10E01 – 10 Tips for Planning an Ice Fishing Trip

Season 10 is here! Jeff and Jason are back for another season of the Hard Water Fishing Show, celebrating 10 seasons of talking ice fishing, gear, and questionable decisions.

We're kicking things off with 10 things to consider when planning your next big ice fishing trip. From choosing your crew and destination to getting everything organized, we share lessons learned from years of fishing adventures.

Plus, we catch up on summer fishing, talk upcoming ice fishing shows, and look ahead to what's coming this season.

10 seasons in, and we're still figuring it out. Tight lines and cheers!

Season 9 wraps up with a look back at the moments that made this ice fishing season memorable.

In this episode of the Hard Water Fishing Show, Jeff and Jason talk about a Lake of the Woods trip and revisit some of the best moments from Season 9 — from early ice excitement and gear talk to fishing lessons and stories from the ice.

Thanks for listening this season and being part of the Hard Water community.

Late ice is here and the season is anything but predictable. Jeff shares a recent trip to Nunya Lake chasing crappies and perch with Northwoods Dave, while Jason prepares for a big group trip to Lake of the Woods and the challenge of hauling all the gear.

In this episode we talk confidence lures, why full moons can make fishing tough, and how dirty water and early morning starts can change everything. We also dive into practical ice fishing tips like using a simple 5-gallon bucket rod holder, aggressive jigging techniques, and why sometimes the most basic gear works the best.

Plus we discuss ice conditions across the state, listener feedback, LED underwater lures, rod durability, and the never-ending process of dialing in the perfect ice fishing setup.

If you’re still chasing fish late in the season — or already planning next year — this episode is packed with real ice fishing talk.

🎣 Topics in this episode:

• Nunya Lake late ice fishing report

• Lake of the Woods trip prep

• Confidence lures and dirty water tactics

• Simple gear hacks that actually work

• Ice conditions across Minnesota

Jeff and Jason recap their Red Lake ice fishing trip, staying in a permanent shack at Beacon Harbor and chasing perch, pike, and eater walleyes. They break down what worked (glow lures, minnows, bigger profiles), debate flip-over vs hub shelters, and share a few travel hiccups—including Jeff’s unexpected tire replacement on the way north. Listener news sparks talk of a future mountain trout adventure, and the guys wrap it up with gear talk, generator plans, and late-season episode ideas.

Check out hardwatershow.com for more info on the episode

In this episode we talk answer listener questions and also cover lots of other ice fishing related topics and some non ice fishing related ones to.

Jeff and Jason recap recent ice fishing trips from Duluth to Nunya Lake, breaking down what worked, what didn’t, and why timing and location mattered more than anything. From walleyes and crappies chasing pink and orange jointed pinhead minnows to early-morning and sunset bites that made the day, they dig into real on-ice lessons you can use right now.The guys also tackle listener questions, gear wins and fails, ice shelter talk, and new fishing techniques like the slow float up jig—plus a little beer tasting, cold-weather complaining, and behind-the-scenes podcast banter. If you’re chasing bites, dialing in your setup, or just living the ice fishing lifestyle, this episode’s for you.Check out all the details on hardwatershow.com

🎣 Crappies, Cold Weather, and a Leech Lake Reality Check!

In S9E8 of the Hard Water Fishing Show, Jeff and Jason break down late-season crappie tactics, share a no-BS Leech Lake fishing report, and dive into what’s actually working on the ice right now.

They cover everything from gear experiments (Eagle Claw rod cases, hole hopper caddies, DIY transducer arms) to presentation tweaks, lure picks, and line management tips that can make or break a tough bite. Plus, the guys talk about how YouTube has changed fishing forever, why community holes still matter, and how even a single fish can save a grind-it-out day.

If you’re chasing suspended crappies, prepping for a cold weekend, or just love honest fishing talk with a few laughs mixed in—this one’s for you.

👇 In this episode:

• Late-ice crappie depth & presentation

• Leech Lake report – highs, lows, and lessons

• Favorite jigs, plastics, and glow tips

• Gear hacks & on-ice setups

• Future trips, lake breakdowns & legends to come

👍 Like, subscribe, and drop your crappie confidence bait in the comments!

Check out HardWaterShow.com for everything from the show.

Mid-season check-in time. We dive into the biggest lessons from the 2025–26 ice fishing season — fish behavior, depth selection, gear decisions, and whether tech like forward-facing sonar really makes a difference. Add in a few stories, gear debates, and off-the-rails moments, and this one covers it all.