Winter Fishing Gear To Prepare For the Season
When winter arrives, fishing doesn't end. In fact, winter is generally the only season when you get the opportunity to ice fish. Reeder-Trausch Marine Indy takes a look at some essential winter fishing equipment.
Ice Fishing vs. Regular Fishing
The biggest difference between ice fishing and regular fishing is that the former requires you to go out onto an iced-over lake and drill a hole in the ice. This is done by using an auger and then maintaining the hole by clearing away slush as you drop the line and hook into the water.
Anglers then sit or stand over the exposed hole and wait. As you might imagine, this is a pretty cold activity, so proper warm clothing and/or a shelter are musts. Ice fishing can be as simple or as complex as you're up for. It all depends on your gear, experience, and preferences.
What Are Ice Fishing Rods?
Ice fishing rods are quite different from most regular fishing rods. The main difference is that they're much shorter, since you can't really cast with them like a normal pole. Technically, you can use almost any rod for ice fishing, but rods made specifically for ice fishing are light, short, and very flexible. They're usually about two to four feet long with a standard spinning reel that releases line quickly with a convenient lever. Ice fishing reels are also small due to the fact that most ice fishing occurs at a fairly shallow depth, and the fish don't make long runs in icy water.
What Kind of Line is Good for Ice Fishing?
Fishing in cold weather can cause lines to freeze, so it's important to choose a line that stacks neatly with resistance to tangles. Braided lines are a popular choice because they unravel evenly and are quite thin, which means your reel can also hold more. When you're fishing in deep water, a braided line has a big advantage. Monofilament and fluorocarbon lines also work well. Look for softer lines with low memory as they perform better than stiff lines in freezing temperatures.
What Bait Should You Use for Ice Fishing?
You can use artificial bait for ice fishing, but real bait tends to work better due to the stronger scent. Fish can be sluggish in the winter, and the scent factor of real bait stands a better chance of attracting their attention. Some popular options include earthworms, PowerBait, salmon eggs, minnows, and cut bait. For cut bait, go with some type of stinky fish meat like suckers, which are loved by pike and lake trout.
When you don't have bait, you can still use lures if you look for ones that are in a vertical form. Some options include small jig heads with feathers, or knife jigs for larger species like walleye and pike.
More Essential Ice Fishing Gear to Consider
Technically, all you need is some combination of the above items to have a productive ice fishing outing. However, you may want to consider additional gear for comfort and convenience. An auger is a necessary tool to drill holes in the ice. You can get them in hand-powered or gas/electric. An ice scoop is then used to maintain the hole and keep it from filling with slush.
Some additional technology, like a fish finder, tie-ups, an ice house, and a sled, is also great. Tie-ups give you hands-free fishing, while fish finders help you go to where the fish are. Meanwhile, ice houses provide shelter, and a sled is perfect for delivering everything to and from your hole.
Find out more about winter fishing and boating at Reeder-Trausch Marine Indy.
