Getting into it for the first time this winter. Bought an auger, 2 person Clam shelter and heater on craiglist. would love to hear any trips from HROT fishing veterans.
ice fishing
- Thread starter General Tso
- Start date
Start shallow after first ice, gradually move out deeper as the season progresses, then back shallow towards late ice. Be willing to move and don’t stay in a single spot too long if they aren’t biting.
Most importantly, be safe! Buy some ice cleats for your boots (much easier and safer to walk), and a lanyard with spikes to wear around your neck, as they’ll help you pull yourself out in the event you break through the ice. There isn’t a fish in the world worth dying for, except maybe a 60” muskie.
Lastly, bring a radio and/or some booze because sometimes ice fishing can be really slow. Good luck.
Most importantly, be safe! Buy some ice cleats for your boots (much easier and safer to walk), and a lanyard with spikes to wear around your neck, as they’ll help you pull yourself out in the event you break through the ice. There isn’t a fish in the world worth dying for, except maybe a 60” muskie.
Lastly, bring a radio and/or some booze because sometimes ice fishing can be really slow. Good luck.
Keep your line twist from getting too bad. In my experience, if your jig is spinning, the fish will often just sit there and watch it.
I usually don't go out until I can drive on the ice. Fishing about 30-40' deep water a Vexilar or Marcum is pretty helpful but not a necessity.
I'm waiting for it to warm up before I go.
Congrats! I’m doing it as well. Except replace “ice fishing” with “drinking more coconut vodka by the pool”.
I also would recommend a flasher to help locate the fish. There is a big difference in success rate when fishing with one. Also, get a nice propane heater and I would recommend a floater suit (both bibs and coat) for safety.
https://www.scheels.com/p/vexilar-f...P_PKn12uBLPORihwN17Q33gfJ3h92i9hoCd0AQAvD_BwE
https://www.scheels.com/p/mens-icea...AJmwFFkVPXARtEsnEV2p4oiknAx6sGWBoC_AUQAvD_BwE
https://www.scheels.com/p/vexilar-f...P_PKn12uBLPORihwN17Q33gfJ3h92i9hoCd0AQAvD_BwE
https://www.scheels.com/p/mens-icea...AJmwFFkVPXARtEsnEV2p4oiknAx6sGWBoC_AUQAvD_BwE
I see you already have some gear, but the first thing I would buy is a flasher. Vexilar, humminbird and marcum make good units. Check out Facebook marketplace and buy a used one to get started. I started with a marcum LX-3 and had no complaints. Now run a Garmin 93sv with panoptix. Panoptix/livescope is a game changer. I like watching fishing shows on YouTube as well and can pick up on a ton of good tips. Jay Siemens, Clayton schick, in-depth outdoors are my favorites.
Lot of good advice so far.
I would add keep safety top of mind. Get a spud and use it religiously. Especially early ice, late ice, lakes known for gas pockets, watch for and know where the moving water is. Buddy system, 100' rope.
Cabela's Ice Chisel | Cabela's
"Cabela's Ice Chisel | Cabela's" https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cab...WZkL6V_xcLH2nzh-08BoCPhsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
A flotation suit is a good piece of mind. Check it out.
IceArmor by Clam Rise Float Ice-Fishing Bibs for Men | Cabela's
"IceArmor by Clam Rise Float Ice-Fishing Bibs for Men | Cabela's" https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ice...JHTs8m3hfHfT8hpQ0kxoCf_EQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Precautions are the difference between life or death. 911 will only send divers to recover....
That being said its a safe and fun sport if you play it smart 100% of the time. Heck of a work out too so make sure you are in shape. Dragging shanty on off the ice, drilling holes and running and gunning for the bite is like football practice.
I would add keep safety top of mind. Get a spud and use it religiously. Especially early ice, late ice, lakes known for gas pockets, watch for and know where the moving water is. Buddy system, 100' rope.
Cabela's Ice Chisel | Cabela's
"Cabela's Ice Chisel | Cabela's" https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cab...WZkL6V_xcLH2nzh-08BoCPhsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
A flotation suit is a good piece of mind. Check it out.
IceArmor by Clam Rise Float Ice-Fishing Bibs for Men | Cabela's
"IceArmor by Clam Rise Float Ice-Fishing Bibs for Men | Cabela's" https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ice...JHTs8m3hfHfT8hpQ0kxoCf_EQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Precautions are the difference between life or death. 911 will only send divers to recover....
That being said its a safe and fun sport if you play it smart 100% of the time. Heck of a work out too so make sure you are in shape. Dragging shanty on off the ice, drilling holes and running and gunning for the bite is like football practice.
Gosh we went ice fishing all the time without this emphasis on safety (more use of common sense). I think it's probably a lot riskier 30 years later now that I'm not a kid due to global warming.
Don't fish near open water
If someone drilled a hole earlier then the ice is thick enough to be on.
Etc.
Fished alot in back waters of Mississippi for panfish where water was only 3-5 feet deep under the ice.
Don't fish near open water
If someone drilled a hole earlier then the ice is thick enough to be on.
Etc.
Fished alot in back waters of Mississippi for panfish where water was only 3-5 feet deep under the ice.
- Sep 13, 2002
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Was just thinking - growing up with my dad in Wisconsin - he’d just gun the Blazer out onto the lake, throw a few buckets out of the back and start drilling holes, lol. No spikes, no shelter, no fish finder. Nothing but a hole, a pole and frozen balls, lol.
- Sep 13, 2002
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And now I want to create an ice fishing blog called “A hole, a pole and frozen balls.” 😅
me and my g/f went yesterday.. caught 200 pounds and gave to her parents. Her mom cooked it up and they both drowned. LOL
Id drill her hole. But it would be done in about ten seconds
I have a hand auger and a gas auger. hand is great when ice is 6 inches or less.. when it gets thicker its a pain in the ass. I have a Jiffy 30 (gas). they make several different kinds.. some that you can hook to your car/truck battery.
I’d go propane. Not sure where you’re at exactly but an extension might come in handy if drilling through really thick ice.
Gas, older Jiffy 30. Just got it last Sat from some older dude who went electric. A buddy recommended a cheap hand auger as a backup. I'd love to get an electric someday if get into it.
Start with a 6" hand auger. Buy an adapter to put a 20 volt Dewalt cordless on it.
When the ice gets thick go with a gas (if you want to deal with gas/oil mix) or get a ION cordless.
ION are great as they have aa reverse to push the ice chips down into the hole and under the ice after
cutting the hole.
Have fun and good luck.
Yep. All the backwaters within view (Guttenberg area), didn't see any ice at all and there were quite a few boats out hammering wing dams in the main channel.
I have a hand auger and with good blades have no issues with 12-14". The big advantage a power auger will give you is the ability to move around more and drill a greater number of holes. That can be a big thing especialy when it is slow.
OK folks, this is an old thread, but who’s been ice fishing?
I am back on the bucket after a several year hiatus, and the kids and niece/nephew are pretty into ice fishing this year. Thankfully even the youngest and most impatient kids have been catching keeper bluegills and smallish bass.
We had been going to a nearby lake at a county park, but a basketball tournament brought us to Lansing over the weekend, so we explored the slough just upriver from town. Lots of action. A group near us was slaying the northerns on tipups. Biggest fish was 35”. We’ve been jigging only, but seeing those northerns made me want to catch one so I could pickle it (don’t knock it till you try it). This link has good info and a good recipe for safely pickling wild fish:
https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-fish-safely
I am back on the bucket after a several year hiatus, and the kids and niece/nephew are pretty into ice fishing this year. Thankfully even the youngest and most impatient kids have been catching keeper bluegills and smallish bass.
We had been going to a nearby lake at a county park, but a basketball tournament brought us to Lansing over the weekend, so we explored the slough just upriver from town. Lots of action. A group near us was slaying the northerns on tipups. Biggest fish was 35”. We’ve been jigging only, but seeing those northerns made me want to catch one so I could pickle it (don’t knock it till you try it). This link has good info and a good recipe for safely pickling wild fish:
https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/preserving-fish-safely
Pickled Northern is the bomb diggity....plus you don't have to mess with the Y-Bones as they disintegrate during the pickling process.
We bring Northern home from Canada every year and do this.
And to answer your question, had some buddies go out this weekend and catch a few (just farm ponds), but with the cold snap coming next week should have some good ice for a while.
Shore Slough. Really good place all year, but so much fishing area from March-November it doesn't get a ton of pressure.
Link Fishing report Pool 9
Went last weekend on a city lake in Minneapolis, just did a quick hour in between kid shit. Didn't catch Jack, but folks around us hauled in crappie earlier in the day
