Important Steps to Ice Fishing

Careful preparation and readiness is all that is needed to make ice fishing the best time of your life, or it could be the worst. Just follow these tips and see how to get the smarts, and how to get geared up to catch the fish!

Get all the material in advance

Compose a number of supplies that you used last season and replenish them in advance. Make sure you acquire all the equipment you will need. A couple of words of advice that I would give is, wise up, and take action early!

Check

You should make sure the hole is clean. Bits or clumps of ice could cause tangles in your fishing line. You might even wind up breaking almost all of the ice making it impossible to be able to catch fish, or worse you can crack the ice making it sharp which could cut the line therefore losing the hook and any chance to capture the fish. So always keep your fishing hole as clean as possible.

Bait

The bait that you really need is wriggles wax, minnows, mixed Power Bait and worms. It's best to keep all these different types of bait separated and it is very crucial to keeping the bait nice and fresh so keep it in refrigerators if you purchase your supplies before hand.

Equipment

The ice is cold and brutal, but it does not mean you have to freeze your butt off out there! One of the best ways to stay warm is to build an ice shelter. Shelters should be cleaned out also by putting a light coating of lubricant substance in the joints. If there are any signs of wear or breakage on ice used to build the shelter find another piece. Once again sharp ice can be deadly, and of course it is better to be safe than sorry. Also be sure to have someone else with you this will allow you to use the "buddy system" and life guard each other, make sure to have a safety rope just incase one of you do fall in. Also keep in mind that since you will be dealing with water and cold temperatures frost bite can sneak up on you, so make sure to keep as dry as possible and dress in many layers.

Clean

Audit and straighten out the rods and fishing reels you are going to use. Non-freezing oil for lubricating fishing reels is advisable. Also bring Q-tips they are best for taking out the chips in every nook and cranny of your ice rod.

Warmth

The final and one of the most important things, warmth. Bring heaters with as much propane cylinders as you can pack. Your fishing experience will be horrible if you and your friend are freezing. Fishing is much more enjoyable if you are comfortable and prepared for the adventure.