COLD WEATHER SPEARING

All of us spearing fanatics have our tricks. Being an outfitter, we have heard it all. Potato chips or deer corn down the hole for visibility, hotdogs for decoys, or even letting the radio blow out its speakers to some good old Led Zeppelin. Everybody has their thing on what works on a normal day. But what does everyone do when its dead and nothing is moving? Well, we got to work on this last season and came up with a few different things that could change your spearing trip!

First, one of the main things that we have found that slows the spearing is barometric pressure. Don’t let it scare you, it’s always going to be there, but it may determine how well your trip goes. What we have found that Northern do not care about it being high or low as much as they do about it changing. If you are getting a report of a drastic lift or decline, stay home and clean out the tackle box. Think of it as if the pike were getting a migraine before a rainstorm hits. They are going to slow down and be lethargic. When they do, they aren’t going to chase a decoy or a golf ball that won’t sit still. So, if you do decide to take a chance and go out during a peak or lull, leave the decoy alone! Be patient and let the decoy be an attractant rather than dinner. After all, you just need the fish in the hole, not necessarily to eat your decoys! Curiosity will work just fine!

Secondly, if it is a cloudy day, you won’t have as much sun penetration through the ice, and it will make the water in your hole less clear. Scrape a path around your tent to aluminate the decoy and bring more light into the hole. Drill some extra holes around to have light paths underneath if the snow/ice is too thick. Anything to bring the light in will work! But make sure to keep your windows shut and cracks sealed to prevent any light from beaming into your hole from the dark house.

And lastly, don’t be tied down to one decoy color. This is a common mistake with some anglers. If the pike are not responding to a red/white or they are just skirting the hole, throw a silver or black/orange down. Just because YOU think the decoy looks better than your girlfriend, doesn’t mean the pike will be into it! Being stubborn won’t put food on the table so try something new!

I hope that some of these options will give you an edge on your next adventure! Until then, Sharp Tines everyone!

STAND YOUR GROUND.

APEX

The most convenient way to ensure your tailbone won’t meet that hellaciously hard ice, just strap the Apex Ice Cleat on, grab your auger and start punching holes knowing there’s no ice condition these babies can’t sink their teeth into.

20 MULTI-DIRECTIONAL, SAW-TOOTH STAINLESS CLEATS FOR THE ULTIMATE TRACTION AND QUICK MOBILITY.