Ice Fishing

1. 5 Responses to “what do i need to get started with ice fishing?”

2. By azabujuban on May 30, 2010 | Reply

   if you need to test th eice as you move out on the surface, some sort of ice pick is handy. Once you have found your spot, some of the basic gear:
   augur or spud to create your hole, or a chain saw if the ice is really thick.
   A scoop to get ice fragments out of your hole
   a shelter of some kind against the wind
   a tip-up, which is the traditional fishing rig
   LOTS of hand and foot warmers and warm clothes. There’s a great article on the url below.

3. By BOBBER on May 30, 2010 | Reply

   After checking the ice is thick enough to support you and all your gear safely. I use a gas ice auger to drill the holes. I also use ice rods specially made for ice fishing with ultra light reels on them. I use a variety of jigs with ether wax worms or minnows. Rigged with a slip bobber. I also have a fish house to stay warm and dry in. Enjoy it is fun.

4. By Mike on May 30, 2010 | Reply

   You’re going to need to do a little homework first. If I were you, I’d go out on the lake and just watch what other people are using and doing. Listen and learn. Anglers are very friendly and will help you get started. After your outing, you’ll have a better idea about what you’ll need to catch fish. Take a notebook and write stuff down. Then take a trip to WalMart.

   Good luck and have fun. Email me if you want specifics after your “virgin” trip. Ice fishing is so cool (pun intended) that I can hardly restrain myself! I just love this sport.

5. By Fisher_King on May 30, 2010 | Reply

   Here is a list of “Must haves” and “Needs”-

   MUST HAVES-

   1. Hand-powered or Gas Powered Auger-

   a. Hand-powered Auger- A “muscle powered” auger is good for ice as deep as 1-2 FT. After 2 FT drilling a hole using a hand auger gets VERY inconvenient (and tiresome). (Remember, the larger the diameter hole you want to drill, the harder IT IS TO DRILL- so opt for the 7″)- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon&id=0051038114491a&navCount=8&podId=0051038&parentId=cat603938&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat603938&hasJS=true

   b. Gas-powered Auger- A MUCH more convenient way to drill through the ice. However, MUCH more expensive- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=netcon-cat603938&id=0073894120454a&navCount=6&podId=0073894120454&parentId=cat603938&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Yahoo&cm_pla=gas%20powered%20auger%20jiffy&cm_ite=netcon&rid=2146251080&hasJS=true

   2. A couple “Tip-ups” OR Ice fishing combo’s-

   a. Tip-ups- The quickest and easiest way to ice fish is by using a Tip-up. Although not as “fun” as fishing with a rod, Tip-ups catch fish. – http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_190410&id=0029153119003a

   b. Ice rod Combo’s- Ice rods work best in “warmer” conditions and inside Ice houses. They also allow you a better fight- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0017110117002a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&Go.y=15&_D%3AhasJS=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&No=18&Ntt=ice+rod&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=22&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

   3. 5 Gallon bucket

   4. Bait Bucket and minnow net

   5. A collapsible camp chair- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0064174418735a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=chair&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=13&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=32&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

   6. Ice Jigs/Corks/bobber stops/- various different tackle

   7. Ice dipper- To clean out your holes- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat601250&id=0010851190573a&navCount=17&podId=0010851&parentId=cat601250&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

   That is the “bare minimum” you need to Ice Fish. Will you catch some fish? Maybe.

   But with these other “Need” Items you will “close the gap” between successful and not so successful-

   NEED

   1. Vexilar Flasher- I had planned to put this in the MUST HAVE dept but decided against it. In my opinion, going Ice Fishing without (at least) a Flasher is a HUGE waste of time. Flashers help you identify good fishing depth & structure AND allow you to see schools of fish in “real time”

   2. Portable Shelter- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0035838120481a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=portable+ice+shelter&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&Go.y=5&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=19&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

   3. Buddy Heater- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0027876516559a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=portable+ice+shelter&Ntk=Product_liberal&sort=all&Go.y=5&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=19&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

   4. Underwater Camera- Bordering on a “luxury item” a camera can give you valuable info on the “mood” of the fish AND valuable structure info.- http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0043175019011a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=underwater+camera&Ntk=Products&sort=all&Go.y=8&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&Go.x=27&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

   Hope this helps ya?

6. By Nick on May 30, 2010 | Reply

   SIMPLEST ANSWER!!!!!

   You need some basics to get started:

   You need and auger either gas (which costs a good amount of money) or a hand powered auger(my preference) works just fine(. (You normally want a 6′ to 8′ inch diameter auger)

   An ice fishing rod (Jiging rod) check out these few:
   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_119031&id=0017110117002a
   *****************************************************************************************
   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20196&id=0029916119031a&navCount=2&podId=0029916&parentId=cat20196&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true
   *************************************************************************************************
   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_119031&id=0065618123659a
   *********************************************************************************
   You also will need a set of jigs, (jiging the the main way to ice fish) I prefer sets such as these:

   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0010852116086a&navCount=7&podId=0010852&parentId=cat601249&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat601249_TGP&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601249&hasJS=true
   ***************************************************************************************************************
   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0075101124645a&navCount=11&podId=0075101&parentId=cat601249&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat601249&catalogCode=2UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601249&hasJS=true
   *************************************************************************************************************
   You can also use tip-ups. which work great if you want to sit there and jig then leave live bait fish on a tip-up:

   http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0073913123759a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=tip+ups&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
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   I highly recomend getting a good ice resistant/ freeze resistant line

   For jiging with jigs adding a maggot or wax worm to the end is a must for me!!
   I recomend 1″ to 2″ inch baitfish such as rosies (little pink fish) for tip ups
   An ice scoop for clearing your hole is a good idea it is not an absoulute must but without it you will be very wet and cold
   If you have never been ice fishing before i recomend you first try to see if you can go with someone who has…..the ice can be very decieving sometimes

   SHORTENED ICE FISHING SHOPPING LIST:
   1.) JIGING ROD
   2.) TIP UP
   3.) ICE/FREEZE RESISTANT LINE
   4.) SET OF JIGS (NORTHLAND TACKLE IS A GREAT COMPANY)
   5.) ICE AUGER
   6.) MAGGOTS/ROSIES
   7.) ICE SCOOP

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