Ice 2016

Well, I have decided to revisit this thread for all things related to Ice fishing in New York.. Much have changed here and I hope to share related topics towards ice ,gear and tactics.. Feel free to share and indulge in your adventures.. Maybe even Rob S will join in..lol
That said:
I'm so stoked for this belated ice season,, Played with my gear and tuning things up this past weekend.. Ordered more stuff that I really don't need but will be grateful to have..
We all may or not know the new 7 device rule this year.. It means 7 tip-ups or any hand lines in combination.. Cant imagine I will run 7 traps or 7 sticks but depending on the water, maybe 6 traps and 1 jigging rod.. Other waters such as lakers, I see 3-5 traps and 1 rod in hand ..
More gear:
Decided I'm sick of tossing fragile jig rods into a soft case only to crush or break the tip's off.. Got me a new frabill hard case.. New to me so anyone with one please give likes, dislikes.
The fish gripper: Humm.. Horror stories about boa-fish grippers and handling.. For open water, it may be true.. My thoughts is to be able to grip a sharp toothy fish by the mouth and pull it outta a hole.. I find it difficult to get any fish of weight out of a hole , especially thick ice , any real delicate way.. So why not try and "lip" em'and straight pull ? Thoughts welcomed.. Also it will be a dual purpose tool.. When I intend to keep a large fish , soft or hardwater,  it has a scale.. Seems cool to me..
Lastly:
The baitcasting rod/rig..
Going to try this out this season.. Jigging deep water for lake trout it only seems logical .. Abu Garcia reel and 36" casting rod with braid .. Direct contact to jig & fish...
 
My first planned adventure is 1/29... we surly should have ice somewhere and no matter I have an adventure planned.. Hope to share pic's and stories.. If things lock up sooner, I will be there..
Enjoy the 2016 season and stop in to share the love of hardwater through your eyes :
Peace & Tuna
 
 

True,
That makes the honey do list with no excuses..
Hope is sundays low of 5 deg and highs maybe 30 for a week will set up some pond water
Ice Gear review:
 The frabill rod case is adequate .. Much better then my past state but I see things that lacks in quality..
http://www.fishusa.com/product/Frabill-Rod-Safe
 
Fish gripper/scale:
seems pretty awesome.. 5 year old Grandson loves it !!! I think it will serve purpose well :
http://www.fishusa.com/product/Rapala-Digital-Fish-Gripper
 
Casting /jig rod..
Another awesome product.. Abu Garcia 5500 reel and braid line.. Gonna do some damage on fish in deep water..
I have the spin rod/set up also .. Good deal on ice.. screw down rod seats are the best..
http://www.fishusa.com/product/Berkley-Lightning-Rod-Ice-Rods
 
 
 

That ice looks awesome! All we ever get locally is snow covered or cloudy white, I don't think I've ever seen it so clear. Would be almost spooky to stand out over that! and those gills would make a great fish fry...

thanks folks ..
With the boys being 30 on Thursday I'm going to catch some ice with both of them.. 30 years ago on the 28th, I drove the wife to hospital in a 1972 Dodge Charger @ 2am in a snow storm (we found out it was twins on New years eve..  I Sat there and watched the tragedy of Challenger around 11 am..  Our Twin boys born at 5:00 pm :)
 
Gils tomorrow with my son Randy and lakers Sat with Rob.. Yea buddy,
Feeling a little skeptic about that black clear ice tomorrow though.. Most of the puddles here had standing water today and some grey, guessing from light rain.. This 40+ deg stuff has to STOP !! lol
We will tread lightly and spud often..
As ALWAYS use safety and caution.. 
Gear packed (light)
1.spud bar
2.throw rope
3.Ice picks
4.flotation throw
5.common sense
If that lake proves un worthy , there is another local (dead sea) that has a solid base..
 
Hope to be sharing great adventures of Phat gills & slimy Lakers
 

Great haul there! And glad you had a good time with the boy, trips like those are hard to come by and the memories are priceless!

well the fishing with my birthday boys week was a huge success. From panfish on weds to lake trout yesterday, we caught !!
Today was about chasing grandkids on the ice and they played... A few fish were caught on tip ups so flags flew..
I'm pretty beat down so long report but the Ice on my laker lake is here to stay .. Hoping for many more slimmer trout..
 
We put 12 on the ice , lost 7 jigging yesterday:
Love the UN crowded waters :) 70 FOW

 
Some bodies hit the ice:

 
Fish gripper worked like a CHARM, even got weight.. 2.6oz

 
More then fun as the bro-inlaw had the hot rod

 
Crazy photo app from the dumb phone:

 
Lastly :

 
The boy had a few too but no pic's to share .. Maybe he will ..
Wont be back out until the weekend and then the following week I have a 7 day straight ice run..
Winter is not over yet and many fish to catch:
 
Peace & Tuna
 
 Ps.
used a lot of gear that came from right here at fish usa.. Must say, PLEASED with everything.
LOVE the casting rod for deep water jigging.. 

Good gosh Tuna I don't know how I missed your thread buddy, guess I was too busy peering wishfully through holes in the ice.
 
Congratulations on the catching and some great pictures too.
 
 
I and my buddy Bill fished the docks at Jamestown on Pymie today from 12:30 til 5:30 PM.  Bill began catching some shad just before we gave up and called it a day.  
 
Few other fellas fishing the docks prior to my arrival reported zilch results and decided to relocate in hopes of locating hungry fish.
 
 
 
Ice wise, things ain't lookin so good around Jamestown, few more warm days and I'm thinking open water from the boat launch to the dam.  Incoming weather may slow the process but, c'mon spring!
 
 



 
 

Boy oh boy, what a fantastic week on the hardwater..
The temps went from -10 to plus 50 .. From snow to rain back to ice.. It was a GREAT ride !!
Couldn't ask for a better place to stay in then the Maple Leaf on Schroon lake , NY.. The rooms are big, clean and owner is always friendly.. At a rate of $22.00 per angler (3) it's hands down my favorite motel..
Anyway,
The fishing and time spent with friends and family was well worth burning a week of vacation :)
Here are just a few shots from 4 days on the ice :


 
After the Rain :

WAY to CROWDED for me :)

Our tracks in the slush:

 
Yesterday was one for the record books.. Put double digit trout on the ice jigging just 3 holes.. It was non stop action:
 



Again , Crowds suck:

 

Great pictures Tuna and congratulations on those fish.  Now can we have spring............ Please?

Those crowded conditions would keep me away,how do you pick a spot to fish? LOL
Good to see your getting the time in Rich,next month it's my turn out in Ohio for some Steel...I hope!

Time is surly getting short on the hardwater..
We had a BLAST and played with many fish yesterday to a laker land all our own..
Today I invited friends and don't you know it was a complete 180 from yesterday..  Besides my friends , the Circus came to town.. Antics that resemble the salmon river.. Ah, we all had fun and good times ..
Taking the polar plunge was not really a plunge but a refreshing willing dip :)
Yesterdays action ..
Once again , crowds SUCK !!



 
LOVE the fish gripper , aka boa grip:





 
Got a few photos of today that my friends took .. Hilarious stuff , maybe post at a later date..
 
 

Did you cancel out on the Marina?  I could not figure  you eastern Dakers coming that far west, but....

Somebody calling BTDT??????...........    Sorry.
 
 
Some great pictures and very nice fish HT, short but successful season, good for you.
 
Myself, I'm sulking (and enjoying it) now that the ice is gone in my little piece of Penn's Woods I've been on the water just about every day and I still ain't catchin'.   Stupid fish!!!
 
I'll be looking forward to more ice stories next season, til then fish on!!

Thanks Peter and welcome to the forum .
While it was a shortened season compared to the past , it was a much better fishing this year .
The lack of snow really made the outings much easier and it seemed better on the fish as well.
Hate to say it so soon but I can't wait until the ice returns :) , well after we put a smackdown on stripers and salmon on the boat

So I'm putting my 2016-17 Ice gear list together..
hot item so far from fish usa tackle is  :)
Abu Garcia
C3-4600
Retrieval Hand
Right
Jiggin lakers
 
Cant wait