The Beginner’s Guide to Ice Fishing

The long cold winters are incredibly brutal. Many normal activities become unpleasant or even impossible. Escaping to warm climates is not within everyone’s budget. For some it’s a period of time to stay indoors, watch Netflix and keep warm.

Or you can embrace the cold winter. There is the awesome activity known as ice fishing. Fishing is fun and there is a way to keep doing it even as water becomes solid. In the northern parts of the world, the ice can be frozen from three to six months of the year. That gives us plenty of time to enjoy this sport. The best part about it is that it’s not an overly costly activity to get into.

Though like any other hobby, it can be daunting for beginners. While it’s not overly difficult to get into, the amount of choices can feel overwhelming. I see beginners ask how they can get started on forums and Facebook groups. I have ice fished for over a decade, many mistakes were made (and are still being made). So in this article, I will show you how you can break into the sport of ice fishing. I can’t say I can steer you to exact products but I can provide the approach to buy what fits your needs.

Safety

While ice is very strong, it can be weak especially early and late season or in running water. Falling through the ice is definitely no fun.

If you are new to the sport, the best thing to wait until other people have gone on. Generally local social media groups, forums and your local bait shop are a good way to know if it’s safe.

In general, winter is a harsh season that can kill people. Sometimes there are strong winds, extreme cold and icy roads. As fun as fishing can be, do consider that no fish is worth a life.

Getting Onto the Ice

One of the best things about ice fishing is that getting onto the water is relatively easy. There is no barrier to entry like boat ownership. Getting on by foot and pulling a toboggan is the easiest way to travel when there are short distances. It’s cheap and we all have to do it at some point when the ice is thin.

Many people take their vehicles out on the ice to travel long distances. However unless there’s a ploughed road or completely bare ice (which is pretty rare), cars should be left on the shore. A 4wd truck or SUV with good clearance and winter tires will work unless the snow gets too deep. While the lakes are driveable, it’s better to travel in groups to support each other with straps and shovels. Getting stuck alone can potentially be fatal, try not to risk it if possible.

There are other specialized methods of transport like snowmobiles, snowdogs, side-by-sides and quads. All have their time to shine but as they are a bit more advanced, I would prefer to discuss this elsewhere in a separate topic.

Dressing Warm

Proper clothing is something that you should invest in. Being cold really takes away from the experience, it nearly turned me off ice fishing back in the day when I didn’t know how to dress warm. As anglers we are very stationary so it is hard to keep the blood flowing.

Everything from your feet to your head requires a lot of care. I would highly recommend visiting your local retailer to obtain a good set of winter outerwear and boots. You can get by with regular winter clothing at first but it does become inadequate as it lacks padding, durability and waterproofness. At the very least, I would recommend that your boots be of good quality with wool socks. I will say most people who do get serious about ice fishing will tend to upgrade their outerwear, especially when fishing outside the shack.

Keep in mind that if you are working hard like lifting or pulling heavy loads, take off your jacket. It’s better to be a little cold than sweating.

The Auger

The hand auger seems like an economical choice but if the ice is too thick, it’s highly inadequate. So you will need a power auger.

Although gas augers were once common, electric augers have taken over and are widely sold in stores today. They are nearly plug and play plus there is no special maintenance required. They can actually drill way more holes on one battery than what the average angler needs in a day.

There are cordless drill setups out there as well you happen to own a cordless drill. While they work they may lack the power needed for the colder climates. They tend to struggle with 10″ holes as well.

A decision that has to made is the hole size. For your average angler, 8″ works in most situations. If you happen to be in an area with really big fish, you may want to consider the 10″ hole.

Just remember that when drilling through thick ice, lift the auger out of the hole periodically to remove some shavings. By accumulating too many shavings in the hole, your auger might get stuck and removing it will be a pain.

The Shack

A shack makes fishing way more comfortable. It keeps you warm and keeps your hole and lines ice free with a heater. I would say the shack is the purchase that made me love ice fishing.

It’s highly recommended that you visit a retailer to get a feel for pop-up shacks. In the winter, the stores will have shacks set up for you to try out. It all depends on the number of people who will fish with you. Do not rely completely on the manufacturer’s capacity recommendation, you will have lots of gear to fit in the shack as well as the possibility of two holes per angler.

There is the decision to get insulated or non-insulated. Insulated shacks are warmer and require less fuel to heat but are heavier to carry. I would generally recommend the insulated but if you’re in warmer climates, it may not be as big of a factor.

Remember to peg down your shack. I’ve personally seen shacks fly far and it’s not pleasant chasing one down. Sometimes they need to be pegged with a strap to prevent the wind from collapsing the side. You can also further insulate a shack by piling snow on the skirt of the shack (use dry snow only though).

Permanent shacks are nice and comfortable but lack portability and are costly. If you do frequent only one body of water and have the means to transport it, it could be an option.

Heaters

A heater in a shack really makes the sport comfortable. Typically outdoor propane heaters are commonly used. There are many types of heaters but generally you want a heater that is capable of heating your shack. Larger shacks in colder climates necessitate bigger heaters. Heaters have a BTU (British Thermal Unit) rating that indicate the output.

The most commonly used heaters are the sunflower heater and the Buddy heaters. Sunflowers are cheap and portable but are noisy and have no low oxygen shutoff. Buddy heaters tend to take up more space and are more pricey but have the low oxygen shutoff and are quiet. They also have built-in electrical fans to distribute heat evenly.

Keep in mind that carbon monoxide poisoning is always a risk when using a heater in an enclosed area. Every year people die while ice fishing from CO poisoning. Keep your vents open to allow for air flow. I recommend watching this video by Clayton Schick Outdoors to see the effects of a heater in an enclosed area.

Setups and Lures

This is where ice fishing gets really complicated. The reality is ice fishing is different across all regions and species. I treat ice fishing like a game of golf, bringing an entire case of different rods for different needs. You always want setups that match the targeted species. I actually wrote an post on this topic in depth which may be useful.

This is where research needs to be done. The internet is great way to learn. Going to your local tackle store allows you to talk to retail employees and you can actually compare rods in person. It can be difficult to do online shopping with zero experience.

Electronics

One thing that people absolutely love about ice fishing is that electronics are very powerful. Being completely stationary allows sonar to focus directly onto your lure unlike boat fishing. This essentially makes fishing an arcade game. While it’s not essential, sonar devices greatly increase the ability to catch a fish. Being able to see a fish relative to your lure helps you understand their behavior and allows you to make adaptations.

This is an expensive commitment and can be pretty daunting with all the different options. I suggest reading this post to understand the different types of electronics used in ice fishing.

Miscellaneous Gear

In addition to all the big purchases, there are lots of little purchases that make the day go a lot better. Here are a list of things you definitely want to pack:

• Ice scoop
• Rod holders
• Fillet knife
• Pliers
• Measuring device
• Heat packs
• Chairs
• Storage Buckets
• Food (and extras in case of an emergency)
• Phone charger and power bank
• Shovels
• Tow Straps (it’s winter, anything can happen)
• Pail for storage

Care of Fish

Unlike open water there are things that you need to be aware about when handling fish.

If you choose to take a picture of a fish outdoors, the cold can actually freeze a fish’s eyes. This is fine if you intend to keep the fish but large trophy fish that may appear to swim away fine will be blinded for the rest of its life and will die.

If you do want to take pictures, do it in a shack if it’s extremely cold. Even if it’s not too cold, it’s a good practice to dip the fish in the water to keep the eyes wet. Never let the fish lay on the ice for extended periods of time.

Etiquette

There is somewhat of an unwritten code of conduct that takes time to learn. Even I have made mistakes in the past.

Always keep your distance from other anglers. It can be tricky to judge but you eventually learn what acceptable distances are. Most people who fish prefer to have peace and quiet. On a big body of water, setting up beside someone where there are many places to go can be seen as rude.

Though just because anglers want solitude doesn’t mean they are unfriendly. Outdoorspeople will always depend on the kindness of a total stranger at some point. Mechanical failure or poor judgement can absolutely ruin someone’s day. Maybe their auger doesn’t start. Maybe they rolled into a ditch. If you see someone in need of help, offer assistance. Sometimes it can be a life or death situation. One day you will be the recipient of help. When everyone helps each other out, it gives a good image to our sport and in turn makes for a better society.

Learning Resources

As much as I believe its a double edged sword, local social media groups are an important resource. This helps you know ice conditions or any other important updates in your region.

Any media you can get your hands on is good. Books, articles, YouTube videos and magazines can provide hours of material. Chances are your local area has some personalities and YouTubers. A bit of a plug here but I do write on the sport of ice fishing from time to time. Use the Blog page and search the different categories under the ice fishing section.

If you have any friends who already ice fish, going with them is a great way to learn the sport without having to do upfront investments. There is really nothing like first hand experience.

They are infrequent but ice fishing trade shows should be attended if possible. You can connect with local experts and vendors pretty easily. Plus you can learn about all the gear you need and actually speak to product representatives. You might even get some good deals on the gear.

Get Out There!

It can be a bit of a daunting sport but it is like that with every hobby in the beginning. However once you’re set, you’ll be like a snowball rolling down the hill.

My first years ice fishing were full of mistakes. Yours will likely have some as well. However with time and perseverance, you will have some fun memories on the ice with friends and family. Plus you will not need to stay indoors or escape to warmer climates to get the most out of your winter.