Ice Fishing Basics…Gear Up Without Breaking The Bank
Getting into a new hobby can be intimidating. In today’s day and age, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with gear choices and the expensive price tags that adorn those flashy items. The good news is that you can still gear up on a small budget. Let’s chat about the basics you’ll need to get started fishing through the ice.
It would be nice to get started with top of the line shelter, big sled for towing the goodies and the latest and greatest electric ice auger. Then there’s the world of fish finders and electronics. Of course those luxuries make for an unforgettable experience. If you have the budget, by all means…but if you’re like me, I like to fish more than working. There is always room for upgrades and starting with entry level gear will help you appreciate the nicer gear as you upgrade.
First off, when you’re ice fishing you need to poke a hole in the ice. Before you can even safely hit the ice, you’ll need to check thickness and stability. To do this, test hole or use a spud bar to check for thickness. We will dive deep into ice safety and how to access conditions on an upcoming post. If you’re on early or thinner ice you can use a hatchet or something similar. We use a hand crank auger and it’s a never fail tool for the trade. It cuts clean holes and they come in multiple sizes. Previously, I thought it would be a huge labor to hand drill our holes. In fact, I’m able to drill upwards of 20 to 30 holes throughout the day with our manual auger. The upside is that it keeps me in great shape. Just make sure the blades are sharp and you’ll cut through the ice like butter.
Next on the list of must haves is a descent ice fishing rod. It’s easy to find rod and reel combos as inexpensive as $10-15 and they go all the way up above $100. You totally get what you pay for, but you don’t need to break the bank to get started. The main benefit of using an ice fishing rod over a traditional fishing rod is the smaller size will allow you to be closer to the hole and see what’s going on under the water. The bites while ice fishing are also subtle so the shorter rods help you feel more and react quickly.
Speaking of the bite, fish tend to be more picky during ice season Make sure you spool your rod with some lower weight, thinner line. We stick to 4 to 6 lb line, but select based upon the waters you’re fishing. If you’re fishing for bluegill, the line will be much smaller than for larger fish. You can go crazy with all of the line options spanning from monofilament to fluorocarbon to braided and even stuff called ice fishing line. For this application, ice fishing line works awesome. The line memory will unwind better, even under cold conditions and the line will freeze less often. Don’t over complicate the line selection. Once you get going you can look at varying setups. Keeping it simple with ice fishing specific line and small jigs or lures will keep you in the ballpark.
Now that we have our rods, line and auger set up, you’re ready to head out on the lake. A sled is nice to carry your gear out to your honey hole, but we got started by loading up 5 gallon buckets. They hold the bait, rods and safety equipment like first aid kit and shoe cleats. They’re easy for kids and adults to carry and you’ll have a seat when you get settled in. That being said, our next purchase is going to be an ice sled. It will be nice for larger bodies of water where we may be walking miles throughout the day chasing fish. But when we got started, it was on a small local lake. It’s not a big deal to shuffle buckets around, especially if you’re on a budget.
And last thing that is synonymous with ice fishing is those fancy insulated ice fishing huts. There is no doubt that they help keep you comfortable and out of the elements. If you’re dedicated to all day fishing in any weather Mother Nature can throw at you, there’s a total need for a nice shelter. But if you’re just getting started and on a budget, just skip this all together. Ice fishing in the open isn’t nearly as cold as you would think. Bundle up in layers and pick your fishing days carefully. One thing that will end your day early will be the wind, so pick a nice sunny and calm afternoon and you won’t be disappointed!
So let’s recap. Essentials include an ice auger, ice fishing rod, and a bucket. You can add from there, but something that simple will get you hooked on ice fishing!
If you have got to this point and still have some questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m no expert, but enjoy all things fishy and sharing it with others! Over the next few weeks, we will be covering all things ice fishing. Next up, we will chat about all of the gear choices, a deep dive in ice safety, and a walkthrough of a day on the ice for our family. If you’re thinking of getting into ice fishing, you won’t want to miss it! Make sure to follow our blog as well as our social media pages to keep up with all of our fishing journeys!
Tight Lines,
Trails To Trout Family