| Did you hear the one about the guy who
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| | P.S. One last thing... remember to take a
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| went ice fishing and came back with 50
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| | light lunch with you, just in case they
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| lbs. of ice?
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| | decide not to bite or your fishing
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| Well, if you found yourself here your at
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| | technique is off for the day. I can
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| least one step ahead of this fella, that
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| | remember a few times when we had to have
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| is unless you intended to bring home some
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| | "fish lip soup", it wasn't very filling.
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| ice. Ice fishing is actually a very
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| | Well, seeing as you have made it this
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| simple sport but must be practiced with
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| | far. I guess an obvious question would be
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| some caution.
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| | "When is the best time to go ice Fishing
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| WHAT you say?
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| | ?" Everyone I know wants to get out there
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| Seriously before you set out to catch any
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| | as soon as possible. It is probably
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| fish on "hard" water there a couple of
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| | because the fishing seems to be a little
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| things you should be concerned about.
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| | better or more likely they just want to
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| Firstly, make sure you are equipped with
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| | be the first one to haul one out of the
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| the proper attire. Setting out from home
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| | hole.
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| on a nice sunny day is fine but once you
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| | It is true that the fish are relaxed and
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| approach your destination things may have
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| | in the best feeding spots because they
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| drastically changed or may change without
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| | haven't been hassled for several months.
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| notice. This would also be a good time to
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| | Trout in particular spawn in the fall and
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| check the weather channel or newspaper
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| | can be found in deep water at this time.
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| for the up to date weather forecast.
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| | You can find them on bars, shoals, rocks
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| Secondly, remember to check the ice
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| | and fingers. Perch, pike and walleye tend
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| conditions wherever you go, there are
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| | to look for shallow , weedy lakes because
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| local ice hut operators or locals who are
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| | the oxygen level tends to be a lot
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| willing to help make your trip safe.
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| | higher.
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| A friend of mine told me once, "You can
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| | Once the little villages spring up and
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| always take it off, but its pretty hard
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| | the anglers take their toll the catches
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| to put it on if you haven't got it!" My
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| | tend to decrease but don't despair they
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| advice, purchase a good floatation suit.
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| | are still out there. You just have to
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| They are warm and if you happen to break
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| | work a little harder.
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| thru the ice it will probably save your
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| | So you need a few pointers because your
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| life.
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| | just not catching your limit.
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| A warm dry set of gloves, preferably
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| | Well what is it that you do in the summer
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| without fingers is a must. This way all
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| | time, whether you are fishing from shore
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| the fingers share the warmth. A full face
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| | or boat if your not getting the bites
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| belaclava is also required as well as
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| | ?... You move.
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| sunglasses. Scarfs can help but be
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| | I do it all the time, it's not hard if
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| cautionary of the vehicle you are using
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| | you've got your own sled and make sure
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| to get you out to your favorite spot. You
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| | you've got a power auger, you'll need it.
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| don't want to have it get tangled up in a
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| | In order to be mobile you really need to
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| chain or track.
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| | be prepared. This includes a portable
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| Several layers of clothes are a benefit
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| | shelter, flotation suit, auger, sled or
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| for when you have the luxury of taking
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| | 4x4, fish finder and GPS. Give yourself
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| them off. Another good idea is to have a
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| | about 10 to 20 minutes per hole. That's
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| fishing buddy. They are not only there to
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| | enough time to find your depth, scratch
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| enjoy the day with you and help make the
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| | the bottom for debris, rocks, sand, etc.,
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| fishing story a real tale but if an
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| | set up your fish finder and locate fish
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| emergency arises they are the only
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| | and at what depth. It also allows you to
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| support you've got.
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| | try your technique to see if they are
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| We still have a few small things to do
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| | interested. If you happen to have the
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| before setting out. Make sure your
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| | hydrographic map of the lake or fished it
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| transportation is trustworthy, a general
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| | before it helps. Try making calculated
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| maintenance check will do, tell someone
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| | moves, such as holes, shoals, weedbeds.
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| where your going and how long you expect
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| | If you can afford it, get yourself
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| to be gone and last but not least, a
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| | several rods and rig them up with
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| simple thing like a compass, so you don't
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| | different presentations. Not only do you
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| get lost.
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| | become a quick change artist but it saves
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| Okay, are we having fun yet. Now that we
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| | tying on different lures when the weather
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| have got all the scary stuff done, its
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| | isn't friendly.
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| time to leave, right .... WRONG ! You
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| | Jigging is really an art form. Not to
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| forgot the gear.
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| | fast and not to slow, kind of a rhythm
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| A general rule of thumb regarding gear is
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| | thing. Keep in mind it is okay to jig
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| to choose the equipment you will need to
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| | hard at first, you want to attract them,
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| match the fish you are seeking (e.g. the
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| | get them interested. Once you've done
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| larger the fish, the heavier the tackle).
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| | that slow down to a twitch by using only
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| Of course you won't be able to get to
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| | your wrist or trolling from one side of
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| them if you don't have a hole. So
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| | the hole to the other. Alternatively you
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| depending on the ice and your wallet or
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| | can raise the rod tip a few inches and
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| both, you are going to need an ice spud
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| | lower. Stir up the bottom a little.
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| or handgas auger. You can purchase both
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| | Make sure your rod is short, stiff and
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| but if you just happen to have a friend
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| | with big eyelets. It's hard to fish in a
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| that welds you can get him to make the
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| | hut that's only 4 x 6 with a 3' rod. You
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| spud up for you out of a 6' x 2" piece of
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| | only get one chance to set the hook, so
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| flat steel and round bar. Don't forget to
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| | if it moves you don't want the rod to
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| weld a "T" on the top and grind the flat
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| | bend. Having your line get frozen because
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| bar down to a chisel point.
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| | of clogged eyelets just isn't any fun.
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| If you are in good shape and have the
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| | PAY ATTENTION! No, I'm not trying to wake
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| time the hand auger is great but if you
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| | you up from your daydream but feeling a
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| intend to fish several spots and don't
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| | hit is not the only way to get fish out
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| want to tire yourself out making holes
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| | of the hole. If you see the slightest
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| get a gas auger. Look for an auger with
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| | movement, either side to side or up or
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| at least a 6" cut just so you can get the
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| | down, set your hook! Remember, if your
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| big ones thru the hole.
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| | sending your lure down and it stops and
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| Next, you'll need an ice skimmer. I
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| | your not where your suppose to be, you
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| suggest the aluminum one because if you
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| | probably have one on the line.
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| are in a hut with a stove just warm it up
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| | Now, if you want to get them up the hole
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| a little and touch it to the hole and
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| | your going to need to hook 'em, so keep
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| voila ... instant skim! Also, tie a light
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| | your hooks sharp. The easiest way to test
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| chain or rope on it just in case it falls
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| | is when you push the point thru the
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| down the hole.
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| | minnow, if the point doesn't go in easily
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| Well, your almost there. You can't catch
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| | either sharpen it or replace it. Speaking
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| anything without some type of jigging
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| | of hooks, size is important. The smaller
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| rod. They come in all types, sizes and
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| | the bait the smaller the hook. Also, If
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| styles but look for one with which you
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| | your using a large hook on a small bait
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| will be comfortable with. This may take a
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| | you restrict it's movements and could
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| few outings to discover, so see if you
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| | possible even spook your game.
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| have a buddy who will lend you his or
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| | Timing the hook set is crucial when using
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| hers. Another general rule of thumb, a
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| | minnowbait. It is well known that most
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| light rod for perch and panfish using 2
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| | fish attack from the side, so don't try
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| to 4 lb. test, medium action for trout,
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| | to set the hook at the first sign of
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| walleye, whitefish, etc. and 6 to 10 lb.
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| | movement or tug. Allow the fish time to
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| test.
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| | swallow the minnow. Okay, so you lost
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| If you are energetic an have a second
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| | your patience, had him and lost him.
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| hole you can also use a tip-up. They
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| | Don't be in a hurry to change your bait,
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| range in price from several dollars to
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| | put the line back down the hole.
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| around twenty-five bucks. Well, this
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| | Remember, he just lost supper and if he's
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| should get you started. The rest you can
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| | hungry he'll be back. Wait a couple of
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| learn from patience and experience. Good
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| | minutes and if you don't get a response
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| Luck and Good Fishing!
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| | your welcome to change your bait.
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