ICE FISHING

AUGERS:

ICE AUGERS MAKE DRILLING A WHOLE IN THE ICE VERY EASY. AUGER SIZES RANGE FROM 4 TO 10 INCHES. THE SMALLER FISH TARGETED THE SMALLER THE HOLE. A SMALLER HOLE IS EASIER TO DRILL.

CHEAP- GO ICE FISHING WITH A FELLOW ICE ANGLER WHO HAS AN ICE AUGER.

MODEST- HAND AUGERS COME IN TWO VARIETIES REGULAR BLADES & LAZER. LAZER BLADES DRILL FASTER AND CAN DRILL THROUGH OLD HOLES WITHOUT DULLING THE BLADES.

EXPENSIVE- POWER AUGERS USE AN ELECTRIC OR GAS MOTOR TO POWER THE BLADES THROUGH ICE IN A HURRY. YOU CAN DRILL MORE HOLES AND EXPLORE MORE HARD WATER OR HANDLE DRILLING VERY THICK ICE.

BOOTS:

YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE TO HAVE FUN FISHING.

MODEST- USE SOME BOOTS YOU HAVE & PURCHASE INSULATED SOCKS.

EXPENSIVE- INSULATED PACK BOOTS ARE SOOO COMFORTABLE IF YOU SPEND TIME IN THE WINTER WEATHER AND THEY SAVE YOUR REGULAR FOOTWEAR FROM THE SALT.

CAMERAS:

UNDER WATER CAMERAS ARE A NEW TOOL TO SEE WHAT FISH ARE ACTUALLY UNDER THE ICE AND ANY COVER.

EXPENSIVE- ALL CAMERAS WORK UNDER THE ICE. LOOK FOR PORTABLITY AND A GOOD HOOD SO YOU CAN SEE THE MONITOR IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.

CLEATS:

ICE IS HARD STUFF AND IF YOU FALL ON IT IT'S EVEN HARDER.

MODEST- ICE CLEATS FIT OVER YOUR BOOTS WHEN THE ICE IS SLICK AND GIVE YOU MOBILITY WITHOUT WORRY.

CLOTHING:

UNDERWEAR, HATS, HOODS, COATS, COVERALLS, GLOVES, SOCKS, CHAPS KEEP YOU WARM AND DRY WHICH IS A MUST.

CHEAP- USE WHAT YOU OWN IN SEVERAL LAYERS- LONG JOHNS, WOOL SHIRTS, PANTS, RAIN WEAR

MODEST- PURCHASE A GOOD SET OF INSULATED BIBS.

EXPENSIVE- INSULATED COVERALLS W/ HOOD, INSULATED SOCKS, INSULATED GLOVES HEY, WE LIVE IN CHICAGO!!!

DEPTHFINDER:

FINDS THE BOTTOM ,WHAT COVER IS PRESENT AND FISH.

CHEAP- LEAD PLUMMET WILL FIND BOTTOM, USE JIG HEAD TO FIND WEEDS.

MODEST- PURCHASE ENTRY LEVEL LCD SONAR OR PURCHASE A PORTABLE SETUP FOR SONAR YOU USE IN OPEN WATER.

EXPENSIVE- A FLASHER SONAR SETUP FOR ICE FISHING IS MANY TIMES MORE EFFICIENT. YOU CAN WATCH FISH COME UP TO YOUR BAIT- WHAT A GAS! IT CAN ALSO BE ADAPTED FOR BOAT USE.

FLOATS:

SMALL FLOATS ARE USEFUL IN DEEP WATER.

ICE RODS & REELS:

SMALL SPINNING REELS WORK WELL COMBINED WITH SPECIALLY DESIGNED ICE RODS. THE RODS ARE 12 TO 30 INCHES LONG SO THEY CAN BE USED INSIDE AN ICE TENT. SMALL BAITCASTER REELS WORK WELL ALSO. PICK A LIGHT ACTION ROD FOR PAN FISH, HEAVIER ACTION FOR TROUT OR TOOTHY CRITTERS.

JIGS:
ICE JIGS ARE VERY SMALL TO SIMULATE WINTER PREY AND SLOW THE DROP RATE OF BAIT. LARGER SPOONS AND JIGS WITH ATTRACTORS ABOVE ARE EFFECTIVE FOR LARGER FISH.

SKIMMERS:
ICE SKIMMER IS USED TO REMOVE ICE CRYSTALS FROM THE HOLE. PLASTIC SKIMMERS DON'T FREEZE UP. IF YOUR USING YOUR SKIMMER EVERY FEW MINUTES TO KEEP THE HOLE OPEN IT'S TIME TO GET IN THE ICE TENT.

SLEDS:

SLEDS ARE USED TO CARRY ALL THE STUFF WE ARE WANT TO USE WHILE ICE FISHING. THEY SLIDE EASILY ON SNOW AND MAKE YOU MORE MOBILE.

TENTS:
WHEN IT GETS WINDY AND COLD THE ICE SHELTER IS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. THE SIZE DEPENDS ON HOW FRIENDLY AND MOBLE YOU WANT TO BE. A SMALL QUICK SETUP TENT IS BEST WHEN YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR THE HOT SPOT.