By Doug Newhoff and the Fishing the WildSide On Ice Pro Staff

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around the boat,

I searched high and low for a Thill Mini-Float.

Rusty lures were all hung in the carpet with care,

In hopes that new Max Gap jigs soon would be there.

Rods stood snarled in a corner like a thicket of trees,

In desperate need of some Gemini Rod Sleevz.

My holey old gloves and an On-Ice Tour cap,

Neglected and stashed for a long winter's nap.

Visions of Rangers and Lunds danced around in my head,

Powered by Evinrude and colored in red.

As I turned on my flasher, it made such a clatter,

Why it’s older than I am, that’s what was the matter.

An underwater camera would surely be nice,

For my upcoming ventures out onto the ice.

And what I wouldn’t give for a new Mitchell reel,

Or some Buck Tracker boots, now that’d be the deal.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear,

But a bag with my name on it hidden in the rear.

It was rounded and lumpy and filled to the top,

And I knew that I shouldn’t, but I just couldn’t stop.

So I peeked in the bag and was delighted to find,

The things that I’d dreamt of in all shapes and kind.

There were Frostees and Techni-Glo tails and Ice Loks,

New spoons, lots of jigs and a pair of wool socks.

On Carhartt, on Lindy, on Coleman and Lund,

On Northland, on Gemini, on Bombardier fun.

On Beckman, on Irish Setter and Strikemaster,

On Ranger and Berkley; my heartbeat got faster.

On Mitchell, on Fenwick, on Abu Garcia,

On Icelar and Drift Control; oh, Mama Mia!

And I could be heard to exclaim as I slipped out of sight,

A Merry Christmas it shall be, but I won’t sleep tonight!

There’s something about December, and it’s not frost, snow, ice and thermal underwear.

It’s a language thing. For 11 months of the year, those closest to us have no problem saying exactly what they mean.

Wife to husband: “If you’re packing for an ice-fishing trip again, you might as well take your summer clothes, too.”

Husband to wife: “You’ll love camping in the wilderness, honey. Just make sure to bring bug spray, toilet paper, old shoes and a hat.”

Suddenly, it’s Christmas season, and it’s hard to get a straight answer. Here are a couple of translations that will help decipher the gibberish coming from the mouths of those on your shopping lists:

Response: “Aw, shucks. I don’t really need anything. I have you, dear.”

Translation: “I need everything. Except another largemouth bass tie.”

Response: “Spend it on the kids. Seeing them happy makes me happy.”

Translation: “One more Nintendo game and I’m moving to the garage.”

Response: “Roger has a new auger and an extra flasher. I can just use his.”

Translation: “I wonder if he’s gotten over that rod and reel I dropped in the ice fishing hole?”

Response: “My bibs and my boots will get me through another year.”

Translation: “Remember that last trip to the dentist? Why do you think my fillings were loose?”

There is something out there for everybody who pursues outdoor sports and activities. In many respects, they are as easy to shop for as stealing candy from the children’s stockings.

It might mean replacing an old, worn-out item of gear or clothing. It might mean replenishing a supply of lures or terminal tackle. Or it might mean a purchase that puts your outdoor lover on the cutting edge of technology.

Practical gifts come in all shapes and sizes, and they are available for every budget.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Need stocking stuffers or small gifts for friends or acquaintances? Here are some items that are available in the sporting goods section of most stores or by accessing the web site listed:

n       Berkley (www.purefishing.com) filler spools of line are always a good choice, whether it’s abrasion-resistent Trilene XT for the angler who dabbles in heavy cover, Micro-Ice for the avid ice angler or Fireline for the all-season types. Every angler will want to try the new Gulp! soft baits, too. They feature more scent than ever in incredibly lifelike shapes and sizes.

n       Lindy Legendary Tackle (www.lindylittlejoe.com) offers a number of options; too, ranging from Thill floats to the new Max Gap Jigs or the time-tested Fuzz-E-Grub line now available in hot new Techni-Glo colors. There are a number of products both new and established in the hard-water line, as well, including Genz Bugs, Genz Worms and Frostees in hot Techni-Glo colors.  A sure to please is the new, clip-on-the-hat or belt, Tazer II, for charging lures and minor outdoor lighting tasks.

n       Northland Fishing Tackle (www.northlandtackle.com) can stuff that stocking, too, with everything from the new Buckshot Dropper Spoons to Hot-Spot Split Shots, Airplane jigs, Eye-Droppers and a wide range of ice and panfish lures like the Bro Bug, the Creep Worm and the Forage Minnow Fry.  The king of Northland Stocking stuffers: Tube-it Tackle Totes!

n       Gemini Sports Marketing (www.geminisportmarketing.com) specializes in items that make an outdoors person’s life easier. Anglers are constantly looking for tools like scissors, forceps, eye-busters, line clippers and hook sharpeners. Gemini can provide them all with the ClipToolz, a cool and handy clip-on lanyard system that keeps them at hand and accessible.

n       Drift Control (www.driftcontrol.com) introduced its new Leech Lodge last summer. It’s a soft mesh bait containment system with two storage pouches that allow an angler to sort bait by size.

UNDER THE TREE

There are many other items that are sure to please without stressing the bank account. Consider these possibilities:

n       Strikemaster (www.strikemaster.com) power augers are an ice angler’s best friend and a key piece of equipment for finding active fish on hard water. With the flick of a switch and the pull of a rope, you can cover a fishing area in a matter of minutes. Both gas-powered and electric models are available with prices ranging from around $250-$500.

n       Coleman (www.coleman.com) coolers are always a hit, whether it’s for camping, boating, hunting or fishing. Something in the Excursion line can be used to cool everything from food and beverages to bait for less than $20. For larger jobs, take a look at the 58-quart Xtreme ($42). Other products in the same price range include the Camping Coffeemaker ($37) and the Inflate-All QuickPump System ($49.50).

n       Every angler on your list will appreciate a Beckman net (www.beckmanfishing.com) or a Drift Control drift sock for slowing the boat down in extreme wind or current. Beckman offers premium quality nets in a number of sizes while Drift Control’s special weighting system makes its drift socks among the best available.

n       Coleman’s Hot Water On Demand unit (www.coleman.com) is one of the company’s newest products. It delivers hot water in seconds for cooking, cleaning or washing up in the outdoors. Another possibility is the RoadTrip Grill, which will cook almost anything anywhere and folds up to fit in the trunk or the back of an SUV. A Coleman Steel Cooler is another classy gift with unlimited uses.

n       Good boots mean a lot in cold weather, and they don’t get much better than those Irish Setter (www.irishsetterboots.com) produces. There are models for all ranges of temperatures and uses, including some with ice cleats for added traction.

n       Comfort is always important to those who spend time in the elements, and Carhartt (www.carhartt.com) answers that call with gloves, hats, clothing and outerwear that’s rugged, durable, warm and designed to allow a full range of motion. When the temperature plunges below zero, it’s hard to beat Carhartt’s Xtreme line of bibs, coveralls, jackets and coats.

If you find yourself in an especially giving mood, the angler in your life will be speechless when he or she opens the garage to find a new boat or motor.

n       Lund (www.lundboats.com) offers aluminum walleye boats in all sizes and price ranges, including larger models with its new ISP2 hull design.

n       Ranger (www.rangerboats.com) caters to both the walleye and bass markets, largely with fiberglass boats although aluminum models are also available.

n       Evinrude (www.evinrude.com) can power those units with everything from small horsepower kicker motors to Mid-Range E-Tec Outboards to its new Direct Injection HO (high output) main engines that are blowing the competition away on the water.

There you have it. Make your list and check it twice. There’s something out there for everybody who’s Fishing the WildSide On Ice.

 Editors Note:  Fishing the WildSide On Ice, co-founded by Chip Leer and Tommy Skarlis, is an extensive effort focusing on generating excitement for the great sport of ice fishing. 

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