With the waters becoming glossy, slippery & thin, it is time to learn the basic essentials for ice fishing.
Ice fishing is a tundra of excitement — for the first-timer especially. I think the sight of rivers looking like frozen foods is sure to excite anyone, how much more if you’re attempting to catch a fish in it.
It may be surprising to find out that ice fishing isn’t difficult. However, you surely don’t expect to use the gear used for spearfishing for ice fishing, do you? Except if your sole target is spearing through cold thin ice, you’d need to be appropriately geared up before fishing in ice.
Highlighting 6 Basic Essentials for Ice Fishing
The Appropriate Attire
Personally, I suit up for ice fishing like I’m going to be buried 10 feet in snow & then add an extra layer on it. And except if you have blood ties to the polar bears & would like to show off your hairy, insulating furs while fishing, I suggest that you do the same too. You can’t possibly overdress for the occasion since there’s always the chance to undress if you find yourself in a heat period — quite unlikely, I must say, though.
It’s honestly crucial to be rightly dressed as there are no guarantees on the situation you may run into. There isn’t a lot to protect you when you’re seated on a bucket in the middle of the lake. Remember, too, that ice fishing does not support a lot of movement, and when you’re sitting for hours in a position, your extremities are sure to get cold faster.
Obviously, the best insulator you could have is adequate clothing. Examples of gear to bring include thermal gloves & socks, hats, facemasks, goggles, scarves, heavy boots, hand warmers & whatever you could lay your hands on.
Be Bruce Wayne for some time — prepare for the worst.
Ice Auger
An ice auger has to be among your gear, of course — I don’t see any way it wouldn’t. There are limited options when it comes to picking these. If you’re still testing the water (ice in this case), you may prefer going for something cheap since you’re not yet sure if ice fishing is for you. However, if you already believe you’d do well in the 3rd part of Frozen, then you should settle for a gas-powered auger. They are like your nice boss who compliments your everyday look at the office: they make your job much easier!
However, you need to know that augers like this can only be used on ice that’s up to 6” thick. Anything lighter will crack due to the vibrations of the machine. Also, gas augers add significant weight to your gear. If you’re not Lois Lane, you’ll be needing the help of something (since Superman won’t help) to get your ice auger to your favorite spot.
Go down (not on your knees) to see what you’ll be needing.
Sleds & Buckets
One of the smartest things you can request from Santa for ice fishing is his sled (he can keep the reindeers). With one or two sleds, you can pack all gear in the sled & surf-drag it to the hole. It’s much easier than everything else you can think about except if you teleport.
Sure, there are few spots that you can drive your car to, but there’s no guarantee to this. We are prepping for the worst-case scenarios in this article, you see. And hey, I’m not depressed — just helping you out.
Portable Heat Source
I don’t see any reason not to come with a portable heat source if you can afford one. Or do you have a reason not to? A portable propane or gas heater would be a great tool to have with you if you have an ice boulder to live in.
These tools help you stay longer on your trip, and they smoothen out the rougher aspects of ice fishing to an extent. In addition to this, you should come with hand warmers to be used inside your gloves. They do a warm job!
Safety Gear
Your safety is the most critical aspect of ice fishing. Even if you’re the cat with nine lives, you will find it difficult to survive the stinging cold. Cats don’t have a lot of fur to keep them warm, do they?
To begin, it is forbidden to go ice fishing by yourself when you’re just starting. I strongly recommend going with a more experienced partner who is familiar with the treacherous, misleading ice. Some of the most important safety tools to bring are:
- Anchor: For the first-timer, this is extremely important. An anchor is a tie-down point that you attach to yourself to make it easier & faster to climb out of the water if you fall in. You can see how helpful this can be. Ice picks are also a good alternative, as they’ll help to find something to hold onto if you fall in.
- Clothing: We’ve discussed the importance of appropriate clothing. Ensure you are well dressed for ice fishing. I can’t stress this enough.
- Headlamp: A headlamp is handy because of how short days can be in winter. And with you concentrating on finding the fish, it is easy to lose track of time. A headlamp at this time will help to see clearly as you make your way to camp and pack up correctly.
- First-aid Kit: The importance of a first-aid kit cannot be ignored too. Come with a box that’s packed for winter.
Rods for Ice Fishing
Surely, it’s obvious that these have to come with you. Still, it’s worth pointing out that you need to buy rods designed specifically for ice fishing. They are shorter, have a smaller radius & make your job easier. They are more sensitive, so you can feel every nibble on your hook.
A line for ice fishing would make an excellent inclusion too. Typically, this is a thicker line that will remain good in the cold & withstand ice buildup. Ordinary monofilament lines can quickly turn brittle if they are used continuously for fishing. You may bring both to see which works best.
Concluding the Basic Essentials for Ice Fishing
If you have flirted with thoughts of winter exploration before now, then you should not have problems keeping up with these basic essentials for ice fishing. They are everyday considerations for ice fishing, after all. You should also consider building an ice shelter out there. Ice fishing is great fun, and you should try it out. Note that great emphasis has to be placed on safety.