Ice fishing is an Outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. It's relatively inexpensive to get outfitted and with just a little bit of knowledge, a Greenhorn can have an excellent chance at success their first trip at the fishing hole.
If you've ever wondered into a Sporting Goods store and looked at all the ice fishing equipment, you could get overwhelmed pretty quickly. You might be wondering "What are the basics I need to get started ice fishing?" Well, the basics are pretty simple and inexpensive. You don't need all the high dollar fancy gear on the shelves to be a successful ice fisherman.
Have no fear my friend. I whipped up this list of the basic tackle and gear that you'll need to get started ice fishing. The nice thing about this Sport is that you can get started for less than a hundred dollars in most cases.
To get started, you'll first be looking at ice augers. It'll be hard to start fishing through the ice without a hole! Many first timers choose a manual ice auger. For small fish, you'll be looking at an auger that will bore a 5 to 6 inch hole in the ice. Should you want to catch bigger fish like Walleye, Pike, Musky, Bass or Catfish, you're need a larger hole. One in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just keep in mind that the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to bore it with a manual ice auger. This is why you'll see many ice fishermen using a power auger to drill their holes.
Next on the list will be your rod and reel. Some ice fishermen use what they call a tip up, others use short rods and reels. Others use a combination of both. If you really want to increase the chances of bringing home fish, drill multiple holes in the ice and use tip ups while fishing at one with a rod and reel.
Fishing line should be designed for fishing through the ice. The near freezing water can make fishing line brittle. That is why you will want to make sure and obtain line specifically designed for ice fishing. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. Fishing line used for ice fishing is the most critical part of your ice fishing tackle.
Now you need something to catch the fish. For panfish like Crappie, Bluegill and Yellow Perch, I like to use mealworms, spikes or nightcrawlers. I also carry along an assortment of ice fishing jigs and spoons. For the bigger fish such as Pike and Bass, I like minnows or tear drop jigs and spoons as these fish can be aggressive. It's not a bad idea to check with local fishermen to see what they like to use on a specific body of water to catch fish through the ice. This will save you a lot of trial and error in the beginning.
Standing long hours on the lake waiting for fish to bite can get old. Make sure you bring along something to sit on or to wait out the fish. Some people bring lawn chairs while others use a simple five gallon bucket. If you have the funds and really want to get fancy, then a small heated hut can really spoil you!
Other miscellaneous things you may need are an ice scoop to get the ice chips out of your hole, a cooler or other item to carry your fish in and maybe a portable heater. Some hardcore fishermen even take sonars to see the structure on the bottom of the lake. Ice fishing is easy to get started in. You can spend as much or little as you want so get out there and grab your gear. Be sure to read up on the regulations and safety rules before heading out.
If you've ever wondered into a Sporting Goods store and looked at all the ice fishing equipment, you could get overwhelmed pretty quickly. You might be wondering "What are the basics I need to get started ice fishing?" Well, the basics are pretty simple and inexpensive. You don't need all the high dollar fancy gear on the shelves to be a successful ice fisherman.
Have no fear my friend. I whipped up this list of the basic tackle and gear that you'll need to get started ice fishing. The nice thing about this Sport is that you can get started for less than a hundred dollars in most cases.
To get started, you'll first be looking at ice augers. It'll be hard to start fishing through the ice without a hole! Many first timers choose a manual ice auger. For small fish, you'll be looking at an auger that will bore a 5 to 6 inch hole in the ice. Should you want to catch bigger fish like Walleye, Pike, Musky, Bass or Catfish, you're need a larger hole. One in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just keep in mind that the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to bore it with a manual ice auger. This is why you'll see many ice fishermen using a power auger to drill their holes.
Next on the list will be your rod and reel. Some ice fishermen use what they call a tip up, others use short rods and reels. Others use a combination of both. If you really want to increase the chances of bringing home fish, drill multiple holes in the ice and use tip ups while fishing at one with a rod and reel.
Fishing line should be designed for fishing through the ice. The near freezing water can make fishing line brittle. That is why you will want to make sure and obtain line specifically designed for ice fishing. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. Fishing line used for ice fishing is the most critical part of your ice fishing tackle.
Now you need something to catch the fish. For panfish like Crappie, Bluegill and Yellow Perch, I like to use mealworms, spikes or nightcrawlers. I also carry along an assortment of ice fishing jigs and spoons. For the bigger fish such as Pike and Bass, I like minnows or tear drop jigs and spoons as these fish can be aggressive. It's not a bad idea to check with local fishermen to see what they like to use on a specific body of water to catch fish through the ice. This will save you a lot of trial and error in the beginning.
Standing long hours on the lake waiting for fish to bite can get old. Make sure you bring along something to sit on or to wait out the fish. Some people bring lawn chairs while others use a simple five gallon bucket. If you have the funds and really want to get fancy, then a small heated hut can really spoil you!
Other miscellaneous things you may need are an ice scoop to get the ice chips out of your hole, a cooler or other item to carry your fish in and maybe a portable heater. Some hardcore fishermen even take sonars to see the structure on the bottom of the lake. Ice fishing is easy to get started in. You can spend as much or little as you want so get out there and grab your gear. Be sure to read up on the regulations and safety rules before heading out.
About the Author:
You can discover lots of ice fishing gear on ebay. This will cut your cost while saving money on your next ice fishing purchases. Make sure and get quality equipment Makefore heading out on the ice. Nothing is more frustrating that having equipment break downs while trying to enjoy a day of ice fishing. This includes your tip ups and fishing reels.