Every year I like to get over to Clark Canyon Montana and ice fish for burbot. Last year unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it due to unsafe ice conditions. This year however, I was bound and determined to make the drive to target these gnarly looking bottom feeders. Last weekend, I hit the road with my cousin and a coworker right after we got off work. As the burbot are typically nocturnal and night feeders, we knew that it would be a long night but we were anxious for the adventure. All the prep work had been done over the past couple of days. I had all of the gear, bait, and the snacks all packed up and ready to go so we could hit the road as soon as possible. As we were driving the 2+ hour to Cark Canyon Reservoir, I was explaining to Shane and Keegan all of the different things we needed to do to get set up before it got to dark to see. It then dawned on me that I had forgotten my lantern which was going to be our main source of light for our trip... We had a few other lights that would get us through, but I couldn't help but wonder what else I may have left behind...
As we got to the reservoir, the wind was blowing about 20 miles an hour with gusts much stronger than that. We loaded up our sled and threw the other gear on our backs to head out fishing. The interesting part of this trip was that the week and half previously had been abnormally warm. As we were stepping on the ice, the temperature was 45 degrees, even though it felt much colder than that with the wind. The ice had a thin layer of water on top which made for a eventful walk out to where we were going to fish.
Luckily we were able to set up and get all of our holes drilled before it got dark. It took all three of us cooperating to get my hut set up with the wind. After we got the tent up, we started working on getting all of our lines out. We rigged up with white glow in the dark tube jigs tipped with sucker meat, and within 15 minutes we had our fish burbot on the ice right before dark!
As soon as we knocked the skunk off and knew we weren't going home empty handed, the trip was a lot more relaxing. The reason I love getting over to Clark Canyon to catch these burbot is because they are one of my favorite eating fish. One thing to keep in mind is to remember to check the rules and regulations because every area has a few different guidelines. At Clark Canyon you can only have two rods per person with the daily limit (as well as possession limit) of burbot being 3 per person. Also you can only have 1 burbot per person that is over 28" long. Keeping 3 per person will definitely give you enough great tasting fish to make the trip worth it.
After our first fish, we sat for quite a while with no action. We decided to bust out the grill and cook a few Johnsonville Beddar with Cheddar sausages and tortillas... ha the only reason I clarify what brand and flavor of hotdogs we were cooking is because from this point on, if we had a slow time on the ice, all we had to do was put another cheddar dog on the grill and without a doubt we would have a fish on the ice by the time it was done! Seems how the burbot are bottom feeders, we had our lines set just an inch off the bottom. When the burbot would bite, the JawJackers would set the hook and the fight was on! Most of the burbot would fight really hard but we had one or two that just seemed to come in without much of a battle. The later in the night we got, the harder the fish would fight. By the end of the night, the fish we were pulling in were aggressive and typically larger than the ones we caught earlier in the day.
Our haul for the night
We had a blast keepin up with our JawJackers going off. We kept our lines re-baited, and even pulled them up once and a while to recharge them with light so they would glow under the water. By the end of the night, we had caught 8 on the JawJackers and one jigging. It was a great time just chatting and joking around with some good friends. I hope you enjoy the pictures and if you want to make a trip out there next year with me, just let me know! Here are two videos of us reeling in a burbot this trip. With the wind you can't hear much of what I am saying, but it is still fun to watch these fish come out of the hole!
Alright people, I have definitely had some adventures lately. Sad to say I haven't done as much ice fishing as I would have liked, but none the less I have been able to get out on the ice a few times. One of the things that kept me off the ice a few weeks was vehicle problems... On my way home from ice fishing a few weeks ago, my rear left tire decided it didn't want to tied down any more and popped off at 65 miles per hour! With the sparks flying and my nerves rushing, I luckily pulled off to the side of the road and watched my tire plummet down to the bottom of a canyon! Long story short, I was glad I did a lot more praying than cussing in this situation and I am glad that things didn't end worse than they did!
Between vehicle problems and the busyness of the holidays I counted myself lucky to get out when I did, and luckily I had decent success every time I've been fishing so far. I can honestly say that my success would not be as high if I didn't have the JawJackers! While other people next to me are getting skunked and not catching fish, I have all my JawJackers spread out trying to locate fish and up my odds of getting one to bite. On one of my trips this year I was fishing with 5 other people which meant we could have 25 rods out... We weren't having success so we started drilling more holes and putting out every rod we had. Luckily through this process we started catching fish. The interesting part about it was that every fish we caught was on the JawJacker and was out of the same exact hole! That day we ended up catching 18 fish while the group next to us walked away with 2.
Here is a video of me ice fishing Henry's Lake in Idaho!
I've said it again and again but every time I go ice fishing next to someone who doesn't use the JawJackers, I am reminded of why I have become such a strong believer in them. Don't get me wrong, you still need to know where to fish and what to use for bait, but the JawJacker increases your chances of changing fish every time you use them! I have caught some amazing fish through the ice and couldn't imagine fishing without the JawJacker. Just like last year I want to share this joy with someone else by giving away a free JawJacker. In partner with the JawJacker Twitter account @JawJackerFishin we are giving away a free JawJacker to one lucky follower so here is how you can get entered! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember that you can tweet about this giveaway every day to get two more entries for your chance to win this JawJacker!
If any of you follow me or my blog, you know that this time of year is one of my favorites. I always enjoy freezing my butt off on a frozen lake trying to catch fish! I know that standing over top of a hole in the ice, in freezing cold weather, hoping that a fish bites the other end of my fishing line may not sound fun to some people, but there are a few things that make ice fishing much more enjoyable that I want to share with you.
My #1
First and foremost, the JawJacker! This contraption has made a sport I love into a new and exciting event every time I go fishing. Here in Idaho we can use up to 5 rods per person which can quickly turn into a lot when fishing in a group. I always like to have my rod I use for jigging, but with my other 4 rods I always have them in a JawJacker. The JawJacker not only acts as a safe rod holder so I don't lose my rod down the hole (Which has happened a time or two before I owned the JawJackers), but the JawJacker also increases my success rate and literally keeps me active the whole time I'm fishing. If the JawJacker is legal to use in your state I strongly recommend you picking one up for one of your extra ice fishing rods! You wont be disappointed I can guarantee it! Here is a video of one reason I use the JawJacker:
#2
Three years ago I really started to get back into ice fishing. Out of everyone who came fishing with me, my favorite person to take out on the ice has been and always will be my wife. As much as she loves me, she didn't necessarily share my same passion for ice fishing seems how she isn't a huge fan of the cold weather. Luckily for me, she gave me the ultimatum and said that if I wanted her to come fishing with me, I would have to buy an ice fishing shelter to keep her warm. I picked up the Eskimo Quick Fish 6 which I have been completely satisfied with. This fishing shelter is a quick set up and take down as well as provides plenty of room for me and a few friends to fish in comfortably. The only time I've had a problem with it was when I took on of my friends ice fishing and he decided to pick up my ice auger inside my shelter... Long story short, he accidentally brushed the auger blade against the side wall of the shelter and left a 6 inch slit in the shelter wall. We got the slit fixed up and it has been great ever since.
My Eskimo Quick Fish 6 and JawJacker
#3
The last thing I will mention in this post that I feel is such a game changer for me is having a custom ice fishing rod! I have bought all sorts of different rods and tried lots of different companies. I have found a small hand full that I really feel do the job well while I have also found a huge amount which I feel are a complete waste of money. I am currently in the process of having another custom ice fishing rod made from Cal Piccolo which I will be sure to write about later this year! The thing I like about having a custom rod is a little bit of the superstition factor, as well as the concept of being comfortable with your gear. The more you are comfortable with your gear, the better you and that gear will perform the way its supposed to. Plus if anyone has seen the movie Grumpy Old Men, you will understand that ice fishermen have their lucky ice fishing rods... and my custom rod is just that!
This brief list of ice fishing gear makes my ice fishing trips a lot more than just sitting over a hole in the ice waiting for a fish to bite... I wish that I could say since I've had this year I've never had a bad day of ice fishing, but I can honestly say that since I've had this gear it has made the bad days of ice fishing into better ones!
I'm not sure how many of you have actually followed my adventures and life on social media, but this post will be a quick shout out to those who have been faithful to me, my blog, and my social media for the two years I have been so busily working on my education.
These people and companies have given me encouragement and purpose behind my blog and social media even when I have been so busy it would have been a million times easier just to throw in the towel and pick it all back up when my schooling was over. I mainly just want to publicly thank these people and companies for supporting me during such a busy time and promise them all that as I finish my schooling this month, I plan on giving back all the support that you all have shown me. Thank you!
As many of you know I have been using the JawJacker now for a few seasons and have become a believer of them. Even though I have been extremely happy with the performance of the JawJacker, in the back of my mind I have always wondered how they compared to the Automatic Fisherman. The Automatic Fisherman has been on the market since 2002 but has been
in the work since the 70's and was sort of the Grandfather of the
"hook-set" gadgets for ice fishing. I have talked to a lot of people who have used the Automatic Fisherman first and then tried the JawJacker but have not found anyone who has tried out both units by first being associated and familiar with the JawJacker.... So I decided I would give it a shot and this is how it went.
I added a few stickers on my Automatic Fisherman to personalize it
The Base Unit:
With the Automatic Fisherman, the base is made of a high density plastic that is rated for -90 below which is
pretty durable if you ask me. If you are fishing in weather colder than
that your name must be Chuck Norris and you don't need any hook-set
system; you could probably swim after the fish and they would surrender
to you! The base is one solid piece excluding a support brace arm that tucks away neatly underneath when not in use and spreads out about 5 inches on each side preventing the unit from tipping over or being pulled into the hole by a hooked fish. The only other part of the Automatic fisherman that is a moving part is the trigger mechanism that I will discuss later.
One thing that I was quickly uneasy with concerning my previous experience with the JawJacker was the size of Automatic Fisherman. Compared to the compact-ability of the JawJacker, the Automatic Fisherman is a lot more difficult to pack and transport. While at the same time, the benefit of the bulkiness is the fact that there are less moving parts, which means less parts that may break. Kerry who designed the Automatic Fisherman says that he has built and distributed over 60,000 of these and has only gotten one back because the customer was using it as a hammer to try and break the ice... The Automatic Fisherman is covered under a lifetime warranty for the base unit and trigger system. The website may be a little confusing about the warranty because they sell the base unit as well as many other accessories. If you have any questions about this please email or call Kerry off the website and he would be more than willing to help you out if possible. I have heard a lot of people talking concerning the JawJacker's durability in the cold but I have not had any problems myself with this at all. One of my fisher partners on the other hand failed to set up his JawJacker correctly which resulted in his rod holder adjustment breaking on him. He still uses his JawJacker but has had to find a unique way to set his adjustment pin.
I am not sure what other abuse this JawJacker went through before it broke like this but I also know that the guy who this happened to has used this JawJacker for over two years now and when he is not using it just tosses it in a bucket with his ice-fishing rods to transport it to and from fishing.
Trigger:
Another thing that was interesting to me about the Automatic Fisherman is the trigger mechanism. The triggers on the Automatic Fisherman is a metal bar that extends out of the front of the device. This metal bar has a metal pin which you hook the eye of your fishing rod onto which sets the tension and sensitivity of the trigger. The end of the metal rod is a "V" shaped guide which you put your line through to keep in on the trigger. Here is a close up picture of the trigger mechanism of the Automatic Fisherman.
The sensitivity of the unit can be adjusted by simply bending the metal pin which you hook your rod on. The more you bend it toward the rod the stiffer the sensitivity. The more the pin is bent in the other direction, the more sensitive the trigger will be. I did not like how the trigger mechanism was metal just because I often got my hands wet while taking care of a fish and then my fingers would stick to the metal while trying to rest it. What I liked about the trigger mechanism of the Automatic Fisherman is that it is very simple.
My Observation!
The one ting I picked up on that I don't know how much of a difference it makes is that when you set the trigger with the Automatic Fisherman, the rod tip is lower than the line at the top of the trigger arm. With the JawJacker, the rod tip is actually higher than the line when the line is placed in the "V" of the trigger. With this I noticed that even when I set the trigger to extremely sensitive on the JawJacker, there were times when the fish would just slightly bump the bait but the line would tighten without setting the trigger off. I don't know if this was in my head or if the angle of these trigger mechanisms were a factor in hook up ratios.
I will say that but also say that I have caught some extremely small fish which were light biters on the JawJacker so I am not sure how much of a factor this was.
My smallest fish on the JawJacker. Measured in at 2.75 inches
I did a lot of research about these two units both from advocates of the Automatic Fisherman and advocates of the JawJacker and found that many of the reasoning behind using one unit over the other were quite common. This is what I found from some of the advocates.
Bill: @BYOUNG460 [Instagram] - "The Automatic fisherman is a beefy and has a large profile, but can be
cumbersome and take up more room to transport. The JawJacker is light
weight and compact and can be easily packed away in the smallest of
area."
Brandon: @wip95 [Instagram] - "I give the Automatic Fisherman a 10/10! It is effective for catching everything from pike to light biting trout"
Rod: @Bass_Junky [Instagram] - "The Automatic Fisherman is made of a high density plastic and is rated for weather up to
-90. It takes a beating on the ice and holds up to being dropped, kicked
and knocked around inside you sled."
- You can check out Rod's review here http://bassjunkiesfishingaddiction.blogspot.com/2011/12/jaw-jacker-vs-automatic-fisherman.html?showComment=1390278899788#c8322668606394071085
Over all, I couldn't tell you one or the other would be better for you! I took the stance that I am comfortable with my JawJackers and thought I would be cheating myself if I didn't at least give the Automatic Fisherman a chance. Talking to many people about these devices I still haven't found one who has gone from using the JawJacker to the Automatic Fisherman. You can find plenty of happy customers of both devices as well as a hand full of unhappy customers. Bill (@BYOUNG460) said that he went from using the Automatic Fisherman to the JawJacker while at the same time he liked the Automatic Fisherman and its performance just preferred the one over the other. Rod (@Bass_Junky) used both devices and uses his Automatic Fisherman more because that is what he is comfortable with and has had lots of success with.
In summary I would say that 1) The Automatic Fisherman is bigger and bulkier that the JawJacker and that the JawJacker is more compact and easier to store/transport. 2) The Automatic Fisherman is built TOUGH and has a life time warranty which is very nice when/if you need it! 3) The Automatic Fisherman trigger is set at a angle that prevents finicky fish to take your bait without setting off the trigger. 4) The Automatic Fisherman is more difficult to adjust trigger sensitivity while fishing. If you do not bring the tool they include to adjust the trigger you have to either bend it with your fingers or some other tool while the JawJacker is a simple adjustment screw you can adjust with your fingers. These four items are the things I noticed were different but when it came to performance I couldn't even tell a difference. Both devices caught fish and both devices missed a few also. I would say you can't go wrong with either device.
This blog post will be quite simple and short but I hope it shows the validity of this gear I was able to try out!
No matter who you are, one of the most annoying and embarrassing things is when you slip and fall while ice fishing! The same can be said while hunting, hiking, camping, fly fishing, or anywhere else where your terrain may be slippery or unstable. To prevent these awkward and frustrating moments I strongly suggest you checking out Goat Head Sole Spikes!
These little guys are very affordable and can be used in all sorts of situations. I tried them out specifically while ice fishing and was nothing but impressed with them. I have seen and tried a few other products which are big and bulky which make you feel like you are walking with a cheese grater strapped to the bottom of your foot... The Sole Spikes are small and easy to instal into the bottom of your shoes or boots and gives you tremendous traction across the whole surface of your boots.
Sole Spikes in packaging, you can also see their suggested pattern for installation.
The package I got came with 30 Sole Spikes and a small screw drive and bit. The package gave me a simple patter as a suggestion to follow and I was able to install all the Sole Spikes into both my boots in less than 5 minutes.
While ice fishing I noticed a huge difference when walking out to my favorite spot becasue I wasn't slipping while trying to pull my sled and other gear. After I got set up I was able to walk to and from each pole with ease without worrying about falling on my face. They first day I tried them out there was about 1 1/2 inches of fresh snow on top of the slick ice and I didn't lose my footing once. Earlier this year I will admit that I have turned around when I heard one of my JawJackers go off and have fallen flat on my face.
The Sole Spikes work great even when the snow packs into your boot tread
I think these Sole Spikes are one of those simple ice fishing accessories which make all the difference. Once you have them you will never want to get on the ice without them again. The Sole Spikes can also be worn when running outside in the winter, trail running in the summer, fly fishing, and lots of other activities. These are a lot more than just an ice fishing product but they work great for how I used them!
And not to mention every time I have used the Sole Spikes I have caught a lot of fish... Sooo... they may be the item to have in order to bring all the luck!
There are quite a few different "Tip-up" and "Hook-set" set ups for ice fishing these days. One comment I recently saw someone make on a discussion board about legalizing the use of devices in Minnesota such as the JawJacker was this, "Don't we have enough electronics already? Does someone really need more to catch fish? Remember, it's fishing not catching!!! If they do pass it I wont use it but if someone wants to then fine but I would say no." - Doug. My post is not to necessarily argue with Doug making this comment but rather point out some misconceptions that many people (such as Doug) may have and give some reasoning and benefits of using the JawJacker.
Misconception #1 "Electronics" Well the JawJacker, along with all of the other devices of this kind, are not electronic at all. It is unfortunate that those who are "against" using these devices are under the misconception that the devices are electronic and some how give the fisherman an some unfair advantage by being electronic. The truth is that the JawJacker is a device that is powered solely by the ice fishing rod that you put in it.
Misconception #2 "Spring Loaded" Even though there may be a spring on the trigger adjustment of the JawJacker to adjust the tension of the trigger mechanism, the spring does absolutely nothing other than adjust how sensitive the device is set. There is no spring loading in the way the device sets the hook or in the way the device is held in the ready position. The JawJacker relies primarily on the tension of the rod itself to set the hook which can be adjusted to match the fish you are attempting to catch. The angle of the rod in the rod holder as well as the length of the trigger arm will fluctuate the momentum of the rod from an extremely light hook set to a harder hook set for bigger fish. To demonstrate how these devices work please watch the video provided by Matt from JawJacker!
Misconception #3 "Fishing not Catching" One thing I am a huge believer in is that this device does EXACTLY what it says it will do! I have never used a product in fishing that is more spot on with what it promises to its consumer! The JawJacker website state, "The JawJacker is a new ice fishing device that is designed to help ice fishermen catch more fish. When a fish bites, the trigger releases the bent fishing rod so it can snap up and set the hook. The trigger is very sensitive and can detect light bites." There is also a slogan that JawJacker stands by which says that this device "Makes good ice-fisherman better" which is exactly what this product does. It is important to point out that this device is not 100% guaranteed that you will catch a fish. There are times that this device is set off while missing the fish, why it's still called fishing not catching! There are lots of tips to up your hook-up percentage with the JawJacker but even with these tips nothing is 100%. So this device does not make ice fishing into fish-catching. It is also obvious that you need to be where the fish are to catch fish as well as use the bait the fish are biting on. The misconception that the Jawjacker will take the sport out of it is simply just not true.
Lastly I just want to say that no one I have visited with, chatted to, or tried to convince about the JawJacker has really been completely 100% sold on it until they have seen them in action (either in person or on YouTube)! I have been ice fishing numerous times this year where I have had people come over to our group to see "what we were doing different" or "what all the excitement was about". The answer to their question is quickly given to them as they watch the JawJacker in action!
Check out how much fun this kid has catching fish on the JawJacker!
As many times as I have been out ice fishing I still get the rush when the JawJacker goes off, but nothing to me is as exciting or fulfilling as when I take a few "first timers" or a few kids up ice fishing with the JawJacker! Watching kids run from pole to pole as they go off with a school of hungry fish swimming through is irreplaceable! As I said earlier that the biggest selling point is watching these in action so I want to not only show you a video of the JawJacker in action but also a way to get entered to win yourself a JawJacker!!! That's right, here is your post-Christmas present from JawJacker!
To get entered just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below and be sure to share the word so that we know you like what we are doing! Good Luck!
So I have been thinking non-stop about ice-fishing lately. Some people think ice-fishing is crazy and stupid but I absolutely love it! One reason I love it so much is because in my area I am able to use up to 5 poles per person while ice-fishing which can make for a very exciting time when the fish are really biting! Without going on and on about lots of the other reasons why I love ice-fishing I want to share with you my top 3 items that I feel are essential to ice-fishing!
#1 - Ice Shelter
My Eskimo Quick Fish 6
I know there are plenty of times that I take my ice shelter and do not use it, but I can't express how essential one is when you do need it! It is like the common saying that you never realize how much you need something until you don't have it... Even on the days when it is good weather and great fishing it is good to have the shelter set up and a place to keep your gear. I have used the shelter to not only keep me warm on the freezing cold bad weather days, but I have also used it to keep me from getting sun-burnt on the clear calm days sitting on a snow covered frozen lake which refects the sun rays no matter what direction you turn! A shelter can also be used to dry out wet clothing if you have a heater or some other heat source inside.
If this contraption is legal in your state then get one!!! Honestly it has been a blast using this product and I have zero complaints about it! For those who don't know what the JawJacker is, it is an ice-fishing pole holder which holds your pole bent down and then releases the tip of the pole when a fish bites your bait... this release allows the bent pole to straighten out and set the hook for you resulting in more hook-ups when ice-fishing. I wrote a post review about this product last year and if you want to read more about it be sure to check it out here. I will be posting videos of me using this product this year and hopefully get some footage of me pulling out some great fish. This product is great as a pole holder if you are able to fish with more than one pole. I know some people who use these on all of their poles while I myself like to use them on a few while jigging the others.
#3 - Sled
My Otter Ice-Fishing sled
As basic as this item is, you can never leave home without it! I am also realizing now that it is better if you get a bigger sled than you need so that when you take extra people with you or extra gear you don't have to small of a sled!!! My dad is always giving me a bad time because I convinced him that I only needed a small sled for ice-fishing and now I am always asking him if I can borrow his bigger sled... I have seen people build their own as well as build a 2 story sled which is like having a sled with an upper shelf.
Bonus Item #4
Ice Fishing Success
Have something unique which makes you stand out! I have a hat my wife bought me when she was in Russia a few years ago... This hat has now become my favorite/lucky ice-fishing hat! Things like this just add to the fun and craziness that often goes on while ice-fishing... Like I mentioned earlier some people think I'm crazy because I love to sit on a frozen lake and try to pull fish through a hole. This hat just keeps those rumors and people talking :) Make it fun!
As some of you may have read in one of my earlier posts, I am a pretty big fan/believer in the JawJacker ice fishing tool! I have caught a lot more fish than I ever thought possible since I've started using them! I have used them now for about a year, and would never go ice fishing without them. I have used them mostly to catch trout, seems how this is the type of fish that is primarily in the area I live, but I have also used them to catch kokanee salmon and perch. I like how versatile the JawJacker is and how it allows me to successfully fish for these different species. Because kokanee, perch, and trout all bite differently, I am able to use different actions of poles; lighter action for the perch and kokanee, while using heavier action poles for the trout. I am also able to use various lengths of poles, which I enjoy because I am not tied down to using one specific pole for my JawJacker. The other adjustment I can make is the trigger sensitivity for the different types of fish I'm going after, and anyone who has been ice-fishing knows that some days the fish bite harder and other days they barely bump the bait. Those are all the different ways I can adjust and adapt the JawJacker to up my chances of catching fish while on the ice.
JawJacker set up with my South Bend pole. The brook trout I caught with this set up!
In Idaho I am allowed 5 poles while ice-fishing so I typically use as many JawJackers as I have while sitting close to the poles I'm jigging. One of the only issues I have run into when I began using the JawJackers was not having enough poles! This was especially true when I would take some of my friends or family fishing with me. To ensure that this isn't the problem holding some of you back from trying out the JawJacker yourself, Matt (the designer of the JawJacker) has decided to sponsor a giveaway on my blog to win two 30" medium action, South Bend ice fishing poles!!!
South Bend "Blizzard" 30" Medium Action Ice Fishing Pole
Here is the info for the giveaway:
Follow the instructions on the RaffleCopter icon below to be entered to win 2 South Bend, Blizzard 30" Medium action ice fishing poles!
This giveaway was sponsored by JawJacker Ice Fishing Supplies. The ice fishing poles for this giveaway are not made by or associated with JawJacker Ice Fishing Supplies, but have been selected as the items for this giveaway.
The winner of the JawJacker giveaway is Karen Philips a follower from Facebook. She is an Idaho resident who has been begging her husband to take her ice fishing and it look like now he will be begging her to come so he can use her new gear! Congrats Karen, I hope you and your husband enjoy ice fishing this year. Let us know how you do!
Many of you may not know what this contraption is, but hopefully after reading this it will be on your wish list! What you see above is called a JawJacker which is an ice fishing contraption with the purpose of making good ice fisherman great! The way it works is explained and demonstrated thoroughly on this video from YouTube.
See them in action!
JawJacker in Action!!!
When I used these for the first time myself, it shocked me how easy they were to use! I will admit, I was worried looking at it and wondering if I would set it up wrong with all the different adjustments such as the rod height, the trigger slide, and the trigger tension. After getting it out of the box and playing around with it, I realized that all of these adjustments are extremely simple and self explanatory. If there is any confusion on how to set it up, there are step by step instructions on the back of the JawJacker box. I headed up to the lake Friday morning to give these a shot in hopes that I would have some good luck.
JawJacker set up and ready for a bite!
In Idaho, we are able to use 5 poles which can be hard to monitor all 5 poles at once. With my poles in the JawJacker, I didn't stress about looking around constantly checking to see if my poles were getting a bite or not. This made ice fishing so much more relaxing and enjoyable because I was able to sit and jig one pole while all my other poles were being "monitored" by the JawJacker. It wasn't long until I got some action on the JawJacker and the only words I have to say about my first experience is that these things work!
JawJacker with my 3 pound male Brook Trout
I was able to catch some great fish using these things and had a blast every time one went off. I would be in the middle of a conversation and then hear the sound of a JawJacker go off and my adrenaline would rush in anticipation of what would come next. There were a few times when the JawJacker would go off, but fail to hook my fish... I was a little frustrated and thought that there was just a little fish messing with my bait. Then I remembered a tip which was also on the back of the JawJacker box which said that if you are getting bites on the JawJacker but not having many hookups, then try to downsize your bait. I thought what do I have to loose, so I gave it a shot... Sure enough the next time the JawJacker went off the fish was hooked and the rest was left up to me to get that fish on the ice.
My dad and one of his fish of the day
My dad and I spent about 6 hours on the ice and caught almost 50 fish. There were quite a few people fishing around us who kept saying that the fishing was quite slow. In respect to them, the fishing was quite a bit slower than what it had been for them a few days earlier. They were catching a few fish here and there, but the fish were not biting very hard for some reason this day. Those next to us would run from pole to pole because they would see a fish was nibbling on their bait, but by the time they got to it the fish was either gone or it was not interested in their bait any more. I would not say that we had more bites than the other fisherman around us, but the difference was that when we were getting bites, we were mostly always hooking up with a fish because of the JawJacker. A few of these people kept asking us what we were using for bait and we were open and honest about what we were using. To their disappointment, it was the same thing they were using, but we were catching more fish. I would definitely say that the purpose of the JawJacker, which is to "make good ice fisherman great," was fulfilled because the only difference between us and the other guys was the JawJackers... AND... about 30 more fish!
When we decided to call it a day and pack up, the JawJackers collapsed very compact and simple so that they were easy to pack on and off the ice. They are also secure so that you don't have to worry about any part of the JawJacker getting caught on something and breaking off. My personal favorite part about the JawJacker is that you are more likely to catch more fish with them than you are without them. In my opinion, the more fish you catch, the better chance you have of catching a big fish! The great part about this day is that my thoughts were confirmed because the last fish we pulled in for the day was this great trout!
My Catch of the Day!
I would 100% recommend the JawJacker to anyone who enjoys ice fishing, or is thinking about getting started in ice fishing. You do not have to be a professional to run one of these contraptions, and they are worth every penny. Honestly if you see one of these things work you will realize that they are worth it! This is why Matt from JawJacker Ice Fishing Supplies is letting me give one of these away on my blog to show some lucky reader/follower how amazing this product really is! All you have to do to be registered to win is share this blog post either on Facebook or Twitter AND leave a comment below! The drawing will be Wednesday November 28th so please pass this word on and leave a comment for your chance to win a free JawJacker!!!
If you would like to purchase a JawJacker, please visit http://www.jawjackerfishing.com/
Visit his website for tips on ice fishing and other ice fishing gear!
Last weekend, I hit the road with my cousin and a coworker right after we got off work. As the burbot are typically nocturnal and night feeders, we knew that it would be a long night but we were anxious for the adventure. All the prep work had been done over the past couple of days. I had all of the gear, bait, and the snacks all packed up and ready to go so we could hit the road as soon as possible. As we were driving the 2+ hour to Cark Canyon Reservoir, I was explaining to Shane and Keegan all of the different things we needed to do to get set up before it got to dark to see. It then dawned on me that I had forgotten my lantern which was going to be our main source of light for our trip... We had a few other lights that would get us through, but I couldn't help but wonder what else I may have left behind...
.JPG "ice fishing")
.JPG)
.JPG "ice fishing")
.JPG "Automatic Fisherman")
.JPG "Automatic Fisherman vs JawJacker")
.JPG "Automatic Fisherman vs JawJacker")
.JPG "JawJacker Broken")
.JPG "JawJacker Small Fish")
.JPG "Automatic Fisherman vs JawJacker")
.JPG "Automatic Fisherman vs JawJacker")
.JPG "JawJacker Ice Fishing")
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG "South Bend \"Blizzard\" 30\" Medium Action Ice Fishing Pole")
