SOME ICE FISHING BASICS

 

Not having a basic knowledge of a sport like ice fishing limits ones desire to participate. With a little forethought and some basic and relatively inexpensive equipment is all one needs to find success in this sport.

Since one needs to drill holes in the ice to get to the fish, an ice auger or ice chisel is a place to start. A child’s sled will serve well to carry all the equipment across the ice in one trip.

There are a number of good ice fishing rods and reels on the market at reasonable prices. They are usually about 2 to 3 feet in length and the reels are usually spinning reels.  They hold about 25 yards of 1 to 4 pound monofilament line.  Some ice anglers like to use tip-ups.  Tip-ups hold bait at a certain depth.  The reel turns from a tug of a fish and releases a flag as a signal.  When the flag flies, it is time to reel in the fish.

An ice scoop is handy to remove ice chips from the ice hole.

Plastic 5-gallon buckets come in handy to store equipment, hold fish and to sit on.

Hooks are usually number 8 or 10 size. Small tear-drop jigs in a variety of bright colors are handy.  Bait for bluegills and perch is usually grubs, mousies, wigglers and wax worms.  Small minnows hooked through the back allow them to swim freely.  A small bobber will hold baits at a precise depth.

Some optional equipment might be a portable shelter or fish house to get out of the wind. A portable depth finder or underwater camera lets you to locate structure, check depth and monitor fish.  A small lantern or heater aids in keeping you warm.

If larger fish are present you might like to have a gaff to aid in pulling them through the usual 8-inch hole.

Having several pre-drilled holes is wise. Crappies and perch tend to roam.  Mobility will likely improve your success.

Keep your bait moving gently. It sends out fish attracting vibration that they pick up through the lateral line.  Move the bait from side to side as well as up and down.  Check the entire water column beginning at the top and moving down in 2 foot increments.  Vary the speed and rhythm.

Perch tend to school vertically and can be found anywhere from the top of the water column just under the ice to the bottom.