Be FOD Alert

ICY INNOVATION

Beyond The Pale

feather merchants beware

courtesy: FIELD & STREAM  (LINK)

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.. As the ice fishers take to  Hebgen Lake there will be some unique bits of terminal tackle on display and used.
.. In the past these are bits of tackle that have had the commercial tackle makers changing their underwear.

BEND THAT ROD

.. For about 10 years a sneaky bit of angler innovation has been making it's way into the gear fishers repertoire.
.. The "BOTTLE CAP LURE" is now a staple of both warm and cold water fishers. Recently it has wormed it's way into the ice fishing scene.
..  A couple of small manufacturing companies were established about 10 years ago. They succumbed to the backyard builders and ease of desktop manufacture.

HEINEKEN'S FINEST

.. Locally there are some inroads being made among our local ice fishing contingent. The device is simple and easily made.
.. The most popular color is silver and the Coors Light cap is most accessible.
.. The other local favorite is the Green Heineken cap. it is often adorned with rubber leg bunches and other creative stuff.

THE SWEDE

.. Most of the time the cap is folded and occasionally augmented with beads to rattle inside the fold.
.. For jigging through the ice the caps are often used "Au Naturale." It seems silly but the bigger fish are often taken on these giants of the ice fishing world.
.. Of course, the traditional and ever popular Swedish Pimple will be in every anglers arsenal. This is an OLD favorite and works in most conditions and depths.

THE BUZZER

.. Other favorites include the complete range of fly fishing nymphs, scuds, and buzzers.
.. Many will be decorated with maggots, meal worms, and bits of night crawlers or red wigglers.
.. In the late Autumn scuds accumulate fat and become pregnant. A bright orange spot appears in their mid section and trout tend to key on the spot through the winter.

FROM THE LOCAL FEATHER MERCHANT

.. Scuds are happiest at about 15 feet deep in the water column. They can inhabit depths to 50 feet but the milfoil environment they prefer is not usually that deep.
.. Right now the fishing reports show the big fish being taken at between 7' and 20'. We're not speculators but, we do suggest that tomorrow there will be lots of scuds being used.
.. With the heavy snow of the last couple of days and the bright cloudless days there is a foot of slush on the lake. Could me a real mess come noon today.
.. EARLY BREAKFAST AND THEN INTO THE FRAY.

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WALLPAPER:  MUSHROOM & SWISS OMELETTE