Going to have to give the bobbers a try this winter.
Does it work in "the open", or only in the heated enclosures ?
Typically, we sit in a heated ice hut, eating & drinking & the holes are drilled outside in an appropriate sized area for the amount of fisherpersons. Once somebody sees a flag drop, or rod go down, then it's much like a football game to see who can get there first.
Hey there 99, I don't think I answered your question. Just saw it now.
Yes, slip bobbers work out in the open but any outside fishing needs constant effort in clearing ice out of the fishing hole and melting ice off the line.
The old Thill style slip bobber are my fav because they are so classy (as far as a fishing bobber goes). But they require extra effort when outside fishing because the fishing line threads all the way through the bobber from top to bottom. a little ice bead will form at the top of the bobber and through it's center which can freeze your line inside the bobber. When this happens, you no longer have a slip bobber, it's locked onto the line. then it becomes a hand over hand line because you cant reel it in once the bobber hits the first eyelet on the fishing rod.
another kind of slip bobber that works better than others outside fishing is one like this:
See, that's a clip on style, it just glides and slides on the line. You keep your bobber stop above the bobber at the depth you wish to fish. These are made of open cell foam that is inserted into a little plastic clip end. They really are nice because you can trim the foam float length with a pocket knife or even just pinch it off with your fingers. I like to do that so I have a float that barely floats my jig and bait. the fish feel way less resistance that way when they bite.
The reason these work nice outside is because the slip slot stays under water while you fish, this greatly reduces line freeze to the float. also when ice does build up on the float itself you just give it a squeeze with your fingers and the ice crumbles off because the float is soft.
Yes that is a weeny dog wearing an orange cape. Don't try to pretend you've never seen this sort of thing before.
Went with some guys in Colorado once that did it right. Wait till April, sunny day in the 40's or warmer, pull the keg out with you on a toboggan, pack plenty of sunscreen.
I just broke out my auger for the first time in 5 years since I moved out here. I sure miss me some ice fishing! we've had a cold enough winter that we actually have 6" of ice from the reports I've heard. I plan on going out a day here this weekend and see about getting me some crappies through the ice. I made the mistake of giving away all my short rods when I figured I wasn't going to get on hard water ever again. So last weekend I swung through Scheels and picked up 4 new rods (13.99 each) they came with reels and everything! couple cheap rattle reels that clip to a bucket and I was set. I made me some "airplane" tipups with the kids a cold day a week or so back so when I bring the family out we all can fish. out here we can use 4 lines a piece and I figure on doing just that!
I had much work to do on the auger from rebuilding the rewind to retapping a bolt hole that got buggered years ago and replacing with the correct bolt and put new gas in. Just when I thought I had it perfect I pulled and pulled and nothing was happening. I checked the fuel line, it was good. So I pulled some more, choked it, then moved it to half way after a few pulls and nothing. I was getting frustrated thinking the spark plug was bad until I looked at the on off switch and somehow I must have flipped it off. I put it back to on and with one pull she sprang to life. I gave her a little reving and she was humming along like a tune. I threw the auger bottom back on it and watched it spin a few times to make sure all was well. now I just need to break away from work long enough to get out on the ice. anyone have any tips for fishing small deep water reservoirs for crappies?
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
6" on the trout pond just outside of town. they call it a "reservoir" but the name seems overkill to a 38 acre pond, even if it does get to 50' deep.
didn't catch a thing but I did get to teach my boy about Ice conditions and how to check it safely starting at shore. drilling holes, skimming, setting up a portable and he showed me what happens to the lantern when you just drop it next to the truck and it tips over. the trip only cost us 1/8th of a tank of fuel, 2 mantles and a globe.
he loved it even though we didn't get a nibble
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.