20th Anniversary of the Underwater Camera Camera Posts 20th Anniversary of the Underwater Camera – Blake Tollefson 11/02/2020 / 11/03/2020 by marcum-tech Electronics are a vital key to success when it comes to hardwater fishing. Sonar units, and underwater cameras alike, both have a specific place in ice fishing. The underwater camera, in particular, has established itself as an important tool. For a number of different reasons, I employ these tools for scouting and fishing on the ice: Read more » 20th Anniversary of the Underwater Camera Blake Tollefson Camera Underwater Camera Underwater Footage Underwater Recording
GPS MarCum Posts Sonar Basin Crappies: Utilizing your Fish Finder 01/17/2022 / 01/10/2022 by marcum-tech It’s midwinter. Lakes are locked up with a solid layer of ice. Shanty towns dot the landscape – filled with anglers that are willing to trade long rods for those of a shorter variety. Panfish – crappies in particular – are some of the most targeted species throughout the hard water season. Knowing how to find them and which tools to use will ultimately make for a more successful day on the ice. Read more » Blake Tollefson Crappies Sonar
Digital Flasher GPS MarCum Posts Sonar Best Ice Fishing Sonar of 2021 09/27/2021 / 10/05/2021 by marcum-tech Everyone has personal preferences when it comes to their ice fishing sonar. MarCum has you covered whether you like the proven technology of an ice flasher, or the customization and cutting-edge performance of a digital system. It’s important to note the differences and strengths between systems, as each category has come a long way in recent history. Read more » Blake Tollefson Digital Sonar Ice Fishing Flasher Joel Nelson Tony Roach
Posts Capture the Moment – Taking Better Fish Pictures 01/30/2023 / 01/27/2023 by marcum-tech There’s something special about a quality fish picture. Whether you plan to share it with friends, post it on social media, or simply keep it to yourself, it’s the perfect way to preserve those memories of a great day on the water. That being said, taking a decent picture isn’t always the easiest task. Thankfully, a little practice and some attention to detail can make all the difference. If taking better fishing pictures is a priority, the following notions should be valuable. Read more » Blake Tollefson Camera
Posts Choosing the Right Line 10/10/2022 / 10/06/2022 by marcum-tech Fishing is full of choices. Walk into any sporting goods store or bait shop and you’ll find hundreds to potentially thousands of options for rods, reels, tackle and electronics. In some instances, making a purchase decision can seem like a no brainer, while other scenarios require a serious amount of deliberation. Regardless of your purchase decision, it’s important to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages for a given product. Choosing the right fishing line is no different. With countless options on the market, it’s vital to understand the advantages and drawbacks for each major line category, as well as how they can help you or hurt you in specific scenarios. Read more » Blake Tollefson
News Posts Early Ice Safety with Blake Tollefson 12/11/2024 / 12/10/2024 by marcum-tech Early Ice Safety with Blake Tollefson The hardwater season is fast approaching. All across the Northern United States and Canada, anglers are taking their first steps on frozen water. Now is the time to ensure electronics, rods & reels, and augers are in working order — and that tackle is fully organized. Aside from the […] Read more » Blake Tollefson Safety
Posts Fishing Summertime Crappies 07/18/2022 / 08/24/2022 by marcum-tech Throughout the summer months, schools of crappies typically concentrate themselves along weed edges, as well as pockets and holes in the weedy cover. In certain situations, fish will push further into the weeds and in others, push out away from the edges, but still remain in close proximity to the weeds. Focus your efforts on these keys areas. As the season progresses, crappies will also inhabit other areas, often in slightly deeper water. Woody cover – such as man-made cribs or submerged timber – act as crappie magnet regardless of the time of year, but they tend to concentrate fish towards the tail end of the summer. Read more » Blake Tollefson Crappie Sonar
Posts How do I choose the right fishing rod? 05/23/2022 / 05/31/2022 by marcum-tech Picture yourself in your favorite sporting goods store taking a stroll through the fishing department. The options for tackle, rods, reels are expansive to say the least. A seemingly never-ending list of brands, types, and configurations call this area home. When it comes to rods, the options are plentiful. Most major retailers will have a variety of lengths, powers, and actions to cover a range of techniques and target species. Choosing the right for the right situation is a task in itself; but it doesn’t need to be as hard as one thinks. Read more » Blake Tollefson Fishing Opener Open Water
Camera MarCum Posts How do I use an Underwater Camera for Ice Fishing 11/08/2021 / 10/28/2021 by marcum-tech As an ice angler, there are several tools that can aid in your fishing success. Very few, however, are as effective as an underwater camera. The information provided to an angler from the use of an underwater fishing camera not only accelerates one’s learning curve but will ultimately, put more fish on the ice. Read more » Blake Tollefson Camera Underwater Camera Underwater Footage
Camera MarCum Posts How to Prepare for the Wisconsin Fishing Opener 2022 04/25/2022 / 04/21/2022 by marcum-tech It’s a magical time of year. The ice on the lakes is pretty much absent. The landscapes that were not so long ago covered in snow now show glimpses of life again. Grass is turning greener, plants are blooming, birds are chirping. Spring has sprung. To many anglers that means one thing – the Wisconsin Fishing Opener is coming. The Wisconsin Fishing Opener is traditionally on the first Saturday in May. This year it falls on Read more » Blake Tollefson Fishing Opener Underwater Camera Wisconsin
Camera MarCum Posts How to use an Underwater Camera for Open Water Fishing 03/21/2022 / 03/15/2022 by marcum-tech Underwater fishing cameras are recognized as a valuable tool for ice; however, they can be just as beneficial during the open water season – and for many of the same reasons. Open water electronics continue to evolve to new lengths every season but they still leave things open to interpretation. Underwater cameras, however, are capable of answering questions that other electronics cannot, as well as teaching anglers more about what they’re seeing on their electronics. They are an angler’s eyes below the surface. Read more » Blake Tollefson Boating Camera Open Water Steve Mattson Underwater Camera
MarCum Posts Sonar ICE FISHING FOR THE NEW ANGLER 09/23/2021 / 10/05/2021 by marcum-tech There’s no doubt that the COVID era has had an impact on the outdoor industry. With closures, canceled travel plans, or changes in regularly scheduled activities, unprecedented numbers of folks have either found or rekindled a love of the outdoors. During the warmer months, there’s a plethora of activities to get a person out of their home. In the Midwest, we are blessed (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with winter – and it lasts more than just a few months. This can make activities a bit harder to find, or at times convince yourself to participate in outdoor activities. Enter ice fishing season. Read more » Blake Tollefson Ice Fishing Accessories Ice Fishing Flasher New Angler
MarCum News Posts Ice Season Preparation: An Ice Angler’s Checklist 10/11/2021 / 10/11/2021 by marcum-tech Organization and preparation are critical elements to success on the ice. Without them you may be stuck repairing or replacing rather than actually fishing. Most of us are limited to specific windows for fishing, so make sure you can capitalize on those periods by having your gear ready and in working order. Winter conditions are hard on gear, so doing your due diligence is important. Read more » Blake Tollefson Checklist Ice Fishing Accessories
MarCum Posts Open Water Preparation: A Fisherman’s Checklist 04/04/2022 / 03/25/2022 by marcum-tech The fishing season is approaching fast, whether you’re ready for it or not. Depending on where you live, the ice may already have vanished, or you may still have some time left. Regardless, it’s important to take the time to ensure you are prepared for the upcoming season. Read more » Blake Tollefson Boating Checklist Open Water Universal Open Water Transducer
News Posts Safety First with Blake Tollefson 10/28/2020 / 12/10/2024 by marcum-tech The hardwater season is fast approaching. All across the Northern United States and Canada, anglers are taking their first steps on frozen water. Now is the time to ensure electronics, rods & reels, and augers are in working order — and that tackle is fully organized. Aside from the obvious fishing gear, there is some vital equipment you should have before you take that first step on hardwater. Safety concerns are very real throughout the ice fishing season, and especially at first ice. Safety precautions for first ice can be categorized into a handful of major groups. Read more » Blake Tollefson Ice Safety
Posts Staying Organized On and Off the Water 06/20/2022 / 06/09/2022 by marcum-tech Organization is important no matter your craft. When it comes to fishing, however, a concerted effort for organization should hold a higher precedence. The number of rod, reel, line, and tackle configurations an angler might handle are truly endless. This is particularly evident with fishermen that target more than one species. and categorized rod, reel, line, and lure selections. Many professional anglers rely on their organizational and inventorial skills to keep them successful on the water. They know what specific rods and reels they have, what lures they have, and whether they need to restock something in the near future. Read more » Blake Tollefson Organization Prepare
Posts Summer Crappie Craze: Strategies for Finding and Catching Slabs 05/13/2024 / 05/08/2024 by marcum-tech Summer Crappie Craze: Strategies for Finding and Catching Slabs While bass are the nation’s most popular fish species, panfish, and crappies in particular, also find themselves high on the priority level for many anglers – and for good reason. Not only do they make great table fare, they also provide fast paced action. Crappies are […] Read more » Blake Tollefson Crappies Open Water
Posts Summer Stream Trout 08/15/2022 / 08/24/2022 by marcum-tech Walking and wading quietly are vital aspects to success. Think Navy Seal-esque stealthy when you hit the bank. Be cognizant of shadows to go undetected to roaming trout. Task yourself to make long, precise casts to avoid spooking fish. Minnesota and Wisconsin alone have more than 15,000 miles of trout streams. With so much trout water to cover, mobility is crucial for continued success. Don’t waste too much time in one area. A few casts per spot is all that is necessary. If limited success ensues, then it’s time to keep ‘er moving. Trout will hold in a variety of areas depending on the stream and the conditions. Common areas that will often congregate fish include deep holes or pools, current seams, and log jams. Read more » Blake Tollefson
MarCum Posts The Offseason: Storing Your Ice Fishing Gear 03/27/2023 / 04/20/2023 by marcum-tech Whether you’re ready for it or not, the ice season is coming to an end sooner than later. For many of us anglers, it was an odd season riddled with less-than-ideal conditions – including lack of ice and excess amounts of snow and ice. With snow melt in full force and deteriorating ice conditions, we can’t help but think of what’s coming next. Read more » Blake Tollefson Sonar Underwater Camera
Camera MarCum Posts Sonar What electronics will help me find early ice panfish? 12/27/2021 / 12/07/2021 by marcum-tech One of the most common questions heard from new ice anglers relates to electronics – “Which is better – an underwater camera or a flasher/sonar?” The short answer is that it really depends. The long answer is that there are certain situations that each unit type excels in. Depth, water clarity, habitat, and fishing style greatly impact which unit is right for a specific set of circumstances. In a perfect world, an ice angler should have both. This is particularly apparent for anglers that target panfish during the winter months. Read more » Blake Tollefson Bluegills Crappies Early Ice Pan Fish Sonar Underwater Camera
MarCum Posts Sonar Winter Trout Fishing – preparation, location & presentation 02/07/2022 / 02/07/2022 by marcum-tech Some of the more neglected targets during the ice season are stream trout species – rainbow trout, brook trout, and brown trout more specifically. Countless states across the Ice Belt spend significant amounts of time and resources to ensure there are catchable trout opportunities available to many anglers. Preparation, location and presentation all play a role in success for winter stream trout. Read more » Blake Tollefson Brook Trout Brown Trout MX-7GPS Rainbow Trout Stream Trout Trout
Posts Winter Trout Fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin 01/23/2023 / 01/27/2023 by marcum-tech Panfish, walleyes and other game fish receive the lion’s share of angling pressure throughout the winter months – mainly because they are so accessible. Some of the more neglected targets during the ice season include stream trout species – rainbow, brook, and brown trout more specifically. Fortunately for ice anglers, states like Minnesota and Wisconsin put forth a great level of effort to ensure there are catchable trout opportunities available. Stream trout are stocked across the Midwest in a variety of lakes and ponds. They are worthy adversaries for any ice fisherman and offer a unique experience. Determining the right combination of preparation, location, and presentation can lead to winter trout fishing success. Read more » Blake Tollefson Sonar
