If you're looking for a Winter Sport that the whole family can participate in and have a good time, why not consider Ice Fishing? Each year many people set out to enjoy the sport of ice fishing, and many of these people get their families involved. It's easy, wholesome fun that everyone can enjoy and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get started.
If you've ever wondered into a Sporting Goods store and looked at all the ice fishing equipment, you could get overwhelmed pretty quickly. You might be wondering "What are the basics I need to get started ice fishing?" Well, the basics are pretty simple and inexpensive. You don't need all the high dollar fancy gear on the shelves to be a successful ice fisherman.
Have no fear my friend. I whipped up this list of the basic tackle and gear that you'll need to get started ice fishing. The nice thing about this Sport is that you can get started for less than a hundred dollars in most cases.
To get started, you'll first be looking at ice augers. It'll be hard to start fishing through the ice without a hole! Many first timers choose a manual ice auger. For small fish, you'll be looking at an auger that will bore a 5 to 6 inch hole in the ice. Should you want to catch bigger fish like Walleye, Pike, Musky, Bass or Catfish, you're need a larger hole. One in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just keep in mind that the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to bore it with a manual ice auger. This is why you'll see many ice fishermen using a power auger to drill their holes.
You'll need a way to get the fish to the surface. For this, you'll want to use tip ups or a rod and reel. Multiple tip ups allow you to fish many holes while a rod and reel will restrict you to only one hole at a time. Some ice fishermen increase the odds of them bringing home fish by using a combination of tip ups and rod and reels.
The line you use for fishing should be designed for cold water that is associated with ice fishing. The ice cold water can make fishing line brittle. Due to this, you'll want to make sure and purchase fishing line made for fishing through the ice. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. The line is the most critical part of your ice fishing equipment.
You will also need to get some jigs and lures to go along with your bait. Tiny jigs are a good choice for panfish. Also tear drop jigs and tiny spoons will come in handy when the panfish get finicky. As for bait, panfish love mealworms and spikes while larger fish such as Walleye prefer Worms or baitfish like smelt. Ask around at your local sporting goods store to see what's they suggest buying.
Standing long hours on the lake waiting for fish to bite can get old. Make sure you bring along something to sit on or to wait out the fish. Some people bring lawn chairs while others use a simple five gallon bucket. If you have the funds and really want to get fancy, then a small heated hut can really spoil you!
Other miscellaneous things you may need are an ice scoop to get the ice chips out of your hole, a cooler or other item to carry your fish in and maybe a portable heater. Some hardcore fishermen even take sonars to see the structure on the bottom of the lake. Ice fishing is easy to get started in. You can spend as much or little as you want so get out there and grab your gear. Be sure to read up on the regulations and safety rules before heading out. - 16887
If you've ever wondered into a Sporting Goods store and looked at all the ice fishing equipment, you could get overwhelmed pretty quickly. You might be wondering "What are the basics I need to get started ice fishing?" Well, the basics are pretty simple and inexpensive. You don't need all the high dollar fancy gear on the shelves to be a successful ice fisherman.
Have no fear my friend. I whipped up this list of the basic tackle and gear that you'll need to get started ice fishing. The nice thing about this Sport is that you can get started for less than a hundred dollars in most cases.
To get started, you'll first be looking at ice augers. It'll be hard to start fishing through the ice without a hole! Many first timers choose a manual ice auger. For small fish, you'll be looking at an auger that will bore a 5 to 6 inch hole in the ice. Should you want to catch bigger fish like Walleye, Pike, Musky, Bass or Catfish, you're need a larger hole. One in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just keep in mind that the bigger the hole, the harder it will be to bore it with a manual ice auger. This is why you'll see many ice fishermen using a power auger to drill their holes.
You'll need a way to get the fish to the surface. For this, you'll want to use tip ups or a rod and reel. Multiple tip ups allow you to fish many holes while a rod and reel will restrict you to only one hole at a time. Some ice fishermen increase the odds of them bringing home fish by using a combination of tip ups and rod and reels.
The line you use for fishing should be designed for cold water that is associated with ice fishing. The ice cold water can make fishing line brittle. Due to this, you'll want to make sure and purchase fishing line made for fishing through the ice. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. The line is the most critical part of your ice fishing equipment.
You will also need to get some jigs and lures to go along with your bait. Tiny jigs are a good choice for panfish. Also tear drop jigs and tiny spoons will come in handy when the panfish get finicky. As for bait, panfish love mealworms and spikes while larger fish such as Walleye prefer Worms or baitfish like smelt. Ask around at your local sporting goods store to see what's they suggest buying.
Standing long hours on the lake waiting for fish to bite can get old. Make sure you bring along something to sit on or to wait out the fish. Some people bring lawn chairs while others use a simple five gallon bucket. If you have the funds and really want to get fancy, then a small heated hut can really spoil you!
Other miscellaneous things you may need are an ice scoop to get the ice chips out of your hole, a cooler or other item to carry your fish in and maybe a portable heater. Some hardcore fishermen even take sonars to see the structure on the bottom of the lake. Ice fishing is easy to get started in. You can spend as much or little as you want so get out there and grab your gear. Be sure to read up on the regulations and safety rules before heading out. - 16887
About the Author:
You can find lots of ice fishing gear on ebay. This will cut your cost while saving money on your next ice fishing buys. Make sure and get reliable equipment Makefore heading out on the ice. Nothing is more frustrating that having equipment break downs while trying to enjoy a day of ice fishing. This includes your tip ups and fishing reels.
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