Getting ready for ice fishing season

[wiperhunter2]

I went to charge my battery for my Vexilar and found it was toast. In years past, I would go to the NPS in SLC and find one for a few dollars but things have changed there, it seems. Only found two, and the cheapest one there was $25, guess they no longer give discounts, like they use to do on certain days, guess i'm done going down there but the good news was gas prices near there, at Maverick, was only 3.19 a gallon. Its a little to far to go, but since I was down there anyway, I couldn't pass it up. I decided I could find a battery for $25 on line, so I started looking this morning and found one but then I started wondering what the price a lithium battery would be. I found one for $35 and that included shipping. I know it's still a month or two away but why wait until the last minute. How about any of you, are you ready for ice fishing season?

[doitall5000]

I went to charge my battery for my Vexilar and found it was toast. In years past, I would go to the NPS in SLC and find one for a few dollars but things have changed there, it seems. Only found two, and the cheapest one there was $25, guess they no longer give discounts, like they use to do on certain days, guess i'm done going down there but the good news was gas prices near there, at Maverick, was only 3.19 a gallon. Its a little to far to go, but since I was down there anyway, I couldn't pass it up. I decided I could find a battery for $25 on line, so I started looking this morning and found one but then I started wondering what the price a lithium battery would be. I found one for $35 and that included shipping. I know it's still a month or two away but why wait until the last minute. How about any of you, are you ready for ice fishing season?

What size was that lithium battery? And where did you find it?

[wiperhunter2]

12v, 9ah, here is a link to the one I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMTG...=UTF8&th=1

[SkunkedAgain]

Looks like a great deal on that lithium battery... Hope I don't need one, but bet I will before too much longer, some of mine are getting some time on them... Haven't started getting ready yet, but I'm sure if ice starts to form I'll be able to get ready pretty quick.... Would be nice to go through stuff and clean all the old stuff I don't use out and restock with stuff I need..... Noticed last year I take a lot of stuff I never use. Most of the year I was minimal fishing with just a rod box, finder, auger and a bucket to sit on and that was really all I needed... Guess I took the spud early to help me keep on safe ice, but after I was familiar with the conditions on that lake, I was bad and didn't take it again until the conditions started to deteriorate... But every year is different and so is the gear I take to different lakes... If it snows a lot I'll want to have the snowmobile going again so I can pull the wagon train, if not I'll be fine with the bucket... I need to check my Smitty's skis, I think I chewed them up pretty bad last time I had them out, so I may need to put some new ski's on them this year, didn't use my tents last year, so will need to clean and get them ready for the season... Anyone know a good way to repair covers to sleds/ tents? Mine have been in my shed, but still in direct light from the sun, so they are getting pretty faded and looking ragged... Don't really want to pay a fortune for a new cover, but would like to have them function the way they are supposed to... Guess there's really a lot to look into to getting ready for the ice season... Not to mention all the line I should replace this year... Later Jeff

[FishfulThinkin]

12v, 9ah, here is a link to the one I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMTG...=UTF8&th=1

Don't you need a special charger for Lithium? Or do you already have one?  I've noticed the same problem with NPS. I used to get batteries there all the time for cheap and a lot of other stuff too. Now I see their prices on most stuff and it's usually double retail so even on the 50% off sale it's still no deal.

[wiperhunter2]

12v, 9ah, here is a link to the one I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMTG...=UTF8&th=1

Don't you need a special charger for Lithium? Or do you already have one?  I've noticed the same problem with NPS. I used to get batteries there all the time for cheap and a lot of other stuff too. Now I see their prices on most stuff and it's usually double retail so even on the 50% off sale it's still no deal.

I'll have to see what comes with the battery and what it says in the packeting. I don't have a lithium charger but this is why I ordered early, to make sure I have everything before the season starts.

[dubob]

Curt,

Too early for me to even think about ice fishing.  I still have 2 months of duck hunting to attend to.  See you on the ice in January.  

[Cowboypirate]

Curt,

Too early for me to even think about ice fishing.  I still have 2 months of duck hunting to attend to.  See you on the ice in January.  

Dont forget to chase a grouse, Bob. That way you will have somthing actually worth eating

[dubob]

Curt,

Too early for me to even think about ice fishing.  I still have 2 months of duck hunting to attend to.  See you on the ice in January.  

Dont forget to chase a grouse, Bob. That way you will have somthing actually worth eating

While I agree that grouse are very close to being the best eating game bird there is, it ain't happnin' CP.  The only upland hunting I do at my age and physical abilities is on preserves with level ground and I've never found a preserve that offers grouse as a choice.  And I can cook waterfowl meat such that you would be salivating and begging for more.  

[wiperhunter2]

Curt,

Too early for me to even think about ice fishing.  I still have 2 months of duck hunting to attend to.  See you on the ice in January.  

I wasn't thinking about it too much either but what prompted me to post this was my regular charging of my batteries. On my fish finder I put a charge on the battery every 3 to 4 month and that's when I noticed the battery was not charging. Last month I did the same thing on my ATV and found that battery was gone too, so I ordered a new one. No reason to wait to the last minute, to check the things you will need to do anyway. As quick as I got the new battery, I guess I could have waited but I've been known to wait too long before, then I could find what I needed.

[Muskyon46]

Never to early to think about ice fishing  got all the batteries charged around here. Curt you will want to pick up a lithium charger for your new battery. There is a difference. Jeff you might want to throw a tarp over those tents to keep them more protected. That new top I put on the X200 is nice with the 4drs but it wasn't cheap. As it goes every year I wasn't planning on needing anything but then a great deal on a sled came knocking and I couldn't pass it up. So now I have 2 lol. This one's a 2001 800 RMK with a144in track so it will be a little funner to play around on than my 1997 Grand touring Cadillac. Being on the snow!

[wiperhunter2]

Never to early to think about ice fishing  got all the batteries charged around here. Curt you will want to pick up a lithium charger for your new battery. There is a difference. Jeff you might want to throw a tarp over those tents to keep them more protected. That new top I put on the X200 is nice with the 4drs but it wasn't cheap. As it goes every year I wasn't planning on needing anything but then a great deal on a sled came knocking and I couldn't pass it up. So now I have 2 lol. This one's a 2001 800 RMK with a144in track so it will be a little funner to play around on than my 1997 Grand touring Cadillac. Being on the snow!

I ordered a charger, as soon as I got the battery and read the instruction, should be here tomorrow. I was just hoping the battery came with a charger but no such luck.

[joatmon]

I've been thinking about it and slowly getting ready. I'm not planning any major purchases, but you never know. I have backup batteries for both of my flashers and occasionally have to switch to the backups on overnight trips.

I won a custom 36" rod in a different (non-BFT) contest last winter and bought a Okuma Ceymar C-30 to go on it. I put 15# braid and a 15# fluorocarbon leader on it. I need to re-spool some other reels and do general maintenance.

I've signed up for that other contest again for 2025. It is similar to the Ice Challenge, but uses total length of all species to get to total inches. It is called the Utah Ice Grand Slam (Game of Inches) and can be found on the FishDonkey App. Many of the species caught for that tournament cross over with the Ice Challenge.

The final thing I've been doing is making a preliminary plan of where to go and when. Some highlights include an overnight trip to Flaming Gorge in late December (and again in January and February), a different FishDonkey tournament at Scofield on January 4, and trying to time ice conditions at several lakes for target species. Should be on ice in the next 2-3 weeks somewhere!?

I've gone from Fish On! to fish on and on and on and on...

[TubeDude]

Not until I find an auger big enough to punch a hole large enough for my float tube.

Had to give up ice fishing a few years ago.  Combination of age related reduction in strength and stamina...and the overall decline in ice fishing on most of my fave ponds.  But I do miss it sometimes.

[EyLayo]

I went to charge my battery for my Vexilar and found it was toast. In years past, I would go to the NPS in SLC and find one for a few dollars but things have changed there, it seems. Only found two, and the cheapest one there was $25, guess they no longer give discounts, like they use to do on certain days, guess i'm done going down there but the good news was gas prices near there, at Maverick, was only 3.19 a gallon. Its a little to far to go, but since I was down there anyway, I couldn't pass it up. I decided I could find a battery for $25 on line, so I started looking this morning and found one but then I started wondering what the price a lithium battery would be. I found one for $35 and that included shipping. I know it's still a month or two away but why wait until the last minute. How about any of you, are you ready for ice fishing season?

I'm ready gear wise, at least for early ice. Usually just run minimal tackle and gear early on. Anxious to get out. Getting off to a slow start. Many years im able to squeeze a few trips in before Halloween. Always tweaking and trying new setups for longer outings during the heart of the season. Hopefully we get better ice this year.

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey I'll second that thought Shawn for better ice this year... Last year was not a good year between bad ice and other things taking me away from fishing on the few good days... Sure hoping for better conditions this year and time to go enjoy it... Has anyone found safe ish ice anywhere yet? Been watching the temps up high and looks like enough cold that lakes are probably freezing now, but don't know if there is enough time on them to get 3" yet... Probably later this week if not happening yet... Later Jeff