And If you are sneakin' out on the hard stuff…be safe out there!! Just because you see someone else out on the ice, does NOT mean it's safe everywhere:

Those ice-safety charts are great and all...but they do ZERO good unless you actually know how thick the ice is = checking every step with a spud bar (aka ice chisel). Just because a spot had walkable ice yesterday, doesn't mean it will have safe ice the next day. When in doubt, give it a few extra days to thicken up.

Can catch 'em lots of different ways early-ice while oxygen levels are high and the fish are active. Spoons, rattlebaits, jigs, plastics...we've got you covered! Lots of brand new schtuff for the 2020/2021 ice season right here, plus a few other must-haves it's about dang time you tried! [drool emoji]:

...added to their VMC Tingler, Tumbler, Flash Champ and Rattle Spoons. Here's "glow hot perch," "glow tiger" and "glow fire tiger" from left to right:

The "free-swinging hook" (on a singular axis) adds a "tail-whipping action" to your bait/plastics, without having to actually move your bait. For you visual learners:

Can now get that proven spoon shape with 8 hours of red, green or chartreuse glow. They were able to keep it compact = helps cut through the water column and also seal the deal when its face-to-face with the fishes.

> Being that it's ABS, the paint jobs like to hold up better than your typical metal spoon -- no chipped up spoons from bouncing around in your tackle box. ...many of the color schemes come from the Z-Viber lineup.

Comes in 2 sizes: a 1/16-oz (1.25" with 8 colors) and a 3/8-oz (2.25" with 5 colors).

Man, there's a whole pile of Berkley and Gulp! ice treats you might not even know are a thing. Tough to pick a favorite -- can check 'em out here -- but here's a few that stuck out to me right:

Comes in 8 colors and 1/4-, 3/8- and 1/2-oz sizes.

The new-last-ice-season jigging spoon got a tasty new wardrobe:

Here's "wonder bread glow" and "purple tiger glow" with the "gold hologram" backs:

If you've ever fished panfish through the ice, you've probably seen the Custom Jigs & Spins Ratso -- I'd be willing to bet it's accounted for putting a million fish topside over the last 30-ish years. Seriously.

CJ&S dropped a new tungsten jig for this season -- molded after the Ratso -- called the Tütso (pronounced "toot-sew"). It's designed to get down quicker, keep your line tighter, and reach greater depths than the Ratso:

Added 3 new colors in the tasty 1-5/8" (3/16-oz) size Mini Rattl'n Vibe for you ice-heads, and also in the 3/8-oz Rattl'n Vibe. From top to bottom...here's luminescent (glow), wonderbread and luminescent perch (glow):

*** Fish not included

Awesome shots ^ from fish-head Mark Maule, who said the Rattl'N Vibe Mini is one of his absolute favorite baits for early-ice walleyes because "it can be worked aggressively for active fish...but is small enough to fool more-finicky eaters as well."

Has a "downward shimmy swimming action on the fall, and a really tight wobble action on the rip."

Said he targets sand and/or rock flats in 10′ or less, and that the fish are there "to pack on weight for the upcoming winter." Fishes 'em on 4-lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ice Line or TopKnot Fluorocarbon Ice Line (2 new ice lines manufactured right in Yo-Zuri's Japan facilities).

Add some extra goodness to your jigging spoons or rattle baits with these white, orange, and chartreuse Berkley Fusion19 EWG Treble Hooks:

Bonus tip: Set one under a tip-up with a shiner skin hooked in the back = #Money!

And here's an "inside look" at those water tunnels:

Awesome action [!] and still one of the more-unique designs I've seen -- bonus points for being made by a small business in PA:

Takes some practice but you can work it like a puppet: make it dart off and swing in a pendulum or figure-8 motion. Mix and match different plastic tails (or minnows) on the back to change the look/action.

A new-ish 'vertizontal' bait design you can bet those fish haven't seen before:

Folks have been asking for this for a long time. Basically a neutrally-buoyant fly line that lasts forever-and-a-half. Best part = WAY less tangles! Has a vinyl coating that's waterproof so it doesn't freeze and won't cut your hands when that slimy pike makes a big ol' run.

Can get it in a 50-yards spool or a mega 150-yarder that's metered every 50 yards so you can consistently spool up several rattle reels.

Yup, they're a real thing! I just picked one up and couldn't be happier. Check it:

How cool is that?! Said they have "limited quantities available to ship for Christmas" so would jump on it quick if you want one of your own.

BEEFY new Roto-Molded rod cases -- comes in 4 different sizes: 40", 40" deep, 48" and 48" deep. No doubt spendy, but would probably pay for itself if it stopped even just 1 of your custom-rods from breaking.

You hardhouse guys/gals are gonna love this. That bad mama jama in the middle is a 10" version so you can see your bobber from basically any angle in the shack!

JB also has non-lighted "Fish House Floats" with a 10" fiberoptic stem:

They're not just for inside permie shacks…I had the chance to try one during late-ice and loved it. Soaked a fathead under one as a deadstick for crappies -- while I hole hopped around it -- was freakin' awesome watching 'em take it from 30' away!

The ice-heads over at Catch Cover have a slick new gadget for wheelhouses = a wall-mounted Utility Tackle Box Holder that'll hold one 3700-size box, two 3600s or three 3500s. Of course it comes with a "handy-dandy beverage holder" built in:

And don't forget about their rod rack that's actually made for ice rods. Can even store 'em up on the ceiling, outta the way:

If you (somehow) still don't own one of these -- wake up! Attaches to a cordless drill so you can peel off a pile of line right quick. Honestly not sure how I ever managed without one. Work smarter, not harder:

You diehard hole-hoppers already know the benefits of loooonger ice rods -- better hooksets, keep fish pinned, more control over your bait, etc -- so you'll be pumped to know Elliott came out with a trio of 42-44" hardwater sticks. High-end, ultra-sensitive [!!] with Syncork handles and all:

Few details on the 3 new models:

> The ES44UL-XF is a solid glass 44" rod with an extra-fast ultralight tip action to detect lite biters that smoothly transforms into a stiffer midsection and powerful enough to handle most fish that dare meet the challenge.

> The ES44L-F is a 44" solid carbon fast-action blank that excels at small spoon presentations or light-line presentations. It weighs nothing in your hand and fishes with both finesse and authority.

> Rounding out the series is the ES42M-F, a 42" solid carbon blank that is a master at working rattle spoons, Jigging Raps or any reaction lure presentation. The fast-action tip section parlays into a perfectly structured mid and butt section for the best hooksets and fish fighting performance.

Soooo dang handy for popping those tiny tungsten hooks out of a crappie or bluegill mouth. Also works great for popping a deeply-hooked walleye off without turning 'em inside out.... Attach the lanyard to your bibs or jacket and don't look back.

I'm the type of ice-head that prefers to fish in bibs and no coat. Ran this top the last 2 years and absolutely fell in love with it. Spendy, yes...but you can't fish all day if you're not comfortable, and you absolutely won't regret this piece:

Thing is actually really fun to play with -- let's you customize the color of the blade, handle and hardware...even get it engraved. I like being different (lol) so just hopped on there a whipped up this number:

If you don't love my design (not judging!) make your own.

Frabill has 4 brand-spankin' new shacks out now. Can hit the press release here or you visual learners can check this video from Steve Pennaz. Side entry makes the ice-fishing world go 'round [!] and I can definitely appreciate those glove-friendly zipper pulls:

No idea how MarCum fit over 2 MILLION pixels into their Pursuit HD underwater camera, but I'm not complaining! Stuffed a full HD image sensor (1920X1080p) into a compact 5" unit = me gusta:

Also digging the fact you don't need any external gadgets to record HD footage -- just plop a micro SD card in it and whammy.

Wait 'til you see how insanely clear this bad boy is underwater:

In case you hadn't heard: MarCum has a whole bunch of new going on this season, including their own line of lithium batteries…which will be coming standard in all of their sonar units (besides their entry-level M1). And they somehow aren't increasing the price of their units. "The $100 Lithium LiFePO4 battery exists as a value-add...."

Yup, you read that right. Don't worry…the Lithium 40V is NOT going anywhere. Think of this as a lightweight run-and-gun version of the already proven ice-cutter:

That ^ compact unit is a new lightweight auger head combined with SM's popular Lite-Flite Lazer drill. Gets 100 holes per charge with the 6" drill and 50 holes per charge with the 8" drill (based on 16" of ice).

Total weight of the 6" is 13.3 lbs, and 14.3 lbs for the 8".

You ever go to grab something you think is gonna be heavy and it ends up being WAY lighter than you expected? Like a moving box full of can koozies...grocery bag of paper towels...or maybe an empty suitcas.... Feel like the Lithium 24V is gonna have that same effect.

If you're sick of your ice hole freezing over you should probably keep reading. This slick little made in the USA gadget from Cold Nation Outdoors is called the Ice Defense Pro Series. It circulates warmer water from below and "creates thermal flow on the surface to defend against slush and ice build up."

I got my hands on one at the end of last year and thing's legit.

If you've been on the fence about getting one, I strongly recommend watching this on-ice field test video (in 7-9°F) to see a time lapse of it in action -- they literally dump extra slush in the hole and the Ice Defense Pro Series eats it right up:

First off: There's nothing wrong with doing it the old-fashioned way…

That being said, times they are a-changin'! The term "game changer" gets thrown around a lot in the fishing biz, but LiveScope is seriously mindblowing stuff. If you haven't heard of it, here's a 3-second preview from Uncut Angling:

And you can get that ^ same technology in a ready to rip ice-fishing bundle:

For sure ain't cheap, but can you reeeeally put a price on outfishing the snot outta your buddies??? 😝

Here we go! 🍀 Two lucky winners are each going to score an Okuma ice-fishing package worth over $200! Including:

> Okuma (C-10) Ceymar Spinning Reel: I absolutely fell in love with these egg beaters 4 seasons ago and haven't looked back! That C-10 size matches up nicely with most all ice rods and looks reeeeally goooood while doing it. I honestly think you'll be shocked they don't cost more....

> Okuma Trio Ice Rod Kit: A 3-in-1 ice rod that lets you swap out for a 24" light, 26" medium light, or 28" medium blank depending on the type of fishing you plan on doing.

Plus they're throwing in an Okuma Tackle Bag, hoodie and 8-lb Soft Steel Transcend Braid so you'll be ready to rip.

Takes just 10 seconds to enter by clicking here or on the pic below -- can share the link you get for bonus entries. Good luck!

National Professional Anglers Assoc.