Andy B Loc: East Springfield PA

Went to put the yac in this past Saturday and the whole end was covered in about an inch of ice. So I trailered the yac home and stripped it down for winter storage. Guess it won't see water till hopefully next April???? This past year I fished around some parts still covered in ice in April . Let's hope for an early spring... I have a little TIP to pass along. As I was separating my daily use tackle box it occurred to me that I would be putting quite a few frogs in one big plastic storage box. So the tip is.... I sprinkle a little baby powder in and shake it up to lightly coat all parts . This prevents the silicone legs from sticking(glueing, melting) together as sometimes happens with spinner baits especially if stored with plastic trailer baits still on. I have a small collection of spinner baits in baggies with powder on them as well . Keeps them fresh as new . Hope this helps someone save some bait from ruin! 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🇺🇲🇺🇲

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Andy I hate it when my honey hole freezes over 😤. Thanks for the tip brother. First I ever heard of that trick 👍🎣

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Baby powder flavored frogs…🤔

Thanks for the tip!

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

I use potato starch (for potato flavored frogs).

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

Perhaps cornstarch so as to avoid odors?

Callturkey Loc: Pennsylvania

Andy, sounds like a good idea, I have some rubber baits I'm going to try that on.
Thank you

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Good idea, thanks for the tip

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Cold up there Huh?

Callturkey Loc: Pennsylvania

Yes Sir, it's a little chilly but I checked and water came up 2' or so and it's not really dirty so tomorrow may be a good day. As long as that stinking wind isn't blowing at 15 - 20 mph.
Water temperature is still pretty decent.

Ryp Hankins Loc: N Michigan

Can you access that honey hole and fish the hardwater? I do. The action is lively all winter.

Callturkey Loc: Pennsylvania

My wife is already asking when am I going to fish. Geeeee, she must really love me.

I like fishing for them native trout, January and February are good times as long as it don't put the snow down, I'm good to go!

Andy B Loc: East Springfield PA

This area is quite accessable for ice fishing however I'm not real interested in the hard water and definitely not geared up for it. So I'll patiently wait till first thaw and go "Rip some Lips". Will be looking at a new x-heavy fast tip rod I looked at last spring and more than likely get a couple new bait caster reels. Gotta do something to get me thru the cold winter. My Dawia Tatula is going in the trash though. Fixed it once and not happy with it at all. Got a couple good Lews reels and maybe check out a Shimano fast reel 8 3:1 maybe. Gotta skid those 4&5# ers across some pretty thick salad hopefully. Even that fast doesn't always seem to be quick enough to get them headed up and my way. Blasted Pads are thick as thieves up here . But we can always try.🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🇺🇲🇺🇲

Callturkey Loc: Pennsylvania

I often wanted to try one of those bait casters, everytime I do for one I hear all the negatives about them.
I bought a few of those Zebco rods, 5' and good old Zebco 33 reels. I can cast them and get them back under brush and low trees along the bank.
Maybe Santa will bring me my first bait casters.... maybe I just need to try one for myself.

Andy B Loc: East Springfield PA

In all fairness they take some patience and practice to get used to. Might I suggest that if you decide to try one and you have access to some 30# or heavier braid that may be used so you don't waste any expense on backlashes ie bird nests. I used one at first with 20# mono on it, ha. spent just as much time pulling my hair out as I did picking out backlashes. Perhaps that's just me. Things really started making sense when I started using them everyday while fishing. I feel someone could cast for years in the back yard and not really get a feel for them as when your fishing. For me I was concentrating so much on the fish and my location to them . The rest just came sorta naturally. Guess I'm sayn' don't over complicate them . I still don't find my casting as accurate as with the old Zebco outfit I grew up with either. It's really just a few simple mechanics and getting a feel for them. I find that once I see a big blow-up I'm not worrying about all that stuff ..... unless it ends up stuck in a overhanging tree. Give it a honest try you don't need to spend alot on one to try it perhaps someone would give you one to use for as season or keep for your own. I learned to love them throwing Frogs but you may have already suspected that. Good luck either way. 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🇺🇲🇺🇲

Callturkey Loc: Pennsylvania

That's good advice Andy.
I've heard that about those reels, but I think I would be in to trying One.
Never fished with braded line but I'm open.
Now that The last several seasons I've been catching some big fish (for me they're big), and I've lost a few, quite a few. I am constantly playing with the drag on the Zebco 33, but I do believe it's time for a change.
My biggest fear is casting back underneith stuff, I got that down pretty good, especially with the short rod.
Just wondering, do I need to go to the 6' + or can I stick with the short rods?

Think I'm going to find out before to long, now's the time to practice.

Thanks Andy for the good advice.