It is Never to Late to Start Ice Fishing
It is Never to Late to Start Ice Fishing
By Todd Reed
I have been ice fishing since junior high school, or let’s just say, a long time ago. I can still remember that first time stepping onto the river backwater, it was an eerie feeling, but the feeling of anticipation and excitement soon overtook that eeriness. Dreams of fish coming through a hole and a mess of bluegills to clean with my dad was the hope. In the early 1990’s all you needed was a bucket, an auger, a pole and a few feet of line…to say things have changed a little bit would be quite an understatement. I was hooked on fishing from a very early age, and ice fishing was no different. To this day I look forward to that yearly first time on the ice. There is just something about walking on water, drilling holes in it, and catching fish. For those of you that love fishing but haven’t really dived into ice fishing, this article is just for you. Here are the “in’s and outs” of modern day ice fishing and how you can start right now.
In the sport of ice fishing the equipment used is like no other. Each tool is specifically designed for fishing through the ice. If you have no equipment, there are a few things that you must have, or better yet borrow from a friend. Like any sport you need certain things to be successful, in ice fishing there are several things that you need on every trip to the ice. Here is a breakdown from the most simple to the most advanced pieces of equipment that can help you catch some fish this winter.
Clothing- Obviously this is a big one when venturing out in the winter. If you are waiting for a nice day to ice fish, you may need to wait all winter. A good pair of waterproof boots is a must, insulated bibs to keep your legs warm, and an insulated coat. Hats and gloves are needed too but most people have these just living in Iowa. A lot of hunting gear can also work for ice fishing and buying separate items isn’t always necessary, I will tell you this, nothing is fun when you are really cold. Dressing in layers to stay warm is a must.
Auger- This item is obviously a very important one. Ice augers can be purchased from $30-$500 depending on what you need. If you are just starting I would definitely stay at the lower end of that price range until you know if this sport is for you. Hand cranking augers do exactly what $500 augers do but it is much more work. In the past 5 years or so cordless drills have become the most popular auger. If you already have a ½ inch cordless drill, you can simply attach an ice auger to it. This brings your cost well below $100 for a great auger.
Rod/Reel- Short rods are the name of the game when it comes to ice fishing. A good beginning ice rod will be around 24 inches in length with a spinning reel. You will want two to four pound test line on your reel, the water is generally very clean in the winter and using line larger than this will tip off the fish and many will not bite. The price of these ice fishing combos varies a lot. If you are just starting off plan on spending around $30 for a combo, this will get you a rod with a better quality reel. Like most sports you can spend as much or as little on equipment as you want. Local bait shops are a great place to go and purchase these items. They will know and hopefully understand your intentions with the sport, tell them your budget and they will help you select the best ice combo that your money can buy.
Baits- The lures or baits for ice fishing are very different than open water lures. You will need to get 10 or so ice jigs in a variety of colors to help you catch some fish. Waxworms or spikes are typical ice fishing bait and bait shops will always carry them in the winter. If you are after bass or walleye through the ice, then a few spoons would be good to purchase as well. All in all you can plan on spending around $40 for these items.
Electronics- Do you need specialized electronics to go ice fishing…no. Do they help you catch more fish…yes. I am not saying that you have to go out and spend another $300 on a Vexilar, a specialized ice fishing flasher, but if you see someone using one, you will want one. They most certainly add a lot more fun into ice fishing simply because they help you catch more fish. My advice is to go out and find a friend that has one and go with them. Or head to a local lake and see one in action. Most people won’t mind at all if you ask them about the electronics they are using. Talking to fellow outdoorsmen is a great way to learn new things. If you like the sport, then this added purchase may be a necessity.
Other Items- There are a few other items you will need to get started out in the sport of ice fishing. An ice scoop for cleaning your auger hole, a small jig box for your lures and a bait puck are all worth their weight in gold. Again, local bait shops are a perfect place to get all these materials.
Safety- I cannot write anything about ice fishing without the mention of safety. Each year people in the state of Iowa die from ice fishing. They fall through the ice and succumb to nature, never to fish again. That is a cold hard fact, safety should be your #1 priority when ice fishing.
Each time you venture on the ice you should always have a long rope, a flotation device, and ice picks. You should also NEVER ice fish alone. If the ice fails these items could save your life or your friends life, but they won’t if you don’t have them close by. Always test the ice, get first-hand reports of ice thickness and if you don’t consider yourself safe, get off the ice fast. Be safe, and plan for the worst.
As you can see the items related to ice fishing are quite unique. Little if anything from open water fishing transforms into ice fishing gear. However, if you are just starting out the items you need don’t cost a thousand dollars, but yet a few hundred dollars. I hope your local pond, lake or river backwater will find you this winter as it found me back in the 90’s…I’ve been hooked ever since!
