Ice Fishing Gear
Going ice fishing any time soon? Planning an ice fishing trip this winter? TheLakeReview.com decided it's time to look at Ice Fishing Gear. To say you can't fish in ice without Ice Fishing Gear, is an understatement.
There are many different kinds of gear you can use to have a successful day at ice fishing. Each piece of gear used for ice fishing is unique compared to the gear used for the typical fishing, or fly fishing. Here is a list of the essentials for a great day of fly fishing.
Ice Fishing Tools of the Trade
You need a way to break the ice… to make it possible for you to even fish! You need an auger.. You can go big and get a big expensive gas auger that will handle your situation quickly and efficiently. Or you can get a hand auger, save money, but a little more hard work. (Make sure you cut the hole big enough to retrieve the correct size fish. No one wants to let the "big one" get away because the whole is to small.)- Just to stay warm, you will need shelter from the wind. Many people use tents that they cut the bottom out of. You can be creative here; you don’t have to have anything special just something to protect you from the extremes. (If on a budget this is not necessary at all, just get a comfy chair and a nice jacket)
- Also you will need a heater( any propane heater will work)
- Something very important but probably out of the budget is a fish finder. The fish finder could be the deciding factor in whether or not you actually catch the fish, without knowing it you could be sitting in a shallow spot with no fish. If you are using a fish finder however it shows you what's going on below. If you are not familiar with the lake, this may be a good idea.
Rod and reels-For ice fishing you will need about 4-6 pound line, nothing too thick in diameter, unless your fishing for lunkers of course. Try to get a rod with a sensitive tip also.- Typical baits include ice flies, yellow ice floats, and minnow jigs. I have heard the Rapala Ice Jig is a very good jig to use.
- For Walleye, Pike, and Crappie- your best bait to use would be minnows.
- For Bluegill and Crappie-You should use meal worms, red wigglers, earthworms, or maggots.
Article by Matt Koenig TheLakeReview.com