December 2017

Episode 49
First Ice of the Season
Show Date: December 2nd & 3rd, 2017
Location: Ely, Minnesota Area

We had to go to northern Minnesota, but we found ice!

We’re excited to be back out ice fishing for another season, and we’re starting where we’ve started quite a few times in the past, Ely Minnesota.  Ely is a perfect location for early ice for a bunch of reasons. It’s pretty far north, it has many small lakes to choose from, those lakes aren’t accessible for open water fishing, and few have any houses on them.  They are completely wild lakes, and getting to them on a Yamaha ATV is a very fun part of the adventure.

Once we’ve gone down a mile or two of trail, we check out the thickness of the ice before we bring any heavy equipment out.  After we know the ice is safe, we get out the Jiffy and drill holes, lots of holes on this trip.

We set Beaver Dam’s for northern pike, and jig for panfish using Kastmaster and Acme Tungsten jigs.  It’s the perfect ice fishing combo, and despite some wind on the first day, we have great weather & ice conditions.

Episode 50
Lake Michigan Lake Trout
Show Date: December 9th & 10th, 2017
Location: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Guide: Captain Caleb Zorn [Wacky Walleye Guide Service - 920-743-5731 | wackywalleye.com]

This week we’re back in the boat with Wacky Walleye charter captain Caleb Zorn and his buddy Günter in the Milwaukee harbor of Lake Michigan.  Lake trout is open year-round now, so along with the brown trout, we’re targeting Lakers as well.  

We are jigging using both plastics and Kastmasters, and when you get one on, there is no mistake.  

Episode 51
Fox River Walleyes in December
Show Date: December 16th &17th, 2017
Location: Fox River, DePere, WI
Guide: Brett Jolly [715-581-5678 | captainjollycharters.com]

It’s early December, and that means that the walleyes are running up the river chasing shad to bulk up for the spring.  This time of year it’s not just the walleyes that are big, we can catch big northern pike as well.  Our aim was to target walleyes after dark, but they bit so well during the day we didn’t need to stay late.  

The walleyes we are catching are bay fish, so they are great to eat as well as fun to catch.  We are mostly jigging, but throwing crank baits too.

Episode 52
Christmas Party on the Ice
Show Date: December 23rd & 24th, 2017
Location: Pike Chain; Iron River, Wisconsin
Guide: Josh Teigen [715-813-0575  | joshteigen.com ]

Ice fishing is a great sport to do with a group.  This year we’re fishing just before Christmas, so we decided to invite a bunch of good friends, and have our first annual Christmas Party on the Ice.  Our guide, Charter Captain Josh Teigen brought his buddy Acorn. I’ve got my two daughters Taylor & Blake. Pete Maina and his Dad Tex are along, as well as Hannah Hudson, and Chris.  We’ve also Scott Davis from Amsoil, who brought two of his co-workers along for the trip.

We’re fishing the Pike Chain near Iron River Wisconsin, this is Josh’s hometown, so he knows all of the small lakes that have safe ice this time of year.  We’re panfishing for crappie and bluegill, and have the Beaver Dams set for pike & bass.  The sun is out & it’s not too cold, but there is quite a bit of wind, and we think that the front that is moving through has made the fish a little skittish. 

Episode 53
The Mills Fleet Farm 2017 Highlights Show
Show Date: December 30th & 31st, 2017
Location: Mills Fleet Farm, Appleton, WI

It’s the end of the year, so it’s time to look back on 2017 and see how we did fishing, as well as see how our viewers did as well.  We will be taking a look at our biggest fish, and most exciting moments.  We also be randomly selecting from the biggest fish in different species categories from submissions to the 2017 Mills Fleet Farm Fishing Contest to pick grand prize winners.

Huge thanks to Mills Fleet Farm for another successful year of our contest, and to all the grand prize winners.  Big thanks to the venders that provided the grand prizes for this years contest - Clam Outdoors, Jiffy Ice Drills, Humminbird, Beaver Dam Tip-Ups, and Johnsonville.

The 2018 Contest will open on January 1st, for fish caught in 2018 - Good Luck!

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