Want to try ice fishing....need some advice

[Alan]

Well, I am pretty much a April thru late October fisherman. But this year I have had the urge to maybe take up the ice fishing thing. I have been checking out Fleet Farm for all the gear that I may need. But that's pretty much where I get stopped dead in my tracks.

There is so much out there, but since I would be just starting out, and I don't want to spend to much money for my first few times out just in case I decide it's not for me. What are some for sure pieces of gear I should consider purchasing? A rod of course, a slush scoop...

Could all you experienced ice fisherman out there give a ice fishing wannabe some advice to get started in ice fishing?

Thank you all...I have always received advice here and I am hoping this is one of those times...

[DTro]

I would really recommend trying to come to one of the many Get Togethers that are put on through out the winter. Click Here

This one isn't listed, but next Sunday should be a fun one Click Here

While you are there, you can get a good idea of some key items you will need, while also being able to check out some the items you will (surely) be buying next year

[mshs1]

I am a ice fisherman and have more stuff than I need or can use. I would try the sport out by going with others- using their stuff--I had newbies drop my rod and reel down the hole- I don't care--I didn't give them the good one anyway And if they drop my stuff down the hole I can buy more stuff. Seems there are a lot of people in the forum who would be happy to share the experience. You could find people in your general geographic area and try it out. My house is on Mille Lacs should be out next week??

[FishingWebGuy]

My favorite way to get out on the ice is when I keep it simple. If you already have warm/waterproof clothes and boots, all you really need is an auger (power or hand), rod/reel combo (or 2 or 3 or 4), various jigs and bait, and in my opinion a flasher.

The only reason I say flasher is because it's a lot more fun to actually know if anything is down there and how they are responding. I carry these bare essentials out when I am going to hit the ice for a couple hours during the day. When going later in the day I'll drag the house and all the other gear along but it's not really necessary if you are out in sunlight.

I don't even bring a bucket as I just flop down on the ice. This makes it very easy to move around and catch fish.

As an option you could buy a tip-up also.

[ocf1]

I am only a few steps ahead of you but...

You will need

1.A pole

2.An auger, Hand or Power

3.Bait

-Jigs

-some sort of plastics or livebait

-line

4.Will to be outside in the cold

You might want

1.House(portable or Permament

2.Flasher

3.Wheeler or Snowmobile

4.Spring Bobber(for detecting bites)

5.Ice Cleats

Thats what I can think of.....

[zamboni]

OCF has you off to a great start. Ice cleats only on glare ice lakes, if theres snow cover, you can get by without cleats. A PakShack I think would be great for a beginner, gets you out of the wind, and at $99 the price can't be beat.

[DonBo]

Can't get all this stuff out there without a sled.

[looneyducer]

Seriously, go with someone who already does it with some measure of success first. Staring at some random hole drilled in a lake while slowly freezing to death is not fun.

[GottaGo]

I agree that going with somebody who knows what they're doing would probably be the best way to start. If this isn't possible, you can buy hand augers for not too much money, and they work well as long as the hole isn't too big and the blades are sharp. You can also pick up rods fairly cheaply too. You can just put your summer reels on ice fishing rods for now, you can also get by using many of your summer jigs with some live bait and catch some fish. It would help to start on a lake that you are somewhat familiar with its structure to know where to start looking for fish. Fish the same types of areas that are typical for holding fish- points, drop-offs, weed edges, etc, and you should be able to have some success. Without a flasher, you can use a big jig or weight to get an idea of depth/bottom contour. Just be careful, ice fishing is addictive, it starts with a hand auger and before you need it you need a snowmobile to haul out your new portable. Good Luck.

[hanson]

I definitely agree that hooking up with someone who knows what they are doing will be the right way for you to "test" the waters of ice fishing.

See if you have any friends that can take you. See if someone in the forums will take you. Come to one of our FM Get-Togethers. Like Dtro mentioned, the Prior Lake on Jan 6th should provide some good and consistant panfish action which would be a great way to learn some basic techniques and see which equipment is necessary and which you can live without. Or hire a guide for a day even, nothing wrong with that. Whenever learning a new technique, species, or new body of water, hiring a good guide is money well spent.

[love to hunt]

Alan,

The best advice has already been posted. Hook up with an ice fishing buddy or better yet a guide to see what it is all about.

After an outing or 2 you will have a handle on 2 things;

1) what you will want to have as far as gear

2) if you enjoy the sport

If you are an open water guy you are almost sure to like hard water but then again maybe not...

If you are at all like me you won't want to go with a friend empty handed so go to Fleet, Wal-Mart or what ever and get a rod or 2 a small tackle box, and cannibalize your summer fishing box for some jigs, hooks, split shot sinkers and several slip bobbers. Throw it all in a 5 gal pail and away you go. Your ice fishing pal should have the rest of the necessities and a guide surly will.

Have fun.