Ice Fishing 101

[wademaster1]

Just got back from Ohio Tuesday and done some fishing there. I'm going back in January most likely to do some ice fishing but don't know the first thing about it. I know most of us are probably clueless about this topic but i was hoping maybe some of you have ventured into the ice fishing world at some point in your lives. I know i need to get a rod designed for ice fishing (shorter) but thats about the extent of my knowledge. I need help on bait and or jigs, what types of line to use so the sharp ice won't damage it and also about drilling a hole through the ice to fish out of. Any and all help will be appreciated here. Thanks alot and good fishing to all of you

[ww2farmer]

I ice fish alot, just saying you plan to go "ice fishin" tells me little, so I can help you little. What are you going to be be targetting? I mainly fish for panfish. So my equipment recomendations for that would not be suitable if you were going for pike, or walleye, or trout. The BARE ESSENTIALS that you need for any fish you target on the ice are an auger, I use a 5" hand powered one for panfish, but bigger fish need bigger holes, a set of ice creepers for the bottom of your boots, ice is slippery, and commen sense. Know when to NOT go out on the ice.

[SuskyDude]

Here's a tip that might seem obvious but is very often ignored: Dress WARM.

Especially your feet. Make sure you wear water proof boots that are large enough to wear one or two pairs of thick wool socks.

Bring more than one pair of gloves so you can change them as they get wet/frozen.

Trilene and other companies make special "ice lines", though I've used regular mono and it works just fine. Whatever you use, it has to have good abrasion resistance.

What baits/lures/rods you use will depend on what you are fishing for.

[wademaster1]

being my first ice adventure i just wanna catch "something" and be at least somewhat successful, i've chosen an ice fishing line and have those stretchable traction things for the bottoms of my boots; got the clothing down pat; need a rod and jigs or lures or baits now; but as far as species i'm not picky at all at this point; and i'm not planning on going out on the ice unless i see other folks out there too; thanks

[SuskyDude]

Well for perch and bluegills, tiny jigs tipped with mousies or grubs are hard to beat. For crappie, dots tipped with fathead minnows or rosies. If your going for walleye, jigging Rapalas tipped with a fathead. For pike, a large shiner or sucker minnow on a circle hook with a steel leader.

As far as rods go, ultra light for panfish, medium for walleye, and meadium heavy and up for pike. Everyone has they're own preferences in rod power and length, though.

And if you got the extra cash to throw around, invest in a good flasher. Marcum or Vexilar. It will really cut down on the amount of time you'lll spend looking for active fish, and will help you get more bites from inactive fish.

Oh yeah, and a sled to haul all this crap is also VERY helpful.

[RyneB]

get yourself a dozen or so tear drop ice jigs in "glow" color. Then google Maki Plastics and get yourself A LOT of the original Maki in white, pink, and chart. Drop it to the bottom, then slowly jig it. After a few minutes, reel a few cranks and jig it. Do that until you work it back to the hole. It catches everything that swims. Bluegills love them, but i have caught many bass, catfish, crappie and walleye on this tactic.