How do you fish outside when it's 0?

[Huey]

So... I was out fishing this morning and the guys next to us were doing the tv show thing where you hole hop with a rod and a flasher. It was chilly - about 0 - but the sun was out and the wind was light. I can see how you can stay warm enough to be outside. But how do you keep your line and reel from freezing up?

[quijibo]

I've never had a reel freeze up. As far as the line goes, it freezes up and you deal with it. Fireline is useless at -20, stren XL does ok though.

Adam

[MJ1657]

I cash in my line for a spear.

[hamms-scooter]

Didn't realize it was a tv show thing... I spent a few hours out today ice trolling and didn't use my portable. no issues other then a little build up on rod which was easy to clear up each time.

[quijibo]

Fishing at 0 deg is easy when you work in it all week, eh Hamms.

Adam

[Bigtom]

I went old school and use a jiggle stick today works great every time. Otherwise the real was froze up solid, and I was only fishing in 7 feet of water.

[The_Seasock]

Guys I know would pour alcohol into the hole, not booze, but rubbing or isopropal or just the blue washer fluid. That would keep the hole open, a little vasaline on the eyes and reel seemed to keep those working.

[MJ1657]

I sure hope they stopped pouring those things in the lake.

[harvey lee]

I agree. The fish don,t like it I was told and by a almost dead fish.

Never had a reel freeze up but I have had a little ice on the line. Warm hand removes that.

[Ed Carlson]

Back "In the Day", we used charcoal in coffee cans to keep the hole open out in the open air during deep cold.

We pre-rigged several coffee cans or any other large tin cans of some sort with charcoal and pre-soaked them with fluid, then put the lids on.

When we needed them we pulled them out drilled the holes and gave them a fresh squirt of charcoal lighter, then lit the cans.

We set them just so they barely overlapped the rim of the ice hole. They would heat the water under the can and also heat the water in the hole....no ice. Just do not overlap them very much as they will melt in too quickly and slide into the hole, just a little so they will share the warm water.

They serves as handy hand warming cans too.

*DO NOT USE THIS TRICK IN A ENCLOSED SHACK OF ANY TYPE, as the carbon monoxide build up may kill you!

[harvey lee]

I remember those Ed. Nice units Ah.

[Ed Carlson]

Yah...they worked. I used them on Tip-up's frequently and for jigging at dark the golden hours on my go-2-spot.

I remember that cloud of steam when they were too close, and they slide into the hole too.

You learn quickly to keep them set off well to the side, and up-wind.

[CrappieNight]

You can also get ice rods with larger guides and tops so that the ice won't build up and freeze your line in. I can't verify by first hand experience, but have heard that fluorocarbon doesn't absorb water and supposedly solves the freezing line problem.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

[Wimbie]

I have P-Line Floro-ice on a reel that I really like. It doesn't seem to hold much water on it where the line meets the hole where the usual ice build up is from jigging. When reeling in with a fish or moving holes I still get ice build up in the eyes but not as bad and comes out easy enough.

[hamms-scooter]

Exactly! Been lucky this year though lots of inside work

Fishing at 0 deg is easy when you work in it all week, eh Hamms.

Adam

[quijibo]

Glad to hear that you're working. I had high hopes when I got laid off the day before Pheasant season here, the BA called me about three weeks into my "vacation".

Adam

[slipperybob]

I usually hide in my shack...