Many people cannot resist the temptation of ice fishing due to the exciting experiences associated with this recreational activity. However, ice fishing has its own risks, making it more dangerous than many other hobbies.
Therefore, bear in mind some necessary instructions and tips before jumping right into this hobby. Instead of fretting too much, take a deeper look at this ice fishing guide to get your mind across.
Contents
Best Places For Ice Fishing
Choosing a good place is an essential factor you need to bear in mind when ice fishing. There are many places to make the most of the experience when going ice fishing.
Spots near underwater rock formations or along the steepest shoreline are the best places for ice fishing. This is because bigger fish tend to move along these spots to catch prey, especially during the early morning and the sunset. Therefore, targeting schools of fish near these spots is your safest bet.
Inlets and outlets also make for great spots teeming with fish. Make your mind clear that during early ice, fish tend to feed precisely where they arrive just before the water freezes. Then, during mid-winter, they will move into deeper water to keep their body warm.
Therefore, finding them under cover of ice is like finding a needle in a haystack. You should mark and remember these spots before the winter to make it easier to find them once the ice forms.
Ice Fishing Gears
Ice fishing is a far cry from your regular fishing. Therefore, your ice fishing gear essentials will differ as well. Here are some gears you need to take along with:
- Rods: Rods specifically designed for ice fishing are typically smaller than their traditional counterparts.
- Line
- Lures
- Jigs
- Hooks
Remember to bring all of these essentials; otherwise, your ice fishing trip will be out of the question.
Equipment Required For Ice Fishing Safety
Although ice fishing is fun, you must prioritize your safety first. Staying safe on the ice requires more safety items than you have thought.
The most critical safety item is your outfit. People with no fishing experience on the ice often dress exactly the same way they would for walking in the cold or skiing in the snow, which may expose them to potential risks.
You need to sit or stand quietly on the ice for solid hours; therefore, you will be frozen if you don’t take it into account and dress a little warmer. Moreover, pay attention to keep your feet warm by wearing footwear.
On the other hand, don’t overdo your warm clothes. Wearing too many clothes will make you end up sweating, which increases your risk of getting sick. The excitement of fishing depends comparatively on your right outfits.
Under any circumstances, you should take an emergency throw rope. This rope is specially designed to rescue people by keeping it free from tangles and adding weight.
You should also bring a life vest to help yourself float when falling into water so that someone can see and pull you out of the freezing water.
It will be better to take along a GPS device with you when you go ice fishing. Then, if an emergency happens, a GPS device can help others find you faster.
Ice Fishing Tips For Beginners
There are some tips you need to take into consideration if you want the experience from ice fishing will hook you for life:
Don’t go ice fishing alone
Even if you have a lot of experience in open water fishing, it is dangerous to take part in this activity alone. Instead, try to go with a more experienced friend or a guide. It will be better to invest time and effort to befriend a local angler.
Remember that going ice fishing means that you are venturing into a harsh environment. You can fall into the freezing water even with one wrong step. Having somebody there to pull you out of water will protect you from unexpected danger. Moreover, you’ll have an opportunity to improve your skills just by watching them.
Have a proper understanding of the ice
Keep in mind that the ice with acceptable thickness will be the only thing that protects you from the freezing waters. It is proved that solid ice at least 4 inches thick can support you when you’re fishing.
However, when it comes to white ice, it requires twice as thick as what solid ice offers to provide support. Another vital thing to notice is making sure to check the thickness of the ice you’re standing on whenever you want to move from one location to the next.
It would be best if you put in a lot of time and practice to research the ice before going ice fishing.
Be patient
Everything takes time. Many people will be eager to catch as many fish as possible on their first ice fishing to have something to remember and brag about to their friends. This is entirely understandable.
However, ice fishing requires a lot of patience, let alone you still do not have much experience in this field. Therefore, many people sacrifice their free time and holidays, but their effort bears no fruit.
So don’t get discouraged and give up if you have no success in catching anything on your first try of ice fishing. Instead, exert your best to improve your skills, and the time for trophies will come later.
Here is a video about “How to Ice Fish” you can make a reference.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, ice fishing is not as tricky as what many people bear in mind. Therefore, follow our ice fishing guide strictly, and you will realize that this hobby provides you a more memorable adventurous experience.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you are full of beans to start ice fishing right away. Also, remember to put safety first to make the most of your experience.
