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Ice Fishing: How to Start ice Fishing

Ice fishing is fun leisure activity that is moderately challenging. The sport involves using basic fishing tool to catch fish in an opened hole in the ice. The angle uses lines, hooks or spear to catch fish.

The process is simple find a suitable spot, cut a hole in the ice 8 inches diameter use the rod and bate. Another method is using a trap to catch the fish. Ice fishing trips involve staying at popular resort close to fishing grounds.

Others are fishing expeditions with accommodation in different shelters. Common shelters are either temporary or permanent like simple shack, fish house or heated structures. Popular fishing locations include Lake Chaplain in Vermont or Lake Michigan.

Ice Fishing: How to Start ice Fishing

Types of Fishing

There are different types of fishing techniques. We have spearfishing, flounder tramping, noodling. Others are bottom fishing, fly fishing, ice fishing, kite fishing and angling. More include trapping, netting, electrofishing, cormorant fishing.

Electrofishing is when electricity is applied to stun fish while cormorant fishing is an ancient practice using a bird to fish. Trapping fishing is self-explanatory however kite fishing deploys a kite to carry line and hook.

Fly fishermen use artificial fly to attract the fish much different from fishing from a float tube. Ice fishing simply means fishing through hole in ice while an angler uses basic bate, hook and line.

Types of Fish

Most ice fishing is done on frozen body of water. The body of water geographical location and marine life determines the type of fish in the lake. Popular fish caught are trout, crappie, and largemouth bass. Others include sunfish, pike, yellow perch, walleye.

Things to Consider

There are a few things to consider before setting out on fishing expedition. Make sure to pack the right gear, good fishing equipment and follow proper safety tip.

Be Safe

Safety is the number one concern in ice fishing because a mistake can cost your life. The main concern is weak ice, getting stranded because of fast winds. Others are cracked ice including the weather and clod frigid water.

Depending on the mode of transportation to point of fishing it is important to test the ice. Make sure the ice strength or thickness can support a full sized truck 40cm ice, light vehicle 30cm, sled 15cm, walking 10cm. find out ice condition from experts in the area or test with a cordless drill or chisel.

Safety Gear

Proper safety gear includes tapered blade, heavy steel bar and ice spud. Definitely pack warm cloths, whistle, knotted rope attached to buoy, boot with metal cleats. Protect ices from glare with goggles, wear hand gloves, hoody, waterproof boots.

Fishing gear

Fishing gear include cooler, bucket, bate, backpack, thermos. Pack fishing reel, rods, traps, bright colored lure, chisel, auger and saw. Other equipment to consider are skimmer, axe, heater, plastic tip-ups, fishing line, hooks, net, and spear or sonar units. Sonar is the modern method used in tracking the fish and lake depth.

Bate

The Type of fish determines the best bate for the catch. Crappie, wax worms, shiner minnows, fat heads. Others include grub worms, power bait, small minnows, red worms, mealworms.

How to Start ice Fishing

Before you start ice fishing there are serious safety precautions to consider. You need to know the thickness of the ice, safety gear and best fishing grounds. To find best locations you need a local guide or groups fishing.

An amateur should never ice fish alone you can go in pairs or a group. Always remain aware of changing weather, winds and thickness of the ice to remain safe. First step in ice fishing is check gear then find a good water body next use specialized equipment to dig 8cm diameter hole. Next attach bate on hook and cast line in hole.

Methods of ice fishing

There are two ways to ice fish, two methods of line fishing. Two ways to fish is via a fishing line or trap cage. Line fishing involves bate, hook, fishing line in water hole to catch fish. Trap cage system is placing the trap near surface of hole.


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