So you say you want to Ice Fish

[DTro]

One of the more popular questions I see on this forum refers to beginning ice fishing and what is needed to get started.

Obviously one can buy an ice chisel with an old peg stick with some heavy line on it and a hook and some bait, but does that sound like fun? That would be like a using a willow switch and safety pin for the open water.

Just a couple short years ago, I was asking these same questions about what to buy. Should I buy this flasher or that flasher? What is better, a camera or flasher? What do you think about this rod and reel?

Instead of diving in, I did a lot of research and bought a few key items last year, including a one man shelter (Fish Trap Pro) and Flasher (Marcum VX1).

I had a great time, but realized there was more fun to be had.

This year, with the approval of "the better half" I decided to take it one step further. Using the research I've done and the advice of respected friends, I took the plunge!

My inventory now includes the following:

LX5 Flasher

Nils Master Auger

Arctic Armor Suit

An arsenal of Jason Mitchell Custom Rods/Matched with Abu Garcia Cardinal 100 series reels

A good supply of various baits for different species and conditions (one can really go crazy on this )

Ice Dipper ice scoop (the hockey stick one )

Mr Cooker Heater

I even pulled the trigger on a Snowmobile and trailer.

And as a bonus, I recently pulled a winning ticket for a new Aqua View Scout II!

For now I'll be using my one man portable, but hoping to maybe get into a larger Otter in the future.

If you look down the list, it is quite obvious that the gear is heavily weighted toward site sponsor gear. This isn't because I'm forced to push certain brands or biased. It is because I trust it, plain and simple. And I know if something is defective, they will back it. Also, I'm a firm believer that competition is a good thing, especially for the consumer.

Looking at the list, one might say...geez did you win the lottery or what? Well, compared to what a guy/gal spends for a nice boat, even with the sled purchase added in, I think it's a great deal.

For now, I am ecstatic with my purchases, and the handful of times I've been out this year, I've already noticed how much more enjoyable it is with quality gear. Especially the warm suit....wow!

The sky is the limit with some of the "dream houses" that can be purchased these days, but when you break it down to the necessities (I use that term loosely here), in my opinion, buying quality gear will pay dividends for years to come and really put an exclamation point on how much fun, this thing we call Ice Fishing can be.

[fishtank]

dtro, reading this, it sounds like you are either 1) showing off what you have and what others dream of, 2) Looking for a fishing sponsor, or 3) trying to come up with a starter kit that really sounds like a pipe dream to those who are looking to start ice fishing.

From your quote "One of the more popular questions I see on this forum refers to beginning ice fishing and what is needed to get started", is simply ridiculous. Some of the items you mentioned, Nils Master auger, Arctic Armor Suit, Custom Rods, LX5, Dipper, snowmobile etc..... to begin ice fishing????? OK, if you have an extra $12,000 laying around and don't care if you fall in love with ice fishing or not, I would say dive in, but c'mon, let's get to reality here. I started ice fishing seriously only a year or two ago, this year being my first with a portable, auger and Vex, I would have to disagree. To enjoy ice fishing only takes a rod, bait and something to drill a hole.... From there if one likes ice fishing, let them decide what meets their needs and how they would like to upgrade. Don't turn the site into a commercialized vehicle for your own well being. To me that's a bunch of melarky to say it appropriately. Very disappointed.........

[fishtank]

Did I just say "melarky"? I meant the other thing.....

[johnmn]

Wow those are some pretty harsh words. Pipe dream I doubt that. You right if you want to try fishing to see if you like it. Just buy a hand auger, rod reel and some bait, but if you’re going to be serious about the sport there are going to be some stuff you should have. I bought everything he did also the 2nd year I started ice fishing except the snowmobile and trailer. Ya it set me back about 2 grand but I don't regret 1 purchase I made. I wish I had that list when I started. Remember if your not catching any fish or not comfortable on the ice how you gonna like it.

[palisade1kid]

Wow ,what a response.

True to ice fish a hand auger,a rod & reel and an ice scoop will get you started.

From there you can do a ton of upgrading making your day on the ice way more comfortable.

I have all of the gear & in some cases have backup equipment.

The old way of fishing has changed so much.

sitting in a portable with propane heat watching a flasher

and reeling up fish with up todate U.L. equipment was not something I had ever imagined 40 years ago.

I can't tell you how many years I sat on a bucket out in the wind watching a bobber freeze up in my hole.Then when it went down I'd hand over hand that fish onto the ice.

Because ice fishing for me is an obssesion I've geared up.

80$ rod and reel combos,300$ auger that can drill holes quickly.400$ portable to get out of the cold with 70$ heater.

400$ electronics,140$boots and cold snap clothing to round it off.

Oh a meriad of other smaller items,gps with map chip,rod case,ice scoop,chair,lights,and mucho tackle.

It took a few years to gather all of this stuff,but I will say it all helps to be comfortable and catch more fish.

Oh a 4 wheeler to haul everything out.

so in the end you can start out like most of us did and gather equipment as you go or stay simple.Either way the fresh air and great people I've met besides the fish keep me on the ice every chance I'll get.

[fishtank]

johnmn, crappiekeith and dtro, sorry, I don't mean to be harsh, and please I'm sorry if I was forward. Yes, I'm serious about ice fishing too, but like CrappieKeith said, it took him a couple years to build up that stuff. Are you going to ask a newcomer to the sport to anty up that sort of dough? No, I would think, like the average joe, that he/she would gradually get the things he or she deems necessary, then when one item becomes obsolete, or out of date, they can can upgrade at their consent. No need to start ice fishing with everything that was mentioned, right?

[johnmn]

Need no I don't need those things, but if I lost everything tomorrow it would be tough to go back ice fishing without those things. Would I quit ice fishing no. I don't thing he meant he needed to buy everything right away either. He was lucky enough to buy everything right away and giving a very useful list to someone to look at.

[bgreen82]

thats the response i would agree with.

this is too my 3rd year ice fishing, and really my 2nd in which i can even consider myself somewhat serious, although i dont get out near as much as many on the forum.

to date, i would say i have spent about $600-$700 on ice fishing gear, with some other stuff coming from xmas gifts etc. not to mention the portable i use (an old clam jr.) i got from the "free things" thread on this site. thanks again to ben for that.

while i feel more comfortable with newer stuff, that doesnt mean i cant enjoy the sport. something that helped me a lot was having friends who knew what they were doing when i didnt. that is another thing this site can offer. post a thread to ask if you can join up with somebody, there will be numerous responses of people who can supply you with everything you need to tag along. trust me.

as far as fishing on your own, if thats what you wanna do, to target say, panfish, what youre gonna need for sure is prolly gonna be a hand auger, rod and reel(my first was a $10 south bend which worked fine my first year) bait, and maybe an ice scoop and warm clothes. find out if you like it first, then jump into some more prominent purchases.

sorry if i rambled, that is just what i think.

[BoxMN]

Hmmm, he did say that he just had a shelter, a VX1 and a few other things the first year. Isn't that exactly what you mention? Then after he was "bit" by the ice fishing bug, he dove in. That makes total sense to me. Whatever you do, fishing, hunting, bicycling, etc. start easy to make sure you like it.

But we also see newcomers asking what is better, LX5 or FL20, so some people do have $$ to spend. I don't think dtro was bragging at all, just pointing out what his passion for ice fishing drove him to do, with the "war department's" approval of course BTW, I dove in just a tad last year too, and bought used and searched out deals once clearance times came, and you would be amazed the price you can get very good things for.

BTW - any flasher, but one with zoom especially, is the one thing that made my ice fishing time much more enjoyable. My first year without one would have been much more fun with any locator. Have fun all!

[MuleShack]

Hey,

If you can afford it, why not.

Some people spend their money on vacations, some on gambling, others on who knows what, and the die hard spends his money on equipment (and BEER ).

I spend alot of my side job "allowance" on fishing stuff, because i want to have the better equipment that will last and enjoy it when i use it.

Granted i'm not a youngster just out of school and i had older equipment that i have traded or sold to upgrade...but to each their own.

Even if you were "pimpin" the products, who cares they are good products...I just got a LX5 myself and an AA suit from WD a month ago....and the Nils is on the wish list yet

Congrats on the purchase DTRO!

[bgreen82]

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Some people spend their money on vacations, some on gambling, others on who knows what, and the die hard spends his money on equipment (and BEER ).

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agreed, most of my spare money before was primarily spent on a)vacations, b)video games, and c)eating out.

since i have been fishing, i now TRY to do more a)fishing vacations, b)use my computer to read these threads, and c) lose weight.

but seriously, spend your money how YOU see fit, thats why its yours.

[DTro]

Like I said, add up the cost and then compare it to a boat.

I figure if I even spend half the time on the ice that I do on open water then I'm going to need quality gear.

But, the most important phrase in that whole post is "approved by the better half".

[jbell1981]

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Like I said, add up the cost and then compare it to a boat.

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Most people don't buy a boat right when the get into open water fishing though. I know I didn't for a long time. I only have about $700 total in the boat I have now any how, so this analogy doesn't work for me anyway.

I iced fished for years having only a hand auger, cheap rods a scoop and used one of the kids sleds for getting it out there. In my opinion, that is all you need to get started in ice fishing.

Last year I upgraded my equipment, with an old used gas auger and a free clam 5600 that needed alot of work. I keep hoping that I can get that Marcum, but it doesn't look like its going to happen this year.

To me, your list is more like "what you should have after 10 years of ice fishing" than "what you need to get started", but again, thats just me.

[The_Duckslayer]

[quoteTo me, your list is more like "what you should have after 10 years of ice fishing" than "what you need to get started", but again, thats just me.

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Concur. I do not make a ton of money and therefore do not have a ton of money to spend. I am like a Joe Average guy I guess. I used to ice fish when I was a kid and we had no shelter! Used to borrow the neighbors after I was able to drive. An old heavy canvas and plywooed tank with a little wood stove heater. Then I was gone for 25 or so years in the military and started ice fishing again about 10 years ago. Three years ago the Lil Mrs bought me an ice shack. She found it on the side of the road for sale for $100.00 and talked the guy down to $50.00 and brought it home for me. What a contraption it was but hey, it was better than a bucket. For two years all that I got for Christmas, birthday, fathers day and such was Fleet Farm gift Certs. Then last year when they had the clearances on I got a power auger with those cards. I bought a used fish house here on the FM HSOforum and got what I considered a heck of a deal on it. Had an old white gas Coleman that I had for light AND heat. Last year after saving up my Cableas gift cards I bout a Mr Heater. So after about 10 years of ice fishing I now have a Yukon house, Icemaster auger, Mr buddy heater, a propane lantern and still, my most expensive ice fishing rod was 30 bucks. I think that I do appreciate all these nice things I have been able to get in the last couple of years more than a lot of people do though!

PS My son now has the white gas heater and the $50.00 fish house and ya know what... He really appreciates them as well! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Shack]

Great Post Dtro!

I like these style of post’s very much! It breaks down what a guy is using into a nice concise list. Take it all for what it is, or just one item. It also shows what a farm raised true F.M.er will gather for the creature comforts of ice fishing. Again, I encourage others to make posts like this one. Show us what you have gathered because of the knowledge you have received from F.M. Please do not let a negative post/poster cause you not to post or rain on your parade after you have spent good time creating a post.

If it’s a first timer out, falls in love with the sport or a lifer who has just came across some extra funds to upgrade, Dtro’s list is a great way to start a season. By what I know of Dtro I would not say he the sun-in law of Donald Trump or anything. I would say he works hard for his money and just like anyone on this site; this is a great place to expose to good people, the newest purchases one makes from time to time. Most times you get those responses, which help you sleep better at night.

I look forward to Dtro’s posts. I logged in this morning and hit the ice fishing area and clicked on this one first. I tell ya, after I read Dtro’s post and went on to the second post, I almost logged off this site, but I read on and felt another good response towards this thread was in order before it passed on to the pages of F.M. history. Keep the post’s coming Dtro.

[DTro]

I guess one of the benefits I had was jumping into this at a later stage in my life. I am able to buy this gear, and yet make ends meet.

Please forgive me if the post at all came off as smug or anything like that. I see guys spending tens of thousands of dollars on these wheelhouses, so my thought is that my list is a drop in the bucket.

Like I said, I used the term necessity very loosely.

I'm thankful for this site and all the great people here that have put in there time to make recommendations to people like me who really come into this without a whole lot of knowledge when it comes to gear.

I remember my first baitcaster reel I purchased, what a waste of money. I sure wish someone would have forewarned me to spend a little more on a quality reel. That thing ended up in the trash.

I have no doubt that a good number of guys will still be able to outfish me with a 5 gal pail and broomstick.

Better gear sure won't make me an "instant pro". Not that it matters a whole lot, to me it's really about the experience and not how many fish came through the hole.

[DTro]

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Great Post Dtro!

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Thanks for the kind words Josh

[palisade1kid]

Shack is so right on.

Hammin on guys is for the birds.

Sure if you have an opinion state it ,but a guy could be kinder.

I'm a fish'n whooooore so I know what drives a guy to spend the kind of $$$$ we spend to ice fish.

I do know that I am more comfy with my nicer gear plus I also believe I am catching more fish more often.

The comment about getting the right gear to start is huge.

I've upgraded so many times on rods it's not funny.Reels too for that matter.

It's nice to have a place to come to for the novices to ask....what should I get.

As pro's we can advise through what our expierences will dicatate for any given item.

There's a point that should be made concerning the lurker.

They come here to learn and be entertained.

Some may even feel compeled to register and become a member.

I doubt hammin on a guy will motovate lurkers to become members.

This is not pointed at anyone.

I see hammin goin on all over not just FM.

We need to lift our brothers up and be helfull not overbearing jerks.

A few seconds to think about how you want to come across will go along way in making your posts recieved well.

Merry Christmas everyone.

[McGurk]

I see the overall point of your post, dtro, and agree with every single one of your purchases. As an addendum, maybe an order of purchase importance would be in order, say if you were planning on getting to that list over a 5-10 year basis.

If I were to do it, I'd purchase in this order, maybe over a 6 year basis as this list is written:

1A) An arsenal of Jason Mitchell Custom Rods/Matched with Abu Garcia Cardinal 100 series reels (or other rods to get started with, you can always give them away as hend me downs)

1B) A good supply of various baits for different species and conditions (I'd say tackle and a box would go here)

1C) Ice Dipper ice scoop (let's call this the sled/bucket/scoop/picks/spudbar category)

2) Arctic Armor Suit (I'd say overall good outdoor gear and layering options would go here)

3) Nils Master Auger (or other auger; hand, gas, elec)

4) LX5 Flasher (or other type of flasher or a camera instead, I won't fish without a flasher anymore)

5) Snowmobile and trailer (there is nothing better than ease and ability to access lakes earlier/later)

6A) A one/two man portable (self expalnitory, get one that suits your needs)

6B)Mr Cooker Heater (or other heater, not needed without a portable)

Of course, you can do this in any order you want, but this makes sense to me, and isn't more than a few hundred dollars per year (other than 5 and 6). Of course, some people already have some of the stuff, and you can pick and choose as needed.

[Shack]

Thanks guys!

This funny thing we all love called F.M...

I was going to go on about F.M. political correctness, but I will not.

My one rule of thumb is “If it’s not a positive/good post, do not post it”. I have found my self scrubbing; good time spent and care spent posts, in the review page, because I was afraid of offending someone or getting negative responses. Sometimes we push the envelope and offended someone with in forum policy; I feel bad and make changes.

But posts like Dtro’s can answer so many questions for people (lurkers or members) who can not post or are afraid to post a questions. I figure a post like this is helping more than hurting.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I was 4, it was 1971 (Yeah, I'm 40, so what) I was ice fishing for the first time in my life with my grandpa. We chopped holes through what seemed like a mile of ice, I froze my bum off, my pole was a twig with fishing line tied to it, I didn't catch anything, and I was miserable. We were like pretty much every other family and didn't have much so we made do with what we had.

Fast forward to today. If I were to start ice fishing, right now, in the financial situation that I'm in, I would print DTRO's and McGurks posts and go shopping.

Like many others, I started out small and worked my way up from there. Thinking back to my childhood I realize one of the biggest reasons I didn't catch more fish is because I wasn't actually fishing (line in water) nearly as much. Now, I can auger through 18 inches of ice in a matter of seconds, with my flasher I can move around and find structure and active fish, with my Arctic Armor I can actually stay warm, with my portable I can keep the wind off me, I can drop down my Reel Weeds and actually attract fish. Every peice of my gear arsonal has a purpose, to help me catch more fish.

The whole gear thing reminds me of some advice I gave my teenaged son not too long ago. You can buy good wrenches once in your lifetime or you can buy crappy ones every 3 months.

Those of you who know me know that I live for ice fishing. I save my vacation days so I can use them in the winter ice fishing. I do my house projects in the summer so I can go ice fishing. I live for this time of year. I'd still go if I were back to my wool one piece snomobile suit and string tied to a twig, but I enjoy it a WHOLE lot more with the gear I have, and I catch more fish.

[Scott K]

Dtro, I dont see your list to farfetched! Anybody that has ice fished and likes it and plans on ice fishing alot will either have everything on that list, or they will be looking at that list and saying, yep thats what I am buying next!

I personally have most of the stuff on the list, but I have ice fished for many years, just getting back into it strong though. I looked at your list and said, I have these, and that is what I am hoping to get for christmas. Are all these things necessary to ice fish, no. But anyone who ice fishes alot has them, or has plans on getting the stuff when they can afford it! I know I have gone fishing alot more since I have a nice power auger, a nice shelter to get out of the cold, and have caught more fish after buying a flasher to locate the fish

I dont think we should bash Dtro because he got into the sport late, and is fortunate enough to be able to afford all the equipment in a couple years of getting into the sport. I dont know Dtro, but for what I have read of him on this site he is into "fishing" pretty heavy, and if he wants to spend his money on fishing and equipment instead of drinking in the bars, cigarrettes, gambling, or whatever thats his choice.

[Duffman]

For the big ticket items(flasher-shelter-power auger), space out those purchases over a year or two. I have to thank Randy Moss,C Carter,R Cunningham, and G Anderson for being able to buy my first flasher with some FFL winnings back in '98. I also picked up my portable that next spring at closeout prices. I sold the FL8 and upgraded to a LX5 a couple winters ago, but I still use the original FishTrap I bought back then. Take care of your stuff and it'll take care of you.

I love the design of my portable so much that instead of trying to find another that'll fit my needs, I'm just going to have Canvas Craft make me a new insulated skin next summer. The canvas on there right now is getting pretty worn out.

Now that I had what I thought were two essentials for me to enjoy icefishing (Flasher and Shelter), the rest of the gear just came about as the years went by. There might be some good deals out there now, but just wait, late January and the month of February are the best time to find deals on everything that involves the sport of icefishing- from gear to winter clothing. Think ahead to next year, and go buy those things this year when it's on clearence.

[jigging-matt]

I thought it was a great post. I have added and upgraded my equipment over the years. Started with a Cabelas Suitcase style, then switched to a Clam Voyeageur about 3 years ago. Each year I tried to make one major purchase, Vex, 4-Wheeler/Trailer, Auger, Etc. I wish I would have seen a list like this when I started. I have all kinds of jig poles and tackle boxes that seemed like a good Idea at the time. That now seem too big and bulky for my needs. I have co-workers that are getting/ recently got into ice fishing, and they look at the gear that some of us already have and ask questions about what to get 1st, 2nd 3rd, etc. As far as I see, this information only helps. Now lets go fishing.

[Shack]

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I love the design of my portable so much that instead of trying to find another that'll fit my needs, I'm just going to have Canvas Craft make me a new insulated skin next summer. The canvas on there right now is getting pretty worn out.

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That’s a great way to get a new shack for less money.

I think Dtro does this also (and many others on this site), but do the leg work and find the deals. If I am ready to push the button on something, I will hit 5-6 different stores (price shopping), hit the internet, ask people their opinion and check out going used is rule number one.

Its one thing to have nice stuff, but it takes a true MN fisherman to find it at a deal. I do not care if I had a million dollars, I still would find the best deal. I figure for the bragging rights! J.J.