Get Outfitted For Your First Ice Fishing Trip
If you're looking for a Winter Sport that the whole family can participate in and have a good time, why not consider Ice Fishing? Each year many people set out to enjoy the sport of ice fishing, and many of these people get their families involved. It's easy, wholesome fun that everyone can enjoy and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get started.
How do you go about getting started? And more importantly, how is a Beginner suppose to know what they need to get out on the ice? Plus, in this day and age, when families are watching their budget, how much will it cost?
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.
For starters, you will want to get an auger meant for ice fishing to make holes in the ice and snow. If it was me, I'd get a 5 or 6 inch ice auger for Perch, Crappie and Bluegill. If you want to go after bigger fish like Bass, Pike and Walleye, then For Beginners, I'd want a 8, possibly even a 10 inch auger meant for ice fishing. You have two choices, power augers or the manual augers. Obviously the manual augers are less expensive but need more work to make a hole in the ice. You will also need a scoop to scoop the ice chips from the hole in the ice.
You'll want to buy quality tip ups or ice rods. Most fishermen bore a lot of holes over structure and use tip ups to increase their chances of catching their limit of fish. Other fishermen prefer to ice fish with a reel and ice rod. For Beginners, I'd want a few tip ups along with a good rod so you can see which tactic catches you the most fish.
One crucial element of your fishing equipment you should not take lightly is your fishing line. Normal fishing line becomes brittle and will break easily in the frigid weather. You'll want to get fishing line that is meant for ice fishing. There are several on the market and your local bait store or Sporting Goods store should have a good selection.
For bait, you can buy mealworms, spikes or nightcrawlers for panfish. For bigger fish, you may want to use minnows or artificial lures like tear drop jigs or jigging spoons. It's best to take a variety since you never know what the fish will want once you get out on the ice.
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!
Other miscellaneous things you may need are an ice scoop to get the ice chips out of your hole, a cooler or other item to carry your fish in and maybe a portable heater. Some hardcore fishermen even take sonars to see the structure on the bottom of the lake. Ice fishing is easy to get started in. You can spend as much or little as you want so get out there and grab your gear. Be sure to read up on the regulations and safety rules before heading out.