ice fishing

[ped917]

Hey I was looking to get started ice fishing was just curious what some basic tackle I will need. What are the basics to start with?

[NECoyoteSlayer]

Well, assuming you have some warm clothing - coveralls, gloves, socks and most importantly BOOTS!
1) First of all you will need an auger (at least with and 8" drill).
2) Then I would get a jiggin rod about 24" in length and some good 2-6 pound line(depending on what you are jigging for.)
3) Assortment of small ice fishing jigs...this you will have to use a trial and error for what works in your area.
4) Ice strainer to clean out the hole you just dug.
5) Somthing to sit on, 5 gal. bucket or camp chair, some people get a shanty of some sort to sit in with a camping heater on those windy days.

That would be the bare min. that I would get. Lemme know if you wanna talk about tip-ups that you can set up for pike, walleye, wipers, bass or anything else that will bite on em.

I hope this helps, please feel free to ask me ANY questions that you may have Im more than willing to help. And if you wanna meet up to go ice fishing to see some gear in action let me know where you live and we can see what we can do!

NECoyoteSlayer

[Mendizzle]

If you get a hand auger go with the 7" because they are a little bit easier to to use, if you get a power auger the bigger the better. I think that a bucket becomes way more useful then a chair (mostly because I don't have a sled) Otherwise NECoyoteSlayer
pretty much summed it up.

[Eric]

I would go with a spud bar rather than an auger. If you have access to a welder and a grinder, an old pipe and a flat plate of steel, you can make one in less than a half hour for no cost. If icefishing turns out to be a hit w/you THEN invest in the auger, and go straight to gas, I recommend you never own a hand auger They're just a pain in the a$$.

Hand auger vs. spud it's no question in my opinion. My hand auger sets on my porch at home when I go icefishing. I use stainless steel for the spud's blade, and one sharpening is good for hundreds and hundreds of holes. There are no new blades to buy, and re-opening yesterday's old holes is a snap. I would likely have it on the sled even if I did own a gas auger

Here's a couple pictures showing the new spud I've been using this year(ask Whisker what happened to my old one) along with a homemade gaff, a golf club turned into something useful by grinding off the club and brazing in a big hook.




This next picture is a few fully rigged cheapola poles, good for getting started catching bluegills, trout, and crappies through the ice.These poles have caught a bunch of fish for me this winter when panfish are the target. Below them is a selection of teardrop jigs used for icefishing.


A little closer view of a couple teardrops... I almost always use a tiny bobber and suspend the bait a foot or so off bottom with a waxworm or minnow...behind my hand is an earplug being used as a bobber, cut down a bit for less bouyancy. Most fish aren't gonna bite very hard in winter and a normal bobber will not register these light bites.


Mendizzle mentions a sled and I'd say this is also necessary equipment. I've been using a big plastic tote from Walmart and can say from experience if you go that route and you load it topheavy, it will tip over and spill your crap all over

[obert1]

Don't leave home without the earplug and toothpick.

[Eric]

The guy asked for the basics...You gotta have earplugs to icefish Care to tell him how you liked the hand augering Obert?

[obert1]

Hand augers are not made for short people. I really believe I'd do better with a hammer and chisel. Ped's a young man though, he should be able to get it done.

[Eric]

Make the spud, spend the auger money on other gear.

The last trip I took the ice was near 3 times thicker than it was that day we were catching bluegills Obert How long you think it would take you to get 5 holes in that thick of ice with that hand auger? I guarantee you I can find a set of holes from the previous weekend, spud open all 15 of them, and be fishing 5 lines, in less time than I could hand auger and be fishin' 2 holes.

[obert1]

I agree. That bar works pretty slick. I'd take it over the hand auger any day.

[2labs]

Hand augers are not made for short people.

You just needed a bucket to stand on obert!

The gaff I made was with a similar large hook with a wood flat about 20" lg. I mounted the hook with a small screw & mashed the barb so I could get a fish off easier. I don't have access to the welder or torch. I also like to use a spring bobber on the end of my pole. Its less hassel then the slip bobbers freezing on the line. I'll add a pic when I get my gear out. Its outside right now. If you do use a slip bobber, use a little vaselene or chapstick on the line around where it meets the surface of the water. It keeps ice from forming on the line

Where are you from Ped?

[Eric]

I usually hook and fight the fish on the rod, but finish by handlining because the bobber I use is attached to the line. When I hook a bigger fish, I can sometimes pull the bobber's peg and can then reel in the fish. But the majority of the fish this winter I've caught were handlined through the hole, because of the bobber. BUT...I have had best luck detecting bites with those simple tiny pegged bobbers. Setting 5 lines is important to target multiple species, and I find it easiest for me to watch 5 bobbers and detect light bites, than any other way.

Very simple basics can take you far with icefishing. Simple teardrop/livebait offerings under bobbers and occasionally jigged or lifted, have caught every single fish I caught this winter... Tipups are 0 fish for 5 trips of use or something like that, other lures than teardrops are 0 fish for about 15 tries.

[Gordon]

So chopping a hole with the spud is easier than using the hand auger? I will have to try that out. This 15-18" thick ice is giving me a workout.

[obert1]

I think it is Gordon. Though I have yet to try 2labs suggestion of a bucket....

[2labs]

Obert...You can always come down & fish with me so you can use the power auger!

[obert1]

2labs, that sounds like the best idea yet!