Portable storage hack, Tiller vs wheel debate, Rippin’ Rappin’ on LiveScope

Posted by Adam Ford on The Book of Face. 💡

Now send that lawn mower up for a nap!

Always good arguments for both sides…. But if you could only choose one, which would it be? Click here to tell us once and for all.

Gotta say the late-fall round (for me) goes to wheel boats, ‘cuz ain’t nobody trying to get slapped in the face with 36°F water. #TillerLife

LOL.

Think I’m going to start referring to the tiller crowd as “the dark side” ‘cuz it consumes the souls of those who use it…. I mean, here’s an actual quote from crabby-old tiller dude I once knew:

> “You do not yet realize your importance – you have only begun to discover your power. Join me and I will complete your training.”

🤣 Relax…if I could own both, I would.

Well, @joshuaruel and his Acme Hyper-Rattle took it a little too literally. 🤣

Brutal!

Not sure how Josh Johnson already got his hands on these new Acme Hyper-Rattle colors, but I’m 1) slightly jealous and 2) digging this shot:

We’re in that awkward “in-between” time of year right now where I’m at…lakes and accesses are getting pretty frosty – some even started to skim over with ice. Marks the end of my open-water season 😔 and soon I’ll be pacing the shorelines hahaha.

In honor of the upcoming hardwater season, I’m gonna bring back this video from early-ice last year to maybe give you a little inspiration to start the year.

Sometimes bigger is better, especially during early-ice when oxygen levels are high and fish are hot-to-trot. Can be a great time of year to bust out the rattlebaits (😏 not just a Lake Winnipeg thing). Don’t be afraid to try ’em on your local watering holes.

These Midwesterners were chowing a #6 Rapala Rippin’ Rap in the “Helsinki shad” color. Noticed lots of tiny shiners on the electronics and even being spat up in the hole, so I added a #6 VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble to the front belly hook because it had that same profile/flash – 🎯 they were lovin’ it!

Btw for most “regular” lakes around me, I’d probably drop down to a #5 Rapala Rippin’ Rap. And if I lived in some place like Manitoba, I wouldn’t be afraid to kick it up to the BIG #7 when things are hot. Always let the fish tell you what they want, or don’t want.

It’s one thing to find fish…other half of the battle is getting ’em in the boat. Steve Meredith had his drag set just right to boat this wall-dawg that swiped at his Storm 360GT Searchbait:

Austin Los (@winnotlos) somehow front-hooked this waldo in the snoot with a “glo white” color Northland Puppet Minnow:

Justin Schwartz caught this one on a Rapala Shadow Rap – makes runnin’ braid look a little scary. #Tear’EmOff

And one from Steve Meredith – this little bugger sure had a big appetite trying to take down that #7 Rapala Rippin’ Rap:

1. OH: A fatal 2-person boat crash happened on Lake Erie.

Two boats collided (around 9pm on Tues) near Cranberry Creek between Huron and Vermilion. Sounds like 4 people were involved: 2 folks were rescued from the water, 1 was rushed to the hospital but later passed, another is still unaccounted for. 🙏✝️ Thoughts and prayers.

2. How sick is this reel?!

Oh boy, it’s here 🤯. The crew at 13 Fishing just released this Black Betty FreeFall Carbon 10th Anniversary Trick Shop Edition:

> Celebrating a decade of ice fishing exceptionalism, the FreeFall TRICKSHOP EDITION 2021 (Internally known to our team as the “Golden Snitch”) was built as a tribute to the first 10 yrs of 13 Fishing. Send your bait into the strike zone on a straight, twist-free fall. Pull the FreeFall trigger system and let the smallest jigs drop resistance-free. Easy one-hand performance.

> Built for the pencil/pistol-grip position, the ultralight carbon frame is incredibly strong. Features include an Instant anti-reverse for solid hooksets and a carbon disc-drag system that starts easily and provides consistent pressure through the entire range. Available in right and left hand retrieves.

They have some available…for now…. I had the chance to see one in person at ICAST and will say that pics do NOT do it justice. Someone please tell Santa I’ve been a good boy lol.

3. IA walleye limit changes go into effect Jan 1.

4. WI: Ryan Teach promoted to St. Croix brand manager.

Ryan was the product manager at St Croix. And judging by this photo he seriously enjoys ice fishing so I already like him lol:

👊 Congrats to both!

5. UT: Flaming Gorge Rez “Burbot Bash” set for Jan 28-30.

A derby that’s held each season to help wipe the “illegally introduced” species out of the fishery. $30K+ in cash and prizes up for grabs.

6. IA: KP’S Yellow Bass Bonanza happenin’ Feb 13.

7. I’m reeeeally digging the matte, tactical green color…

…of these limited-edition Okuma Ceymar TGs:

8. Another “why didn’t I think of that” dealio!

Called the Lakewood Net Protector and will stop the hardware from scratching the gunnels of the boat! So simple, so smart:

Tom Boley’s early-ice tip-up strategies.

Video from early-ice last Dec where Tom shows how he sets up his Beaver Dam Tip-Ups, or as he likes to call ’em – “day-savers” – when things get tough:

Those made-in-the-USA Beaver Dams are bulletproof 💪 and for sure a hot commodity – always seem to be sold-out everywhere. If you’re super quick on the trigger, I did find 4 of the new Beaver Dam US Veteran 5 Branches Tip-Ups in stock on FishUSA:

“Some call it crazy, we call it commitment.”

– That’s NPAA’s caption under this snap from Matt Quick. 🥶 #diehard

This shot from @julian_dicke is actually a zander (muscle-bound, European cousin of walleye) but too good not to share. Thing looks absolutely squirrely and somehow slightly terrifying:

National Professional Anglers Assoc. 

MN-FISH