Ice Fishing Toys - What Do You Bring Out on the Ice?

[Matt Johnson]

I noticed someone asked in another topic about what people bring with them when out on the ice... gear, tackle, equipment, etc. I know how it can be, and leave it up to an ice angler to talk about his/her toys So, let's hear it. What are some of the toys and pieces of equipment that you bring out with you when out on the ice?

I know hanson and Paul Waldowski have quite the list, and I've fished with some other anglers who need two portable fish houses to carry all their gear

So, how diversified can we get?

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[hanson]

My bare essentials list is:

-Marcum LX-3

-Marcum VS-560 Camera (not necessarily essential but it is always with)

-11lb Propane tank w/ sunflower heater

-Auger

-Little Dipper Ice Scoop

-Revolution rod bag & rods

-Bait (Minnows, EuraLarvae, & Waxies)

-Pop & snacks

-Rubbermaid container for fish

-Soft side tackle bag w/ tackle trays

-Lantern (when I know I'll be night fishing)

-Of course the fish house

Other items that always come with:

-Hand held GPS

-Cell Phone

-Matches

-Lake maps

-Hand Towel

[Matt Johnson]

Here's my list when heading out solo...

• Otter Small Cottage
• MarCum LX-3
• Revolution Rod Bag (typically filled with panfish rods and tackle )
• Nils Master 8-inch Power Auger
• Mr. Heater Cooker
• Big Dipper Ice Scoop
• Digital Camera
• Lowrance H20 GPS (new toy for this winter )
• LED Headlamp
• Misc. equip - pliers, hook-sharpener, etc
• Cell phone
• Lake Maps
• Towels
• Bait (usually euro larva)
• Food and beverages

And like Chris and Paul said, I'm sure there are things I'll add as I remember them.

[Kaz]

Matt: I like to mix Ham Radio with my Ice fishing. There is nothing more fun than trying to explain to someone in the Southern US, Mexico or South America, that you are sitting on a frozen lake with a hole in the water, catching fish... Many of them just don't understand that you can drive a truck or car on to the water, let alone that it be frozen hard as rocks. My Fish House has three deep cycle batteries and 80lbs of propane, so it's quite comfortable. Everyone thinks we sit on a bucket and freeze ourselves to death... Grumpy Old Men did shed some light and insight as to what we do up here, but that did not depict what many of the houses up here are really like. Just think what they are missing.... LOL.... Kaz

[Paul Waldowski]

Otter Lodge

Polaris Indy

LX-3 Flasher

Aqua-vu Quad4 Camera

11lb tank with Mr. Buddy Cooker heater

lantern

hook-outs

extra mantles

auger

extra gasoline and oil for auger

pop snacks and once in a while adult beverages

Rod bag with all of my tackle and rods - I use a Revolution

cell phone

GPS - I use an Lowrance H20 with the Lakemaster Chip

Tip-ups with Bag of accessories - I use a JR's bag for them

Towel to wipe my hands on

Lake Maps

Big Dipper ice scoop

Filet Knife - for cutting super braid lines

Digital Camera

FSR Radios if I'm fishing with other

and I'm sure that I can think of a few more given time

[Captain B.R.K]

For me, it's

• Ice Armor suit

Ice cleats for walking

Fish Trap Pro

LazerMag 8" power auger

2 rod cases (I never leave home without all 4 of my Thorne Bros ice fishing rods)

2 tackle boxes (1 for panfish lures and 1 for perch/walleye lures)

Vexilar FL-18

Mr Buddy Heater w/ extra full propane tank

Ice scooper

Bait bucket

The new Lindy maggie holder

Headlight by PrinceTec

Fingerless gloves and insulated gloves

Stocking cap

Motorola handheld talkie

Landyard w/ Pliers, clippers, etc.

and a bottle of pop/water.

I think I should be covered from head to toe

[18 inch Crappie]

You forgot the 5 gallon buckets, one for sitting on and one to hold your stuff.

[Jim Hudson]

Wow... Where to begin... I guess it depends on what I will be fishing for and where I will be fishing...

When I am heading out to an inland lake I am usually fishing out my fish trap scout loaded with

- StrikeMaster Lazer Mag

- Vexilar

- 4 rods tucked in my Stone Legacy Revolution(set up for specific species I might be targeting, I will always have a stash of extra rods in the truck if I want to later go after another species)

- As little tackle as possible for the specific species I am targeting (which usually equates to quite a bit, but again I have more tackle in the truck for other species) this also tucked in my Revolution.

- My heater/cooker with extra 1 lb propane tanks

- 2 1/2 Gallon bucket w/ screw on lid (holds my Vexilar great and other little items)

- Ice scoop, two LED headlamps, ice cleats, hand rags, StrikeMaster bait pucks (waxies/euro), small minnow bucket, Lowrance I-Finder Pro w/ Navionics Premimum chip, extra batteries and some water/drinks and goodies. (Also, most stuff fits in either my Revolution or bucket)

- And always gotta carry the digital camera and maybe the video camera

- Oh and my snowmobile that hauls me and everything (gonna be adding a new sled to my line up this year)

And when I head out on the big lake my snowmachine is pulling a Fish Trap Voyager and possibly other portables behind this filled with:

- Most of the same stuff but for tackle/rods I add a little more as I try to stay versatile for all species out here because of how far we can travel.

- A sunflower and 11lb tank

- Quality chisel

- Sometimes a hand held VHF radio (especially if I am out alone)

Also, if I am fishing a finicky bite, checking out new areas, or with friends I bring along the Aqua Vu SV.

I am sure there is stuff I am missing but this is the norm. I try to stay pretty neat and keep things to a minimum so I dont have to sort through stuff when the bite is on.

[wallydiver]

This year I'll be bringing following:

LX-3

10" LazerMag

Small Wide Otter

Heater/Cooker w/propane tank

Garmin GPS76

Cell Phone

ZR 500

Digital Camera

Big Dipper

Silk long johns from Cabelas

Bunny hat/Bunny Boots

Ice Cleats

Radio/CD player

Rods

Tackle

Water/Coffee

Rod Bag (Need a new one,I think I'll try a Revolution)

I'm sure I forgot something, just like when I go fishing and like I did at the get together.

Speaking of which, check your email Matt.

[MedicineMan]

I bring along:

Lowrance X-67 Ice Machine

Aqua-Vu

Lowrance H20 GPS

SnoBoat fish house

Otter Small Cottage (currently in the works of buying it)

A backpack full of lures, pliers, camera, etc....

Mr. Heater/cooker with extra propane

and my trusty Eskimo auger

[mymaro]

wow kaz u made me think how sad i would be if i lived somewhere without ice i couldnt imagine but it would suck i wouldnt be able to live

[HuskersRule]

I bring along;

X67c Ice Machine

Strikemaster Lazer 224

Eskimo Traveler

Etrex gps

Radio

2 buckets

4 rods

assorted tackle

Buddy Heater/11gallon tank

Head lamp

Gas Lantern

Minnow bucket

Cell phone

ice scoop

Want to add;

Aqua-Vu zt-50

[76k20]

early ice I try to travel pretty light. But as soon as I dont have to go out on foot I like to bring along everything

-Eskimo qf3 with modded seating

-strikemaster auger

-vexilar fl8

-aqua vu dt with motorized ice pod

-Garmin gps72 with spots loaded from the lakemaster promap software

-cell phone

-digital cam

-mr heater + tank

-ice scooper

-one of those emergancy trunk snow shovel (really handy and doesnt take up much room).

-jrs tackle rod bag with 8 rods rigged and ready for action ranging from noodle rods to medium heavy

-I made several rod sleeves out of canvas to avoid the tangled line scenario

-tackle box - one of the plano jobbers with two sides about 6x10

-coleman lantern with gas and extra mantles

-gotta have the radio with

-usually a mix of fatheads, crappie minnows, waxies, and spikes.

-a few snacks and colas

-a bucket in case I catch a fish

and hopefully some good company in case I dont.

[Dan Brelje]

Just getting into ice fishing, but, heres the list

-Fish Trap Guide

-Dads Auger, or Hand Auger

-FL8

-Stone Legacy bag w/ poles and tackle

-Buddy Heater w/ extra propane tank

-Minnow bucket and larvae

-Camera (disposable)

-Scoops metal/plastic

-Ruler or tape for lakes with slots

-extra bucket

-Lake maps

-** PLENTY OF ENERGY TO DRILL HOLE AFTER HOLE**

[stick]

Has anyone seen the Brunton Liberty Mantleless Lantern? I see that Cabelas is now carrying them, and they run on butane with (you guessed it...) no mantles. I'd love to not be buying mantles by the gross and replacing them all the time. The lantern is also compact. It is advertised to produce 80W of light. Any comments?

[Kaz]

Hey Guys, Matt said TOYS, not the ESSENTIALS!!! Lets hear about some TOYS... Like what do you bring out to the Ice that is purely NON essential... Like TVs, Microwaves, Marine Radios, etc.... I know some of you haul a lot of STUFF out to the Fish House... Kaz

[minneman]

XM radio will be with me this year, along with the essentials!

[Matt Johnson]

Some of the things I consider to be toys are the essentials

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Kaz]

OK OK.... Toys are essentials... Or is Essentials are Toys?? If you ask my wife, and I bet yours too, all of my fishing stuff is classified as toys..... LOL... Kaz

[Matt Johnson]

Sounds to me like Kaz has a few fishing toys lying around the house... as well as in the garage... in the shed... around the basement...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[The Grebe]

Lets see, other then essentials, I usually travel pretty light. I might bring a video game if I'm staring at tip ups, or the daily crossword. Sometimes, but not often, I bring a book or a magazine to read while I'm waiting for the flags to fly.

When I'm fishing for pannies, I'm pretty much on the move and don't really have time for anything other then the fishing. Same with walleyes.

Map, FL8, aqua view, GPS, gas auger, cleats, I guess those would be included in my essentials at one time or another?

This year I will really be able to pile on the junk! Earlier and later, because this year I will be riding!

I'll be towing enough stuff so that it will look like a traveling showroom for Northern Hydralics, Gander Mountain, FleetFarm and Harbor Freight combined!

[ozzie]

well lets see if i am going to be staying in a perm. fish house with buds you have to bring cards and poker chips and beer!!! In fact when ever out on the ice bring a few brews if not more than a few!!!

With my portable:

flasher

flaslight

poles at least 4 of them

my 1 man pullover clam (sweat and comfy)

mr heater with xtra propane

bait

snacks

ice fishing box with jigs and bobbers

and xtra vex battery to run the light in my clam or for my vex

sunglasses are a must on a sunny day on the lake

and of course Strikemaster 10" lazer mag auger

always wearing carhart overalls with jacket and stocking cap and boots

lots of things i am forgetting im sure this will be an ongoing post

[Moose]

Here we go. My list is pretty much the same as others minus the lantern can't stand the things and every time the kids bump it they either knock off the mantles or burn thier clothes ( ma get kind of med fixing them)

Trap Vouyager Love the 3 seats

Vexilar

Flourecent 12V Light

2Cheap ice scoop Kids kicked the good one down the hole for stucture. Buy the cheap ones they last forever.No fighting with 2

2 hand made walleye rods

3 panfish rods

trout fly holder for small jigs

Plano 2 sided tackle box

Sunflower cooker 5lb propane (lighter, runs for 20+ hours on Med)

2 tipups (for the kids to run for)

automotive 12v jump starter for power(first season I'm trying this works good in basement little colder on ice though)

Bait

Bucket inside of Army surplus pack (lots of pockkets for stuff. Small enough for kids to haul in.

Magnum 2 auger (rusty but trusty)

All for now.

[jjjrobley]

My toy this year is a 19" TV hooked up to a marcum 560. Everybody in the house will be able to see whats down there.

[PERCHJR]

Always to dam much!!!

-4-wheeler Yam. 350 big bear, M7 153" Black (early season)

-04 Dodge HEMI (for the deep stuff, gotta have the HEMI)

-Fish Trap Guide

-Jiffy Stealth 8in. (extra mixed gas)

-Ice cleats

-Ice scooper

-Shovel

-Vex FL-8

-Aqua view

-Mr. Buddy Heater (extra bottles)

-4-6 Ice rods (of course gotta be Perch ones)

-Bait (waxies, minnows, spikes) and the Lindy Grub Getter

-Way to big of tackle box!!!

-Food and Drinks

-LED headlight

-GPS

-Lake maps

-Cell phone

-Lantern

-radio (just in case the fish don't bite, usually never happens)

-TNT if everything else fails!!!

Like I said WAY TO MUCH, but a guy never knows for sure what he might need for a long day on the ice!!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!