Thin ice anglers thinking of launching the kayaks

Warm weather, loss of snow along with some open water on inland lakes have made kayak anglers 4think about launch time.
From discussions about what clothing to wear for a winter yak outing to what baits might attract a bass, many have opinions of these subjects.
There have been lots of posts on Ice Book from "newbies" wondering what a good beginners boat might be that is stable but not too hard on the wallet.
New boats are followed closely by what rods, reels and lures most takers use. In that mix, pfd's are mentioned as to comfort, storage pockets and which type will keep you afloat should you find yourself in the water.
Over the past few days, beginners are wondering where they can fish locally for a variety of species.
One thing that sets kayak anglers apart from other fishermen is their willingness to share information. That includes the bait they use, how they present it, where they fish (although not necessarily the exact holes!), and general tips that include tackle organization and securing things you may normally not think of to the boat if not in use.
The posting of tournament trails for the year are appearing on most kayak trails. It looks as though this year will have trails suited for anyone insofar as travel and expense goes.
So, if you are looking for great information and friendly folks willing to help answer practically any question you have check out the following sites on Face Book:
-Michigan Kayak Trail (MKT) is primarily devoted to tournaments and standings. However, they do welcome questions.
-Michigan Kayak Fishing (MKF) is the page that talks about kayak fishing itself, lots of how to's and mods.
Other trails include KBF or Kayak Bass Fishing, KATS and several that are out-of-state. KATS originated in Texas and was brought here in large part thanks to the efforts of Jeff Sherwood, Joe Colgrove and Summit Sports.
You will soon learn that fishing championships requires a certain number of points. These point can be gotten on the Michigan trails and others.
New to tournament fishing? We all were. It's fun, lots of camaraderie, and not a do die event similar to others. After all, it's first and foremost supposed to fun, a family event, and finally, a learning experience.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Happy paddling

Roger Beukema taking a break on one of Michigan's northern lakes. By Beukema

y information and if more family orientated. Before you invest money on a rod and reel, boat or anything associated with kayak fishing, check this page out. You'll find pro and con replies for everything from anchor rope to Zarra Spook topwater bates.

Ice definitely not safe in southeast Michigan

Longtime fishing buddy and Waterford resident Glen Uhl prowls many of Oakland County lakes year round.
For Uhl, ice fishing is something to be looked forward to. Cass Lake and it's surrounding waters like Gerundegut Bay are areas he likes to fish.
Sunday he headed out from Dodge Park. Along the way he encountered a long angler. The two talked for a moment.
As Uhl headed out, the other man followed him onto Gerundegut Bay. Uhl warned the stranger to be careful as both sides of the bay didn't have good ice.
The two cut holes and began fishing. "A short time later, the old guy caught a ice bluegill. A little while later he loaded his stuff and began walking to shore," Uhl said, continuing to fish.
Several minutes went by when Uhl heard a commotion. Looking around, he saw this man had fallen through the ice.
"I headed over there with an auger for something he could grab onto. About the time I got there he got out of the water.
"I heard some more shouting behind me. When I turned around, three other guys were running toward us to help. One of them went through in deep water. He was pulled out with a rope one of his buddies was carrying," Uhl said.
"I'll see you Wednesday morning. We'll do some work and improvements to your fishing sled in my shop," Uhl said.
Fine with me so long as we weren't venturing out onto the ice. For those of you thinking of ice fishing, keep thinking about it, preferably from your recliner. Stay off the ice.

Bay City resident Don Luenberger with Shiver on the River winning walleye. By Beukema

Bamboo and fishing have more in common than rods

Mention bamboo to fly fishers and thoughts of a handcrafted rod immediately come to mind.
Now comes BOODYWEAR for men, women and children with fabric made of bamboo textiles.
I’ve worn the well-fitting boxer style briefs that are designed to give men maximum support while being lightweight and dry.
As a rule I never wear T-shirts but I made an exception and tried the Boody “T.” This too was lightweight and very comfortable to the point I forgot I had it on under another shirt.
Because it’s getting near time to get ice fishing gear together I’m going through my socks to see what might work better this year.
Boody socks are thick, stay in place, are warm and best of all, seams seem to disappear. With all of my socks I feel the seam that runs along the ball of the foot.
The seams in these socks make for a smooth fit. I wore them all day yesterday in a pair of Dockers loafers.
I never had to pull them or make any other adjustment. Check BOODYWEAR products out at boodywear.com.
Get ready to give that BOODYWEAR clothing a test along with those winter duds that have been hanging in the basement since last ice season.
Mark Martin's Ice Fishing Vacation School will hold a session on Saginaw bay February 5-8 out of Linwood Beach Marina.
If the slow action of winter is getting you down, a trip to the Bay may be just the ticket to left the spirits.techniques from a Fishing Hall of Fame member and tournament walleye professional.
Mark Martin lives in Michigan so he understands and is familiar with our many lakes, especially large bodies of water like Saginaw Bay.
A typical Martin ice fishing school begins with registration. Students are given a schedule of each days events along with a gift bag with many of the latest lures and other useful equipment.
Once registration is complete, Martin, along with several of his pro staff that have accumulated years of knowledge as tournament anglers speak about some of the finer points of ice fishing.
Persons new to the sport won't feel overwhelmed with knowledge because these seminars always begin with the basics; what line to use, how to rig it, should you use snaps or swivels, and what about leaders? All of these questions and more get covered.
You'll want to bring your personal equipment in for this meeting if nothing more than have experienced people look it over to be sure your set up is as good as it can be to help make you successful.
For information and registration call Scott Szafranski of Linwood Beach Marina, (989) 697--4415.

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