and I highly recommend you check it out.
     Next you'll want a sled or shanty or both.  You don't want to make several trips onto the ice  so have something big enough to get all your gear into.  I like the flip over style shanty such as Clam makes.  I have a one man and two man.  These allow you to close yourself in when the weather is bad or flip the front up to block a wind and allow you to converse with other anglers.    If you have a shanty you'll want a small propane heater for those single digit days.        
     Next you want a spud bar and a ice auger.  The spud bar is good for checking ice.  If you slam it down and cracks abound it's not a good thing.  Ice augers come in manual, gas and electric.  Manuals come in two styles, mora and lazer.  Both drill holes but the lazer if easier and pricier but worth it.  If money is no option than an electric is the way to go in my opinion.  Quiet is a good thing.
     The next investment should be a flasher.  Yes you can catch fish without one but why would you?  I don't go on the ice without my Vexilar.  By watching my electronics I can see fish come in and know if they look and run, look and hit the bait or if I can tease them into biting.  I know how deep the area is and I know if fish are on bottom or ten feet off bottom and can adjust my fishing to that.  With a flasher you can see the smallest baits you use on the screen.  My Vexilar makes fishing fun and informative.  
     In Ohio you can use 2 rods and 6 tip-ups.  Don't use your long rods that are sitting in the garage.  You should have rods in the 20-30" range.  I do keep a 38" rod for walking around and hole hopping a technique of going from hole to hole fishing them a minute at a time to get circulation back in my legs from sitting down all day.  Start with a pair of tip-ups some days they can save a trip.  
     For tackle a selection of micro jigs and spoons for panfish.  Jigging raps, jigging shadraps, spoons up to four inches, bladebaits and rattletrap style baits ar a good start.  Also a selection of hooks and don't forget minnows, spikes, wax worms or wigglers to add for bait.
And most important of all surf this website for tips, spots and techniques to help you get started.  Don't be afraid to ask questions here and on the ice.  There are more people willing to help you out than you realize.  And please pack out what you pack in.
  

Do I always take tip-ups with me when ice fishing?  No I'm guilty of being in a rush or too tired to drill the extra holes or leave earlier to get them set up.  But I'm trying to give up the habit of leaving a good part of my arsenal behind.  It's like bow hunting and only taking one arrow.  Tip-ups allow us to cover more areas, keep more lines in the water and can be a good way expiriment with new lures. 
     Ohio allows 6 tip ups per angler along with 2 rods.  I purchased a jawjacker this year and though not a tip-up is fantastic to use as a second rod holder.  I sure I'll have it converted to a tip up soon and will see tip up flag options from jawjacker down the road. 
     I fish primarily for walleye/saugeye plus a splattering of crappie and perch.  My typical setup is spoon/minnow tailhooked inches off bottom.  Spoon vary in size from 1/4 inch to 3 inches in length.  I try to use 3  different colors on six tip ups till one outproduces the others.  I also use Smile Blades above the bait if I think extra attraction is needed.  If I can manage big chub minnows up to 6 inches I make sure to have a few of them out there also.  By late morning I downsize from walleye to perch size baits and go for panfish till mid afternnoon when the eye bite starts again.  On my windlass I have used everything from jigging raps to VIBE's. tipped with maggots.  Spoons and raps tend to work best in a light breeze where bladebait shine with hard winds.  Check these often as they tend to foul.  Also always drill a second hole within a few feet of the tip up hole.  if your fishing with a buddy as you should for safety he can drop in the second hole and score from the same school of fish. 
   A thought on drilling holes.  Always clean a wide birth around holes for tip ups of they will lie flat with the ice.  The chain stores sell big black foam circles with slots and a hole in the middle.  They are great for keeping holed from refreezing.  I'll put them down and move drilled ice to form a barrier on one sde for the tip up to sit on.  I'm sure I've missed a few things so guys resond to this with your rigs and set ups so maybe will start seeing more out there. 

If you live anywhere near a flood control dam there is fishing opportunities all winter while waiting for ice to form.  A hand full of jigs twisters and minnows along with a few bladebaits will catch most fish.  If the fish is in the lake you can bet they are also below in the creek coming out of it.  Every year fish wash out of the lakes and during high water those fish go upstream taking advantage of bait being flushed out.  As soon as the water is turned down is the prime time to catch them.  Jig n twister or jig n minnow casted out and upstream and hopped back will usually be productive.  If your lucky enough to have a wall coming out so you can vetically fish then bladebaits and even spoons can become deadly.  Rip both bladebait and spoon up a foot or two then let it settle inches off bottom.  Don't forget the first bend or hole downstream where many of these fish go to rest.  I prefer hard water to soft but some days you take what you can get.

got out late 8am but still manage a couple on spoon and on spoon/tip=up fish turned on late afternoon on both VIBE and rapala jigging shad raps.  Lift and pause.  Several colors caught fish.  Lost one big pig on a pearl with hand drawn pink stripes.  Would appreciate return of lure if anyone catches lost fish .  Had a great day with P and L.  Had plenty of anglers in sight but had area to oursleves.  Doesn't happen often.