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