Beginner Ice Fisherman

[minnygriff]

Just looking for some good general advice for a novice ice angler. I'm an avid open water angler but never have hit the hard water and am getting ansty for some action. I plan on buying a hand auger (not ready for the gas auger investment), and also have a Fishin' Buddy portable fish finder. I know the Vex/Marcum is the popular item but was hoping to also hold off on that pricy purchase. I plan on going out with these items and a trusty 5 gallon bucket with some jigs and testing my luck. Any other suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Best thing is to have fun... catching fish is only a plus!

Maybe see if you can hook up with someone who knows your lakes in your area. Finding the right spot will be the hardest thing for you.. And with a hand auger you dont want to have to move a ton.

Welcome to one of the most addicting spots/pastimes there is!

[pureinsanity]

Don't go out with Deitz, he only fishes for bass

[that_guy]

As a former hand auger guy, I'd highly recommend learning as much about hardwater hotspots! Invest in the map book or spend a lot of time on the dnr HSOforum at the lakefinder site. Speak to the locals and watch the crowds on the ice. They can often tell you what conditions the fish typically like on a given lake.

I personally avoid the crowds, but they can help. I'd also plan on finding at least one person to fish with, having company out there when you are just starting can make a huge difference!

[herefish101]

My peice of advice is to bring a gerbage bag with you, as you will have trash and it never hurts to pick up after the slobs of the world. Good luck this season, and, YOU WILL GET ADDICTED!

[hydro]

Wear warm clothes. It sounds obvious, but that is one of the most difficult things to figure out when bucket fishing. Also, look into a bucket with a padded seat and maybe some storage. It will keep your sled load light. Bring an old dishwashing detergent bottle filled with blue windshield wash fluid to wet the ice so that your transducer will be able to see through. You can read the depth without drilling a hole.

Have fun out there!

[NCLaker]

... I'd also plan on finding at least one person to fish with, having company out there when you are just starting can make a huge difference!

+1 on this. If you don't know what you are doing, ice fishing can be frustrating, especially if you are fishing alone. Having someone to show you the ropes can turn you into an instant addict. Especially if they are showing you how to use electronics gadgets.

[The_Diesel]

When I first started I just sat on a bucket, put what my buddy told me to put on, lifted the rod when he told me to lift it, let it back down when he told me to let it down, etc. I caught butt-loads of panfish, and now I've got the gas auger, sonar, etc. It's addicting.

I'd definitely go with someone who knows what to do, but if you're by yourself maybe hit spots that other people have been near, and tip your jigs with wax worms or minnows. Let em go down to the bottom, jig it a bit, bring it up in depth, jig it some more, and keep trying that. Without a sonar it's a lot tougher, and you'll probably sit there doing the same thing over and over like I used to do. Try different colors and different sizes, just like with open water fishing. I don't know exactly what kind of fish finder you've got, but any type has got to be better than nothing. And with a hand auger, this early ice will be much nicer to you than mid-to-late season ice. It's a lot thinner.

Also, if you've got some type of rattling rigs or something that makes a bit of noise and attention that sometimes may get schools to come to you and see what you're doing. Even if they don't hit that, you can bring them to your area which means less holes you need to drill. If you can tell they're there on your fish finder, switch it to something smaller or more attractive for them. That may not always work, but if you'd rather stay put than move around it can be a good desperate approach.

[LakeDocktor]

Wear warm clothes. It sounds obvious, but that is one of the most difficult things to figure out when bucket fishing. Also, look into a bucket with a padded seat and maybe some storage. It will keep your sled load light. Bring an old dishwashing detergent bottle filled with blue windshield wash fluid to wet the ice so that your transducer will be able to see through. You can read the depth without drilling a hole.

Have fun out there!

Please don't use the windshield wash fluid on the ice! It is made up of toxic chemicals that are used to break down bug splats and some has antifreeze in it to prevent it from freezing. All we need is more [PoorWordUsage] in our lakes!

[NCLaker]

Please don't use the windshield wash fluid on the ice! It is made up of toxic chemicals that are used to break down bug splats and some has antifreeze in it to prevent it from freezing. All we need is more [PoorWordUsage] in our lakes!

Bottle of water works just fine for this, no need for anything else. Poor enough so the water pools on the ice. I use an old water bottle with a pop top, fill it with tap or lake water.

[popriveter]

The_Diesel gave some good advice. I'll add a bit to it.

Easiest way to find good action without investing in a ton of electronics is to choose small lakes that are not very deep (I stick with 20' or less and usually fish lakes with no boat lauch.) Fish around the deepest water (most species of fish winter in the basin.) Target the bottom 1' or 2' of water.

Also, drill and skim 4 or 5 holes at a time, then go back and fish through them. It'll give the fish a chance to settle back in if they were spooked by the drilling. Also, it will warm you up. I use a 6" hand auger and usually fish on a bucket without a shelter and can't complain.

The smallest size swedish pimple is a great search bait. Tip it with a minnow head or wax worm and you'll soon find out what there is to catch. I've caught sunfish, bass, pike, walleyes, perch, crappies, bullheads, channel cats and even a brook trout on mine over the past couple of years. I rarely find that downsizing to a jig is more effective.

Try a lot of little overlooked/underpressured lakes and you'll find a sweet spot or two before the ice gets really thick. Then, when there is 30" of ice, you can invite a buddy who has a gas auger and is sick of not catching fish. You'll be a hero and he'll gladly drag the gas auger (and probably a portable house and heater) out for you to benefit from.

Works for me.

[The_Diesel]

I very much agree with PopRiveter. I often feel like getting all these different jigs geared towards specific species doesn't always work, because you'll catch northern when you think you're throwing crappie bait, or whatever. But, as soon as I say that I walk down the aisle at Fleet Farm or wherever I am and may grab a cool lure or two that looks neat to me.

And yes, please don't put any more chemicals on the ice. I just use a bottle of water and pour that on the ice to check depth. It's too easy - if you run out, fill it up again from an open hole.

Depending on where you're at NDNick, I'd love to have you come along some time. I live in Eagan, but have a good buddy I fish with and hit up Medicine Lake next to where he lives as well. Let me know if you'd like to come out with us sometime. We just sit on chairs and bundle up, but I've got the auger and sonar and rods for you if you just want to try it out for a year before you get too into it. I'm sure you've got summer tactics to share with me as well.

[soldoncass]

When I started out , I went with a buddy.....watched what he did.... and learned some of the methods that work. Don't be afraid to try unusual things that has worked for you in the summer either....it may be the HOT METHOD of the day. Fish DO NOT SAY" that is a summer method, I don't bite that in the winter". Experiment a little, as long as you can fish it vertically, you are in business. Just remember fish are cold-blooded...they take on the temp of the water they are in...., and therefore aren't as aggressive for chasing . SMALL lures are the norm also. Do some google searches for some tackle companies, and baits....lots of videos to watch.

[JoshTrutwin]

We're all first time icers at least once.

As someone who only recently started ice fishing a few years ago I can relate, now I prefer it to open water fishing actually. To repeat a little of what The_Diesel said, without sonar you're gonna prolly wanna try fishing right off the bottom for pannies. Put a waxie on a small hook to start, drop it down the hole and let it hit bottom then real up just a little and jig, get used to this, every now and then I'd like to find the bottom again, come up a bit, come up a bit, etc. You'll pull up a lot of tiny fish but you'll also pull up good sunnies and crappies and every now and then something bigger. I like to use spring bobbers cause the ice bite can be VERY light. But I don't like the ones that are actual springs, something like this that is a wire works better for me: http://www.midwesthuntersoutlet.com/item.aspx?PID=130569&w=PQ%2BJDyOLrQE%3D

If you got a cheap ice rod, do yourself a favor and re-spool it with some nice thin ice line. Cheap rods usually have cheap line, often too heavy for jigging panfish off the bottom. Cheap line will frustrate you ice fishing, it freezes up easily and the heavier it is the harder it will be to tell when your jig's on the bottom. Trick my neighbor taught me: the best way to unfreeze a clogged spring bobber is to just suck on it a while. Also, even with the spring bobber I prefer to go gloveless and have a finger on the line at all times, sometimes it's easier to feel a tiny nibble. If it's extreme cold you can try smoker's gloves.

Also without sonar be ready to move more. If you find a hole that's dead for 10-15 minutes, move around your area and maybe try different presentations. We like to drill about 20 holes in an area when we bucket fish. You may miss them coming right back to your hole if you leave it, but more likely you'll find them before they find you. In my experience anyway.

Just like with open water fishing, some days it's great, other days the fish just aren't biting. So don't give up if you're first day doesn't go so well.

Start putting a few bucks a month away for the vexilar. While it's good to start out w/o one you'll love fishing with it.

Where/When you going? Good luck and post back your results!

[Hardyboy]

whereabouts do you live NDNick if you happen to be in my area i would gladly go fishing and help you learn some of the basics. If your in the general area i would meet you at a local lake.

[FrontenacPike]

It's a lot of reading but there is well over 500 years of fishing knowledge in the link below.

TIPS AND TRICK TO ICE FISHING

[minnygriff]

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated. Special thanks to Diesel and hardy, I may well take you guys up on the offers as I'd prefer to have a little experience with me on the ice. Would not expect anything less from all the great people here!