Before you know it, there are going to be holiday decorations in every store signaling the start of winter. Leaves will be done falling, snow will start to cover the ground and lakes will begin to freeze. That means you can start preparing for that winter sport you’ve always wanted to try: Ice Fishing! We compiled a few tips to help you get started.
The key to any sort of hunting or fishing-related sport is to have the right tools for the job.
Not only do you need to have supplies to do the fishing, but you need to make sure you’re staying safe. For any ice fishing trip you’ll need:
- A shelter or tent
- Warm clothes
- First aid supplies
- Rod and Reel
- Life preserver (you are on the water of course)
- Tape measure
- Ice pick
- Ice auger or drill
Many people don’t want to attempt this sport because they think it is dangerous, but if you take the right precautions you should stay safe. First, you need to make sure the ice is thick enough to be on. Most lakes will have a weather and ice fishing report but if you must do it manually, there’s a way to do it. Make a small hole in the ice with your pick, and use your tape measure to examine the thickness. When fishing on foot, 4 inches of thick ice is recommended, while if you have an ATV, 5 inches is recommended. Once you’ve determined the ice is safe to fish on and start drilling your holes, you can start to focus on the fish.
If the lake you are fishing in is local, you may already know what wildlife lives there. If you are just visiting make sure to stop into a bait shop or marina in town to figure out what you’ll be after. Some of the easiest species to catch are walleye, pike, perch, trout, and crappies due to their cold-slowed movements. Now that you know what you’re fishing for, how do you attract the fish? Start by jigging larger lures about a foot off the bottom to attract and catch the more aggressive fish. If you’re seeing fish but not catching them switch to a smaller jig. While ice fishing, using live bait is essential whether you’re jigging, dead sticking, using a bobber, or a tip-up.
So go ahead, throw in a line, wait a while, and happy fishing! Check out these great fishing spots across America for more inspiration.
