Adam Scepaniak 01.20.25
Winter hits and many of us feel relegated to staying indoors because we don’t participate in all of the frigid recreational activities that come with snow and dropping temperatures. Yet, you are thinking of exploring the cold weather past time of ice fishing for the first time. This can not only be fun, challenging, and a great way to spend time in the outdoors, but it can also be a way to provide healthy food for yourself and/or your family. There are a lot of ways in which you can try ice fishing – spearing, tip ups, rattle reels, jiggle sticks – all of which can be exciting and have their own learning curve.
Let this be a beginner-friendly guide to getting started on ice fishing. The do’s and don’ts, the right and wrong, novice level practices to those from seasoned, frozen veterans. All of us who already enjoy ice fishing were newbies at one point in time, and you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get started. So, let’s dive in!
Understanding Ice Fishing Basics
So, the basic question is: “What is ice fishing?” This might sound crazy for southerners, but in the Midwest and Northern states of the US, in the winter it gets cold enough where bodies of water will freeze. This includes small ponds, streams, running rivers, lakes, and even bigger bodies of water like Lake Superior. In fact, enough ice forms – and it is thick enough – to the point where you can drive vehicles out onto a frozen lake. It’s pretty wild!
The key difference between traditional fishing and “hard water fishing” (ice fishing) is the tactics you need to apply. In the summer on open water, if the fish aren’t biting in a very specific spot, you can simply move; either by canoe, kayak, boat, or raft. In the winter while ice fishing, you are much more stuck in one place. Yes, you can move, but you cannot troll (the body of water is frozen) and the fact that you need to chisel or drill through the ice when you get to your new spot slows things down considerably. You are much less agile while fishing in the winter.
Also, it is important to understand the difference in safety practices. You can drown if you fall through thin ice or an open hole, but there is also the grave concern of hypothermia – whether you get wet or not. So, being prepared by having appropriate clothing, not going out on thin ice, and having a winter first aid kit can be very important.
Essential Ice Fishing Gear
When it comes to fishing on the top side of a frozen lake, it requires a different set of gear than when we are out there in the summertime. Your gear not only needs to be built for the cold and to survive it; rather, it needs to thrive in it! This is some of the basic gear that you will want to have if you venture out ice fishing:
- Ice Scoop
- Ice Auger
- Hand Towel
- Propane Heater
- 5 Gallon Bucket
- Small Colored Hook Set
- Winter Fishing Rod (extremely short – a “jiggle stick”)
- Bait (Wax Worms [Panfish], Whole Kernel Corn [Trout], Minnows [Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye])
- Appropriate Clothing (dependent on if you’ll be fishing outside on the ice, or in a fish house protected from the elements)
Again, we cannot state this enough, but make sure your gear is rated for winter conditions, field-serviceable (can clean ice off of, etc), and good quality. Even affordable or cheaply-priced gear can be good quality for the harsh tundra of fishing on a frozen lake. Read packages, ask store associates when making purchases, “phone a friend,” and do a tiny bit of research.
Good winter fishing rods will have an open bail reel so you can untie and troubleshoot snags and the occasional accumulation of ice. Your hooks you want to be pretty colorful because fish will sometimes enter a slowed metabolic state. This means they are less easily provoked to bite. So, colorful hook sets not only are easier to see in murky water, but they can entice fish to bite when coupled with a preferred bait.
Other tools of the trade we are going to go into more detail as we get further along. This is the bare necessities of getting out on the ice for the first time. Make sure gear is hearty for winter and understand you shouldn’t need a bank loan buying your gear. This is a winter past time and not a reason to go in debt.
Ice Augers and Drills
An essential tool for ice fishing is an ice auger because we need to be able to access the fish we are seeking. Nowadays, you have lots of options – not just for the ice augers – but also in how they run and work. There are manual or hand-crank, electric, gasoline, and even ice auger assemblies that can be adapted to your Milwaukee drill (or any brand of drill you may own).
When it comes to safely drilling an ice hole there are a couple things to keep in mind. For one, don’t run the ice auger at max speed. This can cause it to drill inconsistent ice holes, dangerously run away on you, or violently twist the operator hurting you. Secondly, like operating most any machinery, don’t have loose clothing that could get caught in the spinning auger. Finally, be aware of how sharp the cutting blades are. Those can easily cut snow bibs or a leather Carhart style winter coat.
Ice Shelters
When it comes to ice fishing it is incredibly rare that the weather has been cold enough to provide for ample, safe ice conditions yet it is sunny or warm enough outside where people will willingly fish out in the open exposed to the elements. Most all ice fishermen will be in some kind of shelter to get out of the wind and the cold. There are multiple kinds people will deploy.
- Large House/RV: Popular Brand – Ice Castle (all types of ice fishing except spearing)
- Fish Traps: Popular Brand – Clam Outdoors (fold-over canvas structure meant to be mobile)
- Pop-Up Shelters: Popular Brand – Eskimo (similar to hunting blinds these are used for spearing and jig fishing)
- Skid Houses: Popular Brand – Ambush (a more agile yet sturdy structure lots of fishing types)
Each of these different types have varying levels of warmth and comfort that can be achieved as well as mobility (or, lack thereof). It all depends what type of fishing you are looking to do and how much you want to invest.
Clothing and Footwear
A key to “staying in the game” and not going home early is having appropriate clothing and footwear that keeps you warm and dry. If you live somewhere where it gets cold enough to even go ice fishing, you may already have appropriate winter attire. The main properties you will want to look for in footwear are insulation, waterproofing, and good traction on the bottom (you don’t want to slip on ice and knock yourself out). Some examples of quality winter boots that we have reviewed here on AllOutdoor are listed below:
For the clothes on the rest of your body, you will want to dress in layers to combat the extreme cold. This also allows you to shed layers once you have established your ice shelter and are warm. Ironically, being too warm in your ice shelter can be very uncomfortable as well. Insulated gloves, coats, pants, and a hat can make the outdoor tasks of setting up much more tolerable. If you are underdressed, you will never get your line in the water.
Fishing Accessories
We already shared some basic ice fishing gear, but what about some more obscure accessories? We have you covered there as well. These are all things that are going to make your fishing experience on the ice more enjoyable and go more smoothly if you can afford to bring all of them with you.
- Gaff
- Snacks
- Tip-Ups
- Ice Chisel
- Fish Locator
- Hand Warmers
- Depth Finder (Small Lead Weight for setting Slip Bobbers)
- Needle Nose Pliers (BONUS: Multi-Tool with a Needle Nose Pliers on it)
Again, you could get by without these, but they will come in handy if you intend to make winter fishing a routine hobby and not a one-day event.
Choosing the Right Location
Choosing the right ice fishing location can be achieved a multitude of ways. Some people prefer word-of-mouth by talking to those at your hometown diner. The rumor mill can be a great place to find where the fish are biting. Others may opt for internet forums, fishing newspapers, and even social media. Another old school way is to simply read topography maps of lakes and “wing it” by identifying areas that fish should be. You will want to look for sharp drop-offs, underwater structure, and weed beds (if a given map shows vegetation). If all else fails, you can always pay a resort or guide for some advice as well as safe routes to your fishing spot.
Speaking of which, it is important to be weary of thin ice even if a lake allegedly is safe. Inlets and springs can create thin ice which many people fall through, and large ice cracks or ice heaves can block your path entirely if you need to get across a lake to a given location. Try to scout your destination ahead of time for safety by calling ahead to local bait shops or even your local Game and Fish department.
Best Practices for Ice Fishing Beginners
So, you have your gear and have chosen a location. Next, is to plant roots and setup your spot. There are some simple steps you can take to make any place you choose be more comfortable and successful.
- Orientation of your Ice Shelter – Try to place the door facing away from the wind, and any windows facing the sun, if possible.
- Start a Fire – If you have a propane heater, start that and let it run to heat your shelter while you work outside.
- Slush – After drilling holes, put the slush outside your front door. It will quickly freeze and provide traction so you don’t fall.
- Snow – Taking any leftover slush or nearby snow and bank up all sides of your ice shelter to keep cold wind out.
Once you are setup, you can begin getting ready to fish. These are some things you should be aware of, avoid doing, and keep in mind.
- Bait – While baiting your hook, don’t do it over an open ice hole. If you accidentally drop your bait, you just gave away a free meal.
- Hooks – It might be time consuming at first, but don’t be scared to change hooks; especially the color. Fish can be finicky.
- Fire – Remember that propane heater? Don’t set any gear too close that it melts or catches on fire while fishing.
Finally, if the fish aren’t biting, don’t be afraid to move. As we mentioned earlier, some ice shelters are more mobile than others and that can be a blessing or an impediment depending on if the fish are biting or not.
Safety Tips for Ice Fishing
It is incredibly important that you are vigilant about being safe while ice fishing because a fun day of fishing can turn into tragedy quickly if you aren’t mindful. Knowing and checking ice thickness is the #1 thing you can do to ensure your safety. This can be done by the pathways we already discussed of talking to locals at a diner, speaking with your local bait shop, calling the Game and Fish department, phoning a resort or guide service, and finally, by bringing a chisel and manually check the ice yourself if all else fails. Also, the ol’ buddy system goes a long way. If you’re fishing alone, you’re exactly that – alone. If you go fishing with friends, you have more people to rely on for safety and help.
Common Fish Species for Ice Fishing
When it comes to freshwater fish species that you will commonly find while ice fishing, it is a mildly short list, but they are delicious and/or challenging all the same.
- Panfish: Yellow Perch, Sunfish, Crappies (jigging techniques with simple hooks and bait are best)
- Walleye Family: Walleye, Sauger, Saugeye (jigging techniques along with rattle reels in ice shelters are popular)
- Trout and Salmon: Trout – Lake, Brook, Brown, Rainbow | Salmon – Chinook, Coho (deep water jigging techniques)
- Prized Fish: Northern Pike (tip-ups, spearing, rattle reels, and even jigging with large minnows)
Whether your governing body is a Game and Fish department or something akin to a Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the state in which you are ice fishing should have limits based on the species of fish you harvest. Not only daily harvest limits, but restrictions on the size of fish you can keep. So, it is important to read up on your rules and regulations so you are not in violation while out on the ice.
In some cases, there might not even be a winter season for some of these fish, but “catch-and-release” is legal for the sport of fishing. Again, be sure to read a state’s rules and regs so you are not in violation of anything while fishing.
Additional Tips to Enhance Your Ice Fishing Experience
A few other pointers to ensure your outing goes as best as possible can be summed up with respect, patience, technology, and the weather. As with fishing on open water in the summer, don’t pile right on top of another person’s spot. It is inconsiderate, and in certain parts of the country, you might get your teeth knocked in. Secondly, remain patient while fishing. They aren’t going to jump out of the lake straight into your bucket. It is going to be work, but it should be enjoyable. Also, if you want to spend the extra money on it, certain technology like fish locators, underwater cameras, and sonar products can increase your odds of catching more fish. Finally, watch the weather. The last thing you will want while ice fishing is getting stranded on a lake during a blizzard.
Conclusion
It might be daunting to go ice fishing for the first time if you have never done it before, but with a small investment and some pre-planning, you might pick up an entirely new hobby that you enjoy! Embrace the adventure of going out into the cold and pulling a massive fish out of a frozen lake! It can be an incredibly rewarding experience and something that you eventually pass on down to your own children.
As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below along with any tips and tricks you might have to share with other greenhorn ice fishermen. We always appreciate your feedback.
