A guide to Ice Fishing
When Ice fishing, its important to choose the right clothes, stay safe, bring
the right tools and bait, and remember if you aren't going to fry, broil, boil,
or just plain eat the fish than release them!
The object of choosing clothes for ice fishing is to dress to stay warm in any
type of weather. You can always peel off layers if you're too hot, but you can't
add them if you don't have them. This means dress in layers, and lots of them.
You don't want to be walking on "thin ice" with this sport! A safe rule of thumb
is to be sure the ice is at least 4 inches thick. Be sure and check ice
conditions before heading out and follow a path if there is one. Because ice
thickness can vary across an area, check more than one spot. In spring, "rotten"
ice, no matter how reliable it looks under that fluffy snow, can give way
easily. When on a snowmobile, be sure the ice is thicker than 4 inches and use
the trails already made. Watch out for holes in the ice or open water.
On a large lake you can lose your sense of direction if you get caught in the
dark, or if the weather should turn nasty, so bring a compass. Some anglers
have a compass strapped right to their arm where it's visible or one in an
accessible outside pocket. Careful planning begins with checking the weather
report and getting back to safety before dark.
Some Things to Bring:
Toboggan or sled - This is a practical way to haul equipment onto the ice. Some
anglers put their gear on top of their shanty, which is transported on runners.
Ice auger - This tool is...