I have had great success with Berkley’s PowerBait Trout Nibbles on multiple species. I use to secure the Berkley jar to my belt or kayak via lanyard. This method worked well until the cap of the Berkley jar came undone and my trout nibbles accelerated to Earth via gravity. I hence developed my own storage solution.

Making your Trout Nibbles Storage unit is simple. First, secure a length of 80 lb monofilament to the neck of an empty medicine container via improve clinch knot. Second, slide aluminum crimps down each tag end until they reach the neck of the container. Third, wrap the tag ends around each other to form a loop and secure them via aluminum crimps.

I like this simple storage for three reasons. First, the lid does not come undone; you have to push down on the lid to open. Second, the larger capacity; my Trout Nibble Storage solution can store three Berkely PowerBait jars. And lastly, it’s very inexpensive; pennies.

I have a Jiffy Propane auger and a Mr. Heater propane heater for ice fishing, which I rig with propane bottles prior to each trip. On each ice fishing trip, I carry a couple of extra propane bottles in my ice fishing sled. I have been lucky in that my propane bottle have never frozen or exploded on me. Preemptively, I built a simple portable propane storage solution that keeps my propane bottles warm and secure.

Making this simple storage solution is easy. I made mine in less than one hour.

First, I made a simple jig out of a recycled MDF sheet. I cut out a simple rectangle based on the inner dimensions of a recycled cooler. I used my Rigid sander to get it to the exact size so that it fits snug in the cooler. I then made two centered and equidistant 4 1/8″ holes using a whole saw bit and my DeWalt drill.

Second, I cut a series of 2″ thick foam insulation form panels using my template, a hacksaw blade, and a 4 1/8″ whole saw bit.  When drilling out the holes in the insulation foam, make sure the drill bit is spinning before it touches the insulation. Also be sure to wear a dust mask and eye protection. Insulation shavings go everywhere! And lastly, I stacked the foam panels into the cooler.

This inexpensive portable propane bottle storage solution works amazingly well. My propane bottle are protected from freezing and propane ping pong.

A bobber stop is a brilliant device that allows anglers to quickly set and reset the depth of their presentation when fishing a sliding bobber.  With a few simple tools and inexpensive materials, you can make your own bobber stop.

First, cut a bobber stop disc out of a soft rubber material via single hole paper punch.  For example, I used the soft rubber sleeve from a spent pen.

Second, make a hole in the center of the bobber stop disc.  For example, I used the end of a straightened out paper clip.

Third, pass the wire though the hole in the bobber stop disc.  For example, I used a fly tying bobbin threader

Commercial bobber stops are readily available at reasonable prices.  I prefer to make my own at $0.00. 🙂

I ice fishing with tip-ups because they are the most efficient way to cover lots of water simultaneously.  The acceleration of adrenaline when a flag is sprung and racing for the sky makes me sprint across the ice without fear of falling.  My only complaint about tip-ups is storage.  After experimenting with several tip-up storages solutions, I have built a custom Tip-Up Rack for my ice fishing sled.

The journey from concept to completion had several prototypes and adjustments.  The final design is surprisingly simple.  There are no moving parts and minimal space is taken up inside my ice fishing sled.  During my first ice fishing trip, the 100% water proof rack performed perfectly!

The only disadvantage of this for-life rack is the build process.  The multi-step build procedure requires several specialized power tools and knowledge of working with epoxy, fiberglass cloth, and epoxy fillets.  An alternative build procedure is to use 1/4″ PVC sheets and 1″ thick PVC boards.  This alternative is more expensive that the cut-off wood stock that I used and it will produce a heavier rack.

My first DIY Wacky O-Ring uses heat shrink tubing.  This solution works well.  However, if heat is applied too long, it can melt the Senko, which is no bueno.  I now use recycled rubber grips from spent pens.

Making Wacky O-Rings from recycled rubber pen grips has one step: cut a 1/4″ wide ring from the end of the soft rubber grip via utility knife.  I use my DIY Wacky O-Ring Rigger to secure the DIY Wacky O-Rings to my Senkos.

This second generation DIY Wacky O-Ring has several advantages.  First, it costs $0.00.  Second, it is very easy to make.  Third, it does not damage the Senko, which can happen when applying heat during to shrink the tubing on generation one.  Forth, it provides a stronger grip on the Senko than commercial O-Rings because it has a wider surface area.  And lastly, it allows the hook to be perpendicular to the Senko, which increases your hook-up ratio.