You do not need to stay indoors during the daunting winter months, patiently waiting and dreaming for the sun to come out. Bundle up and be adventurous, get outside and try fishing in a non-traditional way. Ice fishing can be fun and exciting when the winter seals the lake underneath the ice. Although there are many things you could bring for your activity, here we discuss essentials you need for ice fishing. See how to get out on ice and fish safely and share moments with your family and friends.
Find a Good Place to Fish
If you are getting out for the first time and you do not know where to fish precisely, a good move is to get started right next to some shelters with great fishing communities, you will find people willing help and love fishing together.
The first step to getting fish in ice fishing is to find an excellent place to fish. When you get out on to the ice, you want to fish in the first 50-100 yards from shaw, and typically target 10-15 feet in depth to allow you to catch panfish as well as crappie bluegill.
Ice Fishing Gear and Tackle
A couple of things that are rudimentary and essential to get out on ice and fish. You need a sled to be carrying your equipment around especially if you are going to be dragging it long distances. The next vital gear to have is an auger, a drill that will cut through the ice from about six inches to ten, and some even go up to twelve inches.
The third most important things to have is a bucket, which is going to carry all of your tackle, bait and filleting knives, all in one thing, and will also serve as a stool to sit when out on the ice.
Make Sure the Ice is Safe
Stop into your local bait and tackle store or call them to make sure that the lake you picked out has safe ice conditions. You can typically see where other people are safely fishing as well as sticking to the foot passes that they have already created so that you know it is generally safe ice. It is highly recommended to drill holes every ten to fifteen yards to double-check the ice thickness. Try to avoid fishing in any ice water that is under five inches in-depth as it may be unsafe.
Gear Up with Winter Clothing
The most basic winter suit is a typical warm overall outfit with multiple layers, gloves, a hat, snow pants and snow boots. When we are talking winter clothing on ice, we think safety terminology; Firstly, you are going to need safety spikes, to allow you to pull yourself up out of the water if you were to emergency fall in. Second on the safety list are cleats to put under your boots so that you do not slip and fall when you out on the ice, this is super important when you are on clear flat ice.
