Name just about any activity that the entire family can do in the Winter and you can count on it costing hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to outfit yourself and family. But there is one sport the family can do that you can get started in for less than a hundred dollars or so. This sport is Ice Fishing. It’s wholesome fun that you and your family will enjoy, plus you just might fill the freezer with tasty fish!
But what does a Beginner need start ice fishing? One has a variety of choices in fishing tackle available today, a Greenhorn can easily shuck out 100’s of dollars on ice fishing supplies and not have the basic gear to get out on the ice.
With this in mind, I sit down and made up this guide that will help you select the basic gear you’ll need to get started in the Sport of Ice Fishing. You’ll be surprised to know that most of this gear can be had for less than a hundred dollars or so. If you want to spend more, then by all means do so, but if you’re just wanting to try it out a few times, then the money invested is minimal.
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.
You’ll need a way to get the fish to the surface. For this, you’ll want to use tip ups or a rod and reel. Multiple tip ups allow you to fish many holes while a rod and reel will restrict you to only one hole at a time. Some ice fishermen increase the odds of them bringing home fish by using a combination of tip ups and rod and reels.
Don’t overlook the line you’ll be using to catch fish. Regular fishing line will become brittle and break easily when fishing through a hole in the ice. Look for fishing line that is designed specifically for ice fishing. There are many on the market or you can order it through catalog retailers such as Cabela’s.
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!
And that is all you really need to get started ice fishing. It’s a simple Sport that doesn’t require a huge output of cash to be successful. Just follow the regulations for your area and become familiar with safety rules of ice fishing before leaving to get out on the ice. Have fun and don’t be afraid of being sociable on the ice. You might be surprised to find out that ice fishermen like to hang out and shoot the breeze a little. Just don’t crowd other fishermen when fishing!
You can find lots of ice fishing gear on ebay. This will slash your cost while saving money on your next ice fishing purchases. Be sure and get quality equipment before 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.