Back then, I definitely couldnt justify the price of a dedicated ice fishing flasher like a Vexilar or Marcum
That means baits that can be worked slow and controlled , yet still trigger aggression when a fish is staging on a bay entrance, a channel, or a dark-bottom flat
Just got the ability to sidescan and had no clue what I was looking at
Some will argue that you need a swivel to prevent line twist, but I dont think its necessary, and that its presence detracts from the spinner
For walking baits and bigger topwaters including Ploppers, I really like a medium heavy rod, braided line but something like a 40-pound braid
Loaded up with cooler, chairs, rods plus tackle, and then trekking across sand can feel like a strongman test of endurance