Which Marcum? LX-7 or the New M5?

Josh K. asks:

Hey Joel. I'm switching to marcum this year and know you run them. I fish a lot in South Eastern ND for perch and walleye in usually less than 10' of water. I'm torn between the M5 and LX7. Van you give me some pros and cons of each. Always ran vex so looking for any info. Would be much appreciated. Thanks

Hi Josh - I think much of it depends on personal preference at that point, though I think there's a few ways to break them down. The LX-7 has the bigger screen, digital output, and nearly infinite levels of customization when looking at the graph as open-water scrolling mode, flasher display, and/or vertical display. There's alot of fish catching power in tuning in a unit to your own tendencies and preferences.  If you know you like a bigger screen, then for many people that's all it takes.  People have discussed the shallow water performance, and my experiences have been that when using proper depth range settings, you'll have no issues.    

In regards to the new Marcum M5, you've got something that looks much more similar to the Vexilar you're switching from, so that amount of familiarity is nice for a lot of anglers. If you really enjoy the circular style flasher display, have known and loved it for years, and don't see yourself using the other features of the LX-7, then I wouldn't hesitate to go M5.  It'll save you some money and you'll get an upgrade from your Vex.

Now here's the important part! - Whatever you do, go Lithium.  You can get either model on the new Lithium platform for not that much more money.  The increase in run-time, speedy charging, and more than 30% weight savings makes it a no-brainer for the serious hole hopper and ice-angler like yourself.  

It's been more than a decade since I've switched out for good on my electronics, but I'm looking to use the Lithium M5 as my primary unit this year instead of the trusty LX-5 I've always used.  

Get the Lithium LX-7, or the Lithium M5 and don't look back!

Joel

Why Would I Buy a Marcum LX-5 Now?

Ben Datres asks:

Hey Joel, I've heard some talk on In-Depth Outdoors about a new line of Marcums coming out, possibly all digital like the humingbirds? I know you can't tell me those details but marcum has the lx5i at a crazy good discontinued price. I'm strongly thinking of getting one now unless you think its worth waiting for the new line of flashers? I've had a showdown troller 2 for the last 4 years so it would be a huge upgrade.

I've had a chance to play with the updated flasher, and I'm excited for what it'll bring to the table.  That said, at 40% off, the Marcum LX5i that I currently use is too great an opportunity to pass up!  The Marcum LX-5 in all its original glory has been revised a few times, but keeps getting better and better.  While I'd hate for you to miss out on what's up and coming, I know full-well that many people are interested in the price point that this tried and true flasher is now offered at.  

Regarding flashers, especially on price buys like this, my thoughts have always been that you can purchase and always re-sell on the used market once ice hits once you're ready to upgrade.  That used market is incredibly strong, especially in November.  

Enjoy your purchase, I know I'll be keeping mine around for sentimental reasons if for nothing else.  That unit has put some beasts on the ice!

Joel

Targeting Truly Massive Crappies

Ryan Repke asks:

I'm just wondering if you knew of any lakes that produce big crappies. I'm all about selective harvest. I release fish 99% of the time and have tight lips when it comes to spots as I'm sure you do too. Not looking for your spots but any info would be greatly appreciated. I mainly fish pool 2 for walleye and crappie. My biggest is 15 and I really want to beat that PB. I've researched a lot on stocking reports and creel surveys but just can't seem to find a lake that produces 16+ inch crappies. Thanks

Thanks Ryan.  I think it a noble quest to get out there and break previous personal-bests, especially by putting in the work to track down a specific species.  I can start out by telling you something you probably already know by now, in that a 16”+ crappie is a rare find.  While there may be certain water bodies that kick them out with more regularity, I think the key to understanding here is that few kick them out with consistency, and even more rarely to the same individual.     

I can speak from experience in saying that most of the truly big crappies I’ve taken have been on accident, while fishing for walleyes or bass, and my personal best at 16.25”es didn’t come from Rainy, Upper Red, or Lake of the Woods.  It came from a small farm pond while bass fishing a cold front with a ¼ oz. jig and 4” white curly tail grub.  Others in that 16” category were taken with jig/minnow presentations early season when fishing shallow for walleyes, and in northern WI muskie waters, both being lakes that get zero press for their crappies.  The pattern here being that there was no pattern or good tip-off and indication that giant crappies would be there.     

Many others in the 15” to 16” category come from famed northern waters previously mentioned, but are increasingly in short supply.  Instead, it’s the nearby contributing waters, nearly always difficult to get to, barely connected to these historical big-fish-factories, and not well-known for crappies that most of my best fish come from.  These northern fish are old, so they rely on time and little pressure to grow this size.  There are quite a few obscure northern MN waters that hold fish over 15”es, but for every 1 fish over 16”es, you’d have to catch at least a hundred 15’s.      

There exist several record-keeping groups that track master-angler, trophy caliber fish of all species, and this is a good place to start if you’re hunting for monsters.  Keep in mind, not all people are entirely honest in their accountings of fish sizes (real shocker there), but patterns still will emerge.  Creel and stocking reports are moderately helpful, but the gillnets should tell a story, particularly if larger individuals are present in any number whatsoever.  Keep in mind you’re talking about a very small percentage of the lake’s total crappie population. 

The two biggest factors that contribute to large crappies I’ve taken are both timing (seasonal) and presentation.  My biggest crappies have come in the mid-spring time-period around docks and shorelines sometime around the spawn, and during the first few weeks of the ice fishing season.  Both are opportunities to catch big crappies poised to out-compete pesky smaller fish.  To attract big fish and deter smaller ones, fish big.  In the spring, that means larger jigs and plastics.  Fish slowly, but accept that fact that you’re trying to keep 12” and smaller fish away.  In the winter, that means spoons, 3” jig/plastic combinations, and rattle lures like the Slab Rap or Rippin’ Rap.  Most of my biggest winter crappies have come by walleye fishing with walleye-sized baits. 

I wish you luck, and let me know when you crack that pig!

Joel     

Late Ice Crappies - Where to Look?

Henry Loew asks:

Hey Joel! How have you been? I recently found out that you weren't on IDO anymore and I was wondering where you went... well I found your page and its awesome! I really enjoy reading all of the stuff you got on there and I really admire how much you love the woods and the lakes. I created my own kind of fishing team called gotta love it outdoors we really enjoy fishing and hunting anyways I was wondering where are the larger crappies at this time of the year? Are they moving in shallow?  What do they like to bite on?  Also the bigger gills too. I know you are a huge pan fish guy so I thought to were the best guy to ask.

Thanks for the kind words Henry, and you're right, I love fishing for panfish year round.  It's funny, late-ice has come to mean a number of different things depending on where in the ice-belt you live.  I just got back from a photo shoot where we were looking for gills and crappies all over northern Minnesota, and found them very much still in their mid-winter patterns.  That should come as no surprise with subzero temps, plenty of snow/ice, and the fact that the calendar was just creeping into March.

True late-ice conditions to me means a pattern of melt during the day, with below freezing temps at night, over the course of a few weeks.  As ice separates from shore, some of the best angling is still to be had provided you can find a way onto the ice sheet.  It's some of the best fishing of the year, but also some of the most dangerous.  Wear a floating suit like a Striker and always be mindful of your exit plan at the end of the day.  

Late ice is great for a few reasons.  Movement of water washes in nutrients and even early terrestrials, while increased sun angle and light penetration breathes life to the shallows.  For a true late-ice pattern I'm looking in less than 15FOW, primarily around the best standing weed growth in the lake.  Cabbage and coontail both are great weeds to focus on, and one of the best big crappie patterns I've ever been on is a sight-fishing gig that happens over these expansive weed flats.  

Start with a clear lake that holds quality crappies, then focus on the closest flat to traditional mid-winter holes.  Knowledge of where crappies are mid-winter only shortens your search.  Drill holes in as shallow as 5 FOW across the flat, all the way up to 15 FOW and fish terrestrial patterns.  VMC Tungsten Flies and  VMC Wingding, Nymph, and Wax Tail Jigs are what I use for this bite, especially in the largest sizes, as they are "buggy" yet offer plenty of lifelike action.  

It's a slow process and takes a healthy dose of patience, timing, and stealth.  Setup in an Otter hub-style shelter and use it as a dark-house to get a leg-up on those crappies, and don't lean over the hole.  Rather stand back and let your line drape across the front of the hole and down.  Position yourself on a chair or focus on being as still as possible while looking at only a sliver of underwater real estate.  Any quick movement, and fish will be gone.  Jig aggressively to draw in crappies from far away, and work the fish visually from there.  

It's not a numbers game, but is a pattern I've successfully repeated in many clear trophy crappie waters for the biggest fish in the lake.  Remember to release those tanks, as brute crappies are as rare as big gills these days!

Good luck,

Joel  

Late Ice Panfish - Look for Bass

Jason from Perham, MN asks:

We have alot of lakes in our area that have bluegills, but how do you narrow down good late-ice panfish lakes?  What spots would you start looking for them and when?

Thanks Jason - it's funny but one of things I look for in a great late-ice panfish bite is the presence/abundance of large bass in the system.  I can think of a number of late-ice filming trips where we found the bass first, and eventually some great standing weedbeds (coontail or cabbage), then the great gills that go with them.  Healthy largemouth populations seem to go hand in hand with great bluegill lakes, and while the gills can be tough to find, the bass usually aren't.  Often, they're the tip-off you're looking for to keep the hunt on.

This weekend, we punched a pile of holes all over a small lake known to have some good gills, but never came across any.....until dark and after.  Underwater camera work, gobs of hole-drilling, and some meticulous jig-work within weed beds only yielded small panfish or bait-perch.  After dark, those bigger gills drifted out of the weeds they were buried in and were more than willing to eat.

Inside turns coming out of deep water with a strong, standing weed-growth at the top could be the strongest location I've fished for late-ice gills, regardless of lake size, depth, or location.  As for when, the later the better, as daytime melting washes terrestrials into the system, and night-time lows lock things back up again.  Latest ice is best, but be careful, it's also the most dangerous.  Fish fast and aggressive, and don't be afraid to fish the 3rd shift should you encounter nothing but quality bass during the day.  

Good luck!

Joel 

Lake of the Woods Resort House Advice?

John Steinhauer asks:

Hey Joel finally making my first trip to Lake of the woods ice fishing. For a few days. Going out of Arneson's, any pointers or must have lures? I've only ever been there for the spring sturgeon bite before so an absolute first for me.

Thanks for the question John.  In a phrase, fish loud and proud. One person should be trying to attract fish in at all times with blade baits, rippin' raps, slab raps, etc. VMC rattle spoons work well as a slightly more subtle, yet still noise-making approach. 

Two colors, gold and glow red have accounted for most of the fish I've ever taken up there, with a gold perch color being a close second to those.

Fish aggressively to draw them in, and make sure to have setlines with free swimming shiners and more subtle jigging presentations too.  When I know I can't be roaming the open ice to go to the fish, I do my best to draw them from distance to me.  The added benefit to being stationary is that you can provide a virtual buffet of baits, colors, and sizes to them, helping you get closer and closer to cracking the code of the day.

Enjoy it!

Joel

When To Go Fishing?

Jacob Kruse asks:

I've been a big fan of your work since your time at In-depth Outdoors and have enjoyed your latest videos with Tony Roach. I always love watching you catch big gills.

What are your thoughts on time of day, weather, barometric pressure and lunar phase affecting fishing or when you should be looking at getting out? Particularly relating to bluegill and other panfish. With young children my fishing time is limited, so I figure why not try to optimize when you can get out.

It's funny, the exact moment I read this I was eating lunch at Hunter's Point on Mille Lacs with Tony and I showed it to him.  His response?

"Go fishing anytime and every-time you can.  You may get hit by a train tomorrow."

My thoughts these days are much the same as his, but I fully understand when you're coming from.  More and more often, the pressure to catch fish surpasses the idea of just going fishing.  So to maximize your time on the water, I've found that 60% of the time the following works everytime:

• Fish pre-frontal conditions - These are signified by any change in the weather, typically for the worse, where calm stable weather gives way to precip, winds, or other storms.
• A stable barometer provides the best long-term fishing as fish settle into more predictable locations and patterns, while the hottest or fastest fishing is in the hours when the barometer has reached the "shoulder" of the slope and is starting to decline.  Continual peaks and valleys make for yo-yo-like fishing patterns and inconsistent action.
• Use a site like Weather Underground to show the graph of relative barometric conditions.  
• Lunar phases tend to affect predatory fish more from the research that's out there, and bluegills don't feed after dark in "most" lakes.  There are clear water bodies and lakes with active night-time invertebrates that are the exception to that rule.
• Early and late is always the best, but it's better to find them during the day and move with them if you can.

Per Tony's advice, don't look for reasons not to fish, but if you get the choice you're usually best served by heeding the above advice.  That said, I've had incredible days in bluebird conditions with pressure high enough to give every fish in the lake a headache, but they didn't mind.  All the more reason to hit it when you can!

Joel

Which Reel - Spinning or Inline?

Justin Carlson asks:

Hi, I was wondering does a spinning reel have an advantage over an inline reel in certain situations. I have been building my own fishing rods and I have noticed that the line seems to be more smooth with an inline reel over a spinning reel. Does the size of the rod make a difference? Example an ultra light that one would use for bluegill or a heavier rod for walleyes and pike. Thanks Justin

Hi Justin - There is certainly alot more interest with in-line reels over recent years.  Much of this attention centers around some design advantages of an in-line, namely smoother uptake, less line twist, and a larger spool arbor to resist kinking and memory.  While the latter especially may be true, I've been somewhat disappointed with in-line reel designs over the years that promise these benefits without losing the traditional strong-suits of your higher end spinning reel.  Still, there are situations where finicky panfish especially require it. 

While I have not tried them all, I've found many in-lines to have poor quality drags which are crucial when using light line.  Another issue can be the gap between the spool and the base allowing loose line to find its way inside and get buried.  All of which adds to a more frustrating experience.  For better or worse, the standard we judge everything against is the spinning reel, and the familiarity we have with it, in my opinion requires these inline multipliers to not only match their performance, but to exceed it.  I'm guessing that eventually the market will produce one that fits the bill, but hopefully it's priced "in-line" with spinning reels of a similar quality.  

You can certainly pair an in-line with any kind of rod, and I've seen Tony Roach use one quite successfully for walleyes many times.  Just pair the rod and line for appropriate use, and you should be good to go.    

Good luck!

Joel