First time on the ice for 2013/2014 season

With all this cold weather brings a new season. I have had an insane summer, starting my fishing season with a knee surgery in May, then having chd two in July, and getting married in October has set me here, summer and fall gone, and December and ice fishing has started!

With local reports of ice being walkable coming in, I decided to start planning my first trip, a flurry of text messages, lake maps, and surveys later it was set to go out yesterday morning (12-1-13) onto a small lake that is very in known and can put out nice eater Walleyes. We hit the lake at 6 am and started working our way out into the lake checking the ice before hauling gear out. First hole, marking fish, second hole, same. We set up relatively shallow and started fishing. Nothing. As the sun came up Matt kept fishing that area while I checked more ice and re opened some old holes someone had fished the night before. Same thing, fish marked, no bites! So we start the year off like this fish-1, Eric - 0

All in all it is nice to have some hard water back, I got to put some time in with a few new products and can now do write ups on those, and I got to hang out with a buddy that I had not fished with all summer.

Stay safe out there, we have 3-5" of ice locally but with snow coming in no one will be able to see the thin spots or skim ice that some of the deeper lakes still have.

Tight lines

-EK

Multiplier reel, third try....

So last week yet another multiplier reel hit the market. This time it came from our friends in Michigan. Sportsmensdirect.com designed the Tight Line Extreme. I put in an order and waited.

Today I go to check the mail and its already here.....3 days from Michigan to Minnesota. Thats Fast. I open the box and imediatly think, How do I change this from Right hand retrieve to left. I know from experience that most "fly reels" I use that term loosely, have a one way bearing in the main shaft. This reel is soo easy to change. Take out the dime sized flat head screw, rotate the gear assembly off the center spool, and take off the spool. Inscrew the bearing cap and flip the bearing over, and re assemble. super easy.

Now some technical stuff.....heres the specs....

Fast Line retrieval: 12" per handle turn
Ultra light weight: 3.7 oz.
Warm to the touch: Graphite frame
Easy to grip: dual, soft touch handle-knobs
Durable: ball bearing drive with center pin supported on both sides
True No-Twist/Straight Line performance: Line comes off the top of spool
Versatile Rod Grip: Able to Pencil Grip or top grip
Drag: Fully adjustable with unidirectional bearing (drag engages only going out)
Reel Orientation: Right and Left hand capable.

price $39.99

The only negative is there is no free spool. but I dont mind pulling the line by hand. I can strip 30 feet of line in 5 stretches of the arms or so. 

The major thing for me is the fact that the spool is inside an exo cage, I can rest the ball of my hand against the reel and it doesnt catch on the spool like it did on the eagle claw and Black betty 6061...

A few months back I saw a post on Facebook from PK Lures regarding Pro staff Openings. I had used the PK Spoon in red dot glow with fair success and thought that it would be a nice fit, I applied and was offered a Staff position within a few weeks. Upon accepting I was mailed a box with some goodies in it and when I opened it I found an assortment of PK Spoons, PK Flutterfish, And PK Ridgeline Crankbaits. Now, Im a 90 percent Ice guy.....I hardly fished open water at all up until this year. Ive had a ton of time to play around with these lures and have had some decent success with the ridgeline cranks trolling, pitching them up shallow.

So far this year I have gotten to test the PK Spoon quite a bit with really good results. The red dot glow/Nickle backed combo has been money so far.

Cant wait to keep the results coming from these lures! Great products from a great company!

Few reports

Been super busy lately, but getting some ice time in. Seems like the shallow bite is starting to end and the fish have started to move out to the basins. fished 10 feet on friday with not a whole lot to show for it. Taken a few trips here and there this winter that I need to write up reports from. First trip of the year was an overnighter to the Alex area, got into some really good fishing that weekend with a 25" eye and 14 inch brut Crappie coming through the ice for me, as well as an 11 gill for a buddy. Hit up the Mille Lacs area for a weekend and saw a few good fish get brought through the ice, sadly only one for me on a rattle wheel int he middle of the night. Been hitting alot of local lakes that Ive never or rarely fished before with mediocre results but having fun doing it!

New builds 2012-2013

Thought I would post some new rod pics since its been a while!
A sweet new rod for myself, 28" camo Noodle tip blank (Thanks DH!), 5" cork, Yellow/blue wraps

 Couple rods I built for a  buddy up in Bemidji, MN. Modified St. Croix Premier. Started as a 28" UL, ended up at 25" with a Spring bobber attachment. The Pink/Grey Combo wrapped rod was built for his Wife. 28" fast tip glass with Spring Mount.

 This rod is a 32" walleye Rod. Wrapped in the official 2013 EK Custom Rods Colors. Landed a brut 25" eye first trip out with this rod.

 Another Pic of the Camo Blanked rod.

 This rod was a redo, it originally had some blue wraps with no trim. Its a 26" Quiverstick Blank, 5" handle, and lightweight guides. Small deco wrap in green/blue.

 Added some blue trim rings to the handle for a little extra flair.

Let me know if your looking for a rod! Im busy, but busy in a good way!

Tight Lines,

-EK

Progress Report : Eagle Claw Inline Ice Reel

Well, I have been able to hit the lake a few times and have some reviews that I need to write up, And have had time to test some previously reviewed gear. Today I decided to sell the Eagle Claw reels. After using them a few times, I feel that they are an improvement overthe original "fly reel" craze reels like the okuma's and Procast's, But I think they have some things they need to improve before I fully commit to them.

1) the line piles to one side after a couple retrieves from deep water. Unless your paying attention all the time I feel this could lead to some problems with the line skipping off the spool. (this was what I experienced). I was able to offset the reel to one side a little bit and get it to lay on the center but it felt awkward.

2) The offset weight, the handle side of the reel is heavy and causes the rod to twist in hand

3) How it takes a 1/4 to 1/2 turn of the handle to disengage the free spool. This also lets the spool bounce when jigging heavier lures and felt just plain bad in hand when jigging.

So if your looking to try them out  I have one left for sale at $30.00 shoot me an email at EKCUSTOMRODS@GMAIL.COM

Tight lines!

-EK

Product Review - The new Eagle Claw Inline Ice Reel

A few weeks back a new reel popped up on the market. Rumor had it; it was a lightweight Multiplier reel, Was low cost, and limited. Limited meaning each store that got them had 6. By the time I heard about it the local store was out. I was bummed but put out the word amongst the many Iceheads I hang out with or talk to that I wanted to get my hands on one. The next day I got word that Eagle claw was clearing out units without box’s at half off retail. Again, they only had three hundred so time was crucial. I didn’t get around to calling till the next morning, the conversation went as follows….
Rep: Thanks for calling Eagle Claw, How can I help you?
Me: I need a few of those inline ice reels
Rep: let me look and see if there is any left.
5 Minutes later-
Rep: I have two, no more, no less
Me: I’ll take em!

Fast forward a few days I open the door to find my new Shiny reels in the mailbox. First impression was that It was a well put together reel compared to other eagle claw stuff. Step two was to change the retrieve over to how I reel. I looked in the bag, no instructions. I had known from previous reels that there had to be a one way bearing in the reel.  I set out to find it starting on the outside of the reel and working my way in. Within 5 minutes I was able to have them both reversed, Super simple. More later…..
Now onto the review.

Let’s start with the Pros –

Large rubber handles
•   This is great for guys who wear gloves, or guys with cold hands. Not necessarily hard to grab small handles with cold hands but
larger is better.
•   Also a double handle like most baitcasters.

2.6:1 Retrieve rate
•   This is most likely the #1 reason most people sought out to get this reel.
•   This feature aids in fishing deep water for gamefish, but also aids in the ability to stop jig spin.

Free Spool
•   Awesome feature that gives the angler the option to let a jig drop down the hole without having to peel line off by hand.
•   Simple to use, just push button in and line goes out, No flipping a bail open
•   Adjustable for light and heavy jigs

Cons

Weight
•   Although light weight the reel is balanced off center and tends to pull the line to one side where it will pile on the spool.
•   Feels “weird” in the hand, almost like the rod wants to twist
Feeling in hand
•   The way the spool is set up when pencil gripping the spool side of the reel rubs on the heal of your hand when reeling.
•   Might be better if the spool wasn’t ribbed on the edge, this would allow the spool to glide across the skin much like a normal fly reel does.

Drag
•   Not easy to set
•   Takes extra pressure to get the drag to work
•   Not a wide adjustment range

Reel foot length
•   Could be longer for the best feel

Conclusion:
If one is looking for a low price solution to the normal 1:1 retrieve ratio, this reel may be it. No real info has been provided on whether or not they will have more next year, or even later this year.

To change the reel from right to left or vise versa one must take these steps

1. Remove free spool knob and spring
2. Remove retaining screw and retaining plate from reel handle
3. Remove reel handle nut
4. Remove drag knob and two spring washers
5. Remove bearing and one way bearing, turn one way bearing 180 degrees
6. Replace, and re assemble.