Let’s talk about Lake of the Woods for a second. We started dissecting the structure of the lake and estimating the location of the deepest basin in the area. If you have ever watched our show you know Tyler LOVES crappies, so he was locked on to a different mission – finding those crappies! We went about a 1/2 mile from the island and started unloading when Todd casually mentioned his buddies were out last weekend and caught a couple of crappies. Remember, we planned on fishing walleyes which are abundant in the Tamarack area, so we weren’t too concerned with where to start. When you are on Lake of the Woods the possibilities, spots, and fish are endless. We dropped some stuff in the cabin and out fishing we went. Todd jokes we even had room for the hairdryer, but I left that in the truck!! After we finished securing our gear, we put our helmets on and headed off on a 20-minute jaunt over Lake of the Woods. We shared hugs, started unpacking the truck and packing the sleds, and bundled up in our Striker suits. After crossing the border, we drove the remaining 45 minutes to the launch to meet Todd and Paul. The next morning, I was up at 4 A.M., got ready, and we were on our way. Therefore, I packed 2 bags one for the hotel room with my shower stuff and one for fishing. We travel with around 70 pounds of camera equipment alone, so there isn’t a whole lot of extra space going out to the island. Being organized is a huge help for these types of trips. We crossed the lake using snowmobiles, which meant little space for gear. I may be a little more “high maintenance” than the guys in that aspect, but Tyler giving me that extra time it makes for a happier team. We did this for me to be able to shower and wash my hair as close to our trip as possible – knowing I would go days without while filming for Sportsman’s Journal. The night before our trip we drove North to the Minnesota / Ontario border and stayed in a hotel on the U.S. After many years of being invited, we were finally smart enough to take them up on their offer and join them for a few days of fishing. Our host, and owner, Todd Hacault, and his son Paul usually spend a few days on the island every winter hitting the ice, checking their property, and bringing out supplies. – there are no ice roads, there is no internet and low cell signals … But the fishing is just as unbelievably good as in the summer, and I mean it was INCREDIBLE! We were planning on fishing action-oriented walleyes and maybe some northern, but we found something different – trophy crappies, by the bucketful. There is no running water – and all that goes with it, showers, toilets, etc. We spent 4 nights at Tamarack Island Wilderness Lodge – 8 miles out of Morson, Ontario – in the middle of March last year. Spoiler: That woman is me, Sara Trampe, host of Sportsman’s Journal, so we are catching BIG fish! I also have a set of First Strike tipups for crappies and perch.What’s it like taking a girl to an island in the middle of Lake of the Woods in March?! They both have their places, but I prefer to use the rod and reel versions. It sucks when a big fish goes on a run and your line is all tangled and frozen with a regular tipup, causing knots and frustration. I HATE when the line from a regular tipup is laying on the ice and freezes into a big, tangled mess! With the rod, you have the reel with a drag and can fight the fish without your line freezing to the ice and getting all tangled. The reason I like using tipups with a regular rod is line management. I have hole covers for the Arctic Warriors as well, but the spool on the reel is above water, so the line can freeze to the spool if its really cold outside. Mine are older ones that were black, so they generally do a good job of keeping your holes open during the day, especially if the sun is out. For pike, I almost always use HT Polar Therm tipups. I use both.I prefer to use the Arctic Warrior tipups from Clam for trout and walleye.
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