Ice Fishing Gear

[MJBaldwin]

Alright guys here is the deal. I think that I am in need of my own ice fishing gear as I have moved away from my hometown and don’t have a ton of friends that go ice fishing I want my own so I can go when I want! I was just wondering what you think are the necessities for this. I was thinking the Auger and Fish House... Obviously rods and tackle but would one need a flasher? Let me know

Thanks,

Mike

[Dylan33]

It helps. But it isn't NEEDED. I ice fish all the time without one....however I have better luck when I am using one. It's really nice to know if there are fish down there or not.

[LakeDocktor]

I would get what you can afford. Personally, I won't even go on the ice without my Vex. I have been two hours away from home and realized I forgot it just to turn around and go pick it up. I have a Clam X2 in the classified section for sale if you are looking for a portable house. I'd even throw in a older flasher if you buy. Your choice, Eagle Silent SuperSixty or Clearwater Classic.

[JBMasterAngler]

Vexilar (or flasher of your choice) is a must! Without one you may end up with ALOT of wasted hours out on the ice. I'd rather fish with a vexilar and a hand auger, than a power auger and no flasher

[MJBaldwin]

I am still in the process of buying everything (havn't got one thing yet to be honest) I dont want to spend a ton of money but I just want to get out on the water again I am no pro by anymeans and being in a new location will not help much at all but just like being out on the ice! Sounds like I need to get a flasher obviously I am going to spend what I can I have been just searching for some used stuff online but those flashers are more than what I can get a decent portable and ice auger for... Might have to put that on the middle of the season wish list! Have any of you guys used those handheld depth finders what are your thoughts on those? Let me know if I need anything else that I am not really thinking of I have a little buddy heater already and tanks...

Thanks again guys

Mike

[Jmarksman]

Just starting over I would have to Go #1 a flasher and #2 a ice auger and pile the rest of the toys as ya go! IMO..

[tsande00]

As mentioned, I would (and did) go with a hand auger and a flasher. I bought my power auger year 2 or 3. I bought one of the HT 6" hand augers at Wally World for $25 or $30 and that baby ripped through the ice.

My buddy also did great and picked up a used Eskimo auger in great shape off of Gregslist for $150 or so. There are deals to be had out there.

Gregslist often times has package deals on house, auger, occasionally flasher. Keep watching different classifieds and you'll quickly get a good idea of what's a good deal.

My first porty I got brand new at Menards for $120. Only lasted me 2 seasons (pulled it way too fast behind my snowmobile), but I still got my money's worth out of it. Again, there are deals to be had. You have 2 months to watch and track sales. When the deal is right you will know it. Plus you have thousands of fools on here to take advice from if needed!

[MJBaldwin]

Whats your guy's thoughts on the Vexilar FL-8?

[dairyman]

Hey-----I have a clam flip over for sale---its the Clam Pro---new last year. I can e-mail pictures if your interested

[bikeoutback]

My $.02 for what it's worth:

I say it depends on what makes you comfortable and will keep you on the ice. I fished at first with people that had everything but we fished outside no portables just from buckets. With that said first thing I bought was warm boots and carharts. 1st ice fishing specific thing I got was an ice auger, I hated hand drilling holes. Did it twice once my buddies with the power augers were gone and that was that. You can call me a wuss or whatever I just hated hand drilling. Next I got a portable shack (Team Wild 2 man flip over with sled for $300 on sale new). I was tired of being cold, wanted to get out of the wind. I had a buddy with a vexilar though so at least I knew the depth and what depth he was catching fish to mimic. Lastly I got a vexilar. I like my vexilar but truth be told it can be frustrating sitting there staring at a flasher and you KNOW for sure there is no fish down there. My last purchase was a Strike master suit, almost wish I had gotten it first.

Oh and I started out a Tip Up Northern Fisherman during hardwater, this may be why Vexilar fell further down on the list for me. Drilling new holes for my tip ups every morning was a pain, thus power auger first. Then it was bonfire and beverages so we really didn't need a vexilar or shelter

So I guess it may matter on what your fishing for and your style also. I've evolved into a run and gun fisherman with the vexilar, just wasn't prior to havving one.

[WinterHaven]

You really can't go wrong with any model of the flashers, they all will do a good job for you on the ice so the FL-8 would be fine for you.

[MJBaldwin]

Dairyman,

Email is [email protected]

[tsande00]

IF you are fishing crappies a lot, adjustable zoom is a very nice feature on the flashers. Some of the entry level models might not have that, I'm not sure.

Either way, if you find a good deal on one than pull the trigger. Flashers don't loose a ton of value.

[Rippinlip]

Whats your guy's thoughts on the Vexilar FL-8?

I have been using one for years, basic model, but works well. Sure there is more extra's on the newer models, but this is a trust worthy model!

Depends what someone wants for it, but I would pull the trigger on 1 in a minute.

[harvey lee]

Shot me an e-mail and let me know what you are looking for. I may be able to head you in the right direction for a good deal.

[email protected]

[herefish101]

my first purchase was a power auger, my second was a handheld gps with a lakemaster chip, because if your not standing on top of structure then whats the point of the flasher.

[CrappieAttitude]

Whats your guy's thoughts on the Vexilar FL-8?

I bought my fl-8 about 10 years ago and it is still the one I use today. Obviously technology has changed and every model out there now days does something cool and different, but to be honest if you are just getting into it and you don't want to drop a ton into it, you would be completely satisfied with the fl-8. I bought my mom one at a garage sale for $100 a couple years back. Sometimes the newer flashers with all the bells and whistles on it can confuse a guy who hasn't had that much experience with flashers.

My 0.02

CA

[JBMasterAngler]

FL-8 is just fine (and cheapest), that's what I use on the ice and in my boat Honestly I'd wait on buying a portable too...I don't have one, and obviousy don't use one, and I do just fine.

[MJBaldwin]

JBMasterAngler,

I wish I could wait on the portable but if you have ever been up near Fargo/Moorhead its windy and is like that all the time I will spend the money on one so I dont freeze! haha

[tsande00]

JBMasterAngler,

I wish I could wait on the portable but if you have ever been up near Fargo/Moorhead its windy and is like that all the time I will spend the money on one so I dont freeze! haha

If wind is a concern (which it obviously is in Fargo/Moorhead area than I would consider the flip over style porty. The hub style seem bit harder to setup in the wind...especially when fishing alone.

[palisade1kid]

Time to toss my hat into the ring on this thread.....

The laundry list...

1.otter cottage/nice large 1 man flip over upgrade to a lodge when you need a nice2-3 man

2.marcum vx1 upgrade to a LX3 or LX5 if your looking for a zoom(no worries about other flasher interferences)

3.Strikemaster Pro Lazer or Pro Magnum w/8" bit cut through any depth of ice quickly

Heater choices can vary...I use Mr.Heaters on 20# tanks.

Being that I'm fishing deep water I find that lifting THE Jig or any other small plastics a rod with a spring bobber is how my weapon is set up.

A flasher is key to enable me to not only see if fish are present ,but it aides me in real time to know when to lift and it tells me how high to lift since I can read their aggression levels.I can also work any fish in the water column as they swim in in liew of being held at a certain depth with a bobber attached.I can raise to or drop to a fish immeadiatly getting it's attention and then I can lift triggering it's strike sence.

True,I've fished blind for 30 years prior to buying my marcum ,but now that I have it(LX3&LX5) I'm even more deadly....and the spring allows me to fish in a finese style catching fish that are super slugish.

A shelter is also a must. Windy days and fishing in the open is a hard thing. Watching for a spring to twitch is near impossible on a windy day hence a porty...I can get out of the wind and it's warmer.Having a protable and fishing in cold weather also aides my rod from freezing up as I work the water column. True when it's nice out I'll run & gun with the best of them.

I chose a StrikeMaster Lazer because it really cuts. I guide and there's many a day I'm having to cut a ton of holes. At 49 years old being able to fly through that ice helps my back out tremendously.

There's many other items like cleats or GPS(H2Oc) that really aide what I'm doing out there and that's finding then catching the target species.

You may not be able to afford everything all at once. You may not even get these brands I've mentioned. Do what you can ...when you can.

Evey year I pick up a new piece of gear or I'm upgrading to better gear. Gear does wear out when you use it alot.

Lastly you may want to seek out a seasoned vet to see some of the different gear in action before you plop your hard earned money down.

I've fished on the ice since I was 6 years old and it was super old school the way I was brought up.

I know that way still works,but if ice fishing is in your blood like it is in mine then take your time and get geared up right ...this may not happen all at once.

I bet I've burned up a half a dozen reels before I found Pflueger Presidents.

Same with rods,boots,line,heaters,portables,augers,head lamps,cleats,scoops.

Good luck and know that if you need help I'm here for ya.

CK

[muskE]

You can't fish on hard water without an auger, so start there. A manual auger is a cheap start and (if you research them well) you can take the handle off and upgrade to an electric power head when funds become more available.

Take a mental inventory of what's important to you and make your second purchase. Do you get cold easy or are you a technophile? If you want a flasher you can block wind with a vehicle. If you want to get out of the weather you can fish the "villages" that pop up on popular structure and fish the bottom for perch/ walleye or about half-way for crappies, vary it up a bit.

I fish tips mainly so a powerhead was a must for ice "trolling" or it was a sweat and freeze day.

The cheapest way to start is with tips. You need a manual auger for 2 holes, 2 tip-rigs, and bait. You don't need serious arctic wear, ATV, or wheelhouse. Follow this recipe and you'll be good to go (can even manage this on a lunch hour):

1) Drill your 2 holes in different depths.

2) Set your tips.

3) Go sit in your car with the heater and radio on (headlights if you're night fishing).

4) Jog to the flags.

5) Rinse- repeat.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

IMO:

Look towards getting a flasher first (humminbird 35, vex 8, marcum vx1, Etc.), ask anyone on this site... The use of a flasher will benefit you BIG TIME. You will see the fish you are trying to catch instead of "fishing blind" like you would be doing without such a tool. Next on the list would have to be a portable fish house. This does not have to be a very expensive purchase. You really need to narrow this down to two things... 1. Will you be fishing by yourself mostly or with your family/friends? 2. How much money are you willing to spend? You can find very good deals out there nowadays especially in this economy. Hub style houses work very good in my opinion. You may not be able to be as mobile but you will stay out of the elements, and you will be relieved to be toasty warm in your fish house when its -20 degrees out. However if you have a little extra spending money, you may want to look at a one man fish house by dealers such as Clam Corp. or Frabill... They both make one man portables that are light, comfortable, roomy, and priced right around $170-$200 . Finally, you dont need a big, expensive, power auger right away. Hand augers work just fine especially if you are just getting into the sport. Hand augers are priced anywhere from $30 all the way up to $100. However, if your looking to cheap out on the hand auger, i would rethink that because your getting what you pay for. If you are looking to take up this sport, look into the Nils hand auger. Its light and cuts very fast. Also later down the road the hand auger can be transformed into a power auger with the addition of a power head. Just look for good deals and be sure not to get the cheapest equipment you can buy because you will regret it down the road when all your equipment goes to $*** and your out however much you spent on it. Good luck, and i hope find the tools you need to have a successful hard water season.

Chris

[chris63]

A lazer hand auger will work fine in the early season.(Say up to 12"of ice or so)Others do fine but the lazer will be easiest on the budget compared to a power auger.How much a person fishes should determine how much gear to purchase.Flashers are not a necessity but they they are valuable tools to help locate fish.If I'm going to drill a hole I usually toss a lure down even if I don't see fish on the flasher.Shelters are another nice addition to your "stuff",but not a necessity.These opinions come from an old school outside all day long angler.(Not many of us left!)c63

[stifler51]

My List would be as followed (assuming since uve been u have clothing and poles tackle etc. And comon its MN if u dont have at least 1 set of cold weather gear, get with it *i have 3 *)

1) Power auger (hand drilling 18 inches of ice will make u passout and not want to fish even let alone hole hop)

2) Ice house (c*list it up, classifieds here etc. U can find them cheap everywhere. ANYTHING to keep the wind off you)

3) Heater (sunflowers have worked, still work and will work for about 30$ cant go wrong)

4) Flasher (all flashers work just pick one that u like)

5) Ice Suit (i have the ice armor blue suit and love it)

6) GPS with chip (not needed but nice since all u have to do is be like 97% of the other ppl out there. "oh hey a house, lets go set up 100feet from them)

7) Ice house puller (wheather that the wife, friend or a snowmobile/atv. Cuz once u get all the gear it stinks pulling it. So find someone else to do it or get a sled/atv)

Thats my order to get