Ice Fishing Equipment |
What do you need?
There are a lot of things you can bring along. One thing some people don't think about though is, how thick is the ice anyway"? Will the ice support the weight? Always remember to test it 1st, even if you already know. Remember, the life you save may be your OWN!
* Life Preserver; Probably the most important. Anything can happen out there.
* Rope; If you fall through, you'll have something for someone to throw to you
* Ice auger; This is probably the easiest way to get through the ice. A power model is the way to go, but a hand-held one will do just fine and it's a lot lighter, especially if it has to be carried. A 7" - 9" blade should work.
* Ice spud; A heavy chisel with a long handle, used to widen the bottom of the hole. You'll need that if you get a large fish on. It can also be used to check how thick the ice is.
* Tripod metal rod holder; It's light, stable, and holds your rod in the right position.
* Tip-up device; This baby has a spring-up flag to let you know if you have a bite. Some have reels that sit in the water, so the line doesn't freeze-up. A handy feature.
* Depth finder/fish locator; With it you can find desirable structure and fish.
* Fishing shanty; What you need on those windy days.
* Strainer; Preferably a plastic one, to keep from ice from building-up.
* Ice-jigging rod; There are many different types and models. Some even have 2 rods attached. Unattended rods should use bait, because jigs need constant motion. Set-up with 8-10# ice-fishing or fly line, because mono tangles to easily if rods are too close together.
* A gaff; That's for all the big ones you're going to catch.
* Jigs and weights; All kinds. Never hurts to have extras. Don't forget some extra line.
* Sled; You'll need it to lug all of your things around.
* Snowmobile; Really comes in handy.
If you pack your things in a 5 gallon bucket, you'll have something to sit on. Remember to dress in layers, bring gloves and a hand warmer, and Happy Fishing.
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