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Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing is an excellent winter sport and bridges the long gap between the close of the usual fishing season in the autumn and the opening of it in the spring. Dressed in plenty of warm clothing, fleece-lined or felt boots, and thick mittens the fisherman can have a lot of fun attending his tip-ups, and running from one hole to another as the red flag flies. A long-handle ice chisel is needed or gas powered auger. With this you cut round holes in the ice about 7-10 in. wide, and flared out at the bottom. The best kind of chisel has an iron handle, and if you're wise you'll have a hole drilled in the handle, tie a stout cord through this, and then fasten the other end to your belt.

Every ice fisherman requires the following: terminal tackle, lures or bait, something to open a hole in the ice and keep it open; a portable shelter and/ or warming device, and a sled or other means to transport this equipment. Other gear is helpful and since, with experience, fishermen tend to become gadgeteers, they carry a good bit of it.

On sunny, windless days, warm clothing is all that any angler needs to be comfortable on a frozen lake. But these fine days occur too seldom and usually some sort of shelter is necessary. Often a windbreak will be sufficient and these can be either the roll-up or collapsible frame-and-canvas models which are light and easy to transport. Small camping tents can also double as fishing shelters, but most fishermen prefer shanties.

Winter Fishing Shelters

An ice fishing shanty can be of any size, depending on the number of occupants, but the typical shanty seats two side-by-side on a bench. That means a square or rectangular floor space of about 35 square feet and 6 feet or so of headroom. All shanties are mounted on runners for moving and towing. Most contain a small stove or heater. Sportsmen who prefer luxury with their fishing have designed really elaborate ice fishing shelters big enough for larger parties and equipped with cooking equipment, lounge or deck chairs, a radio and perhaps even a portable television set.

Where To Find Fish

Places to fish are over weed beds in water of medium depth where fish like to lurk. If you don't know where such weed beds are, cut holes until you find them. A clear, open spot surrounded by grass is an ideal location. Your tip-ups may be made of plastic or wood, the fishing line being tied to the short end of the cross piece. Live minnows are the best of all bait. If holes over shallow water don't produce, cut some in deeper water, for the fish may be there.

Dacron line about 12-lb. test is satisfactory for this fishing and for holes over shallow water-that is, up to 10 ft. deep--25 ft. of line to a hole is ample. For a hook, an eyed hook ranging in size from #8 to 2/0, depending on the size of fish, will do nicely. Other gear needed includes a 12-qt. minnow pail, a dipper to scoop out the slush ice in the holes as they start to freeze up, and a small nylon dip net to take your minnows out of the bait bucket.

Another form of winter fishing is with the jigging spoon, preferably of a bright finish; chrome or gold. Adjust your line so that the spoon will be about a foot from the bottom. Raise the spoon by bringing up the rod with a quick movement, and then let the spoon fall back. Jigging and tip-ups both get plenty of big yellow perch and walleyes as well as crappie and northern pike.

Last Fishing Update:
January 3, 2009

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Ice Fishing Tips

There are a good many ways to cut holes in the ice. The simplest method is to use a large, heavy, iron chisel called a spud. With it, holes of any size or shape can be chopped out. Nowadays more and more winter sportsmen use manual ice augers or drills which bore holes 7 to 8 inches in diameter. A number of different types are available in northern sporting goods stores. A small strainer or scoop is also handy to dip chips or slush out of the hole.