Quick Introduction to Ice Fishing
I have never been a great devotee of winter time weather and as such I haven’t leaped at the opportunity to engage in ice fishing. The dilemma that I foresee is that as a survivalist I must be prepared for any types of situation even if these circumstances happen to occur in the middle of winter. I have tried to provide the reader with a short introduction to ice fishing.
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As always I decided that the best course of action was to first research the art of ice fishing prior to actually trying it. From all the information that I had gathered it only made good since that you had to select the proper gear necessary for your venture into ice fishing to be successful.
I would recommend a separate bug out bag dedicated for the winter ice fishing. Why keep it in your BOV during the summer. That would make no sense what so ever. You will want to ensure that in the winter fishing BOB you select and pack the proper equipment for the task.
The first and most important item you will require is warm clothing. I once skied in the Swiss Alps and never felt the cold because it was a dry type of cold however; you can not rely upon a dry cold in America so make sure your clothing is appropriate for the task at hand. You will require some hand warmers and gloves as when it is time to grab that fish out of the icy water your hands are going to get really cold. Next, you will require some insulated boots to keep your feet warm. You may also consider snow shoes for that added traction on the ice. If you purchase your boots a little larger then needed you can wear two pairs of socks which is an old trick to keep your feet warmer.
A point I would like tio mention at this time is that you must not make your feet so warm that they start to sweat as they will only begin to freeze at that point. Take extra socks with you as you never know when you will get your socks wet. Don’t take a chance.
It now comes time to determine the actual fishing equipment that you will require. You will require several ice fishing rods that are actually shorter then normal fishing rods. They should be equipped with 4 to 8 pound test line on each reel.
Now let’s talk bait. Minnows and worms tend to work the best although some spoons and jigs will help on occasion. Bring extra hooks in the event you need them. Be sure to bring bobbers if you can’t tell when the fish strikes the line. I like to keep a pair of needle nose pliers in my tackle box to help remove the hooks or to cut the line if need be. You will find an ice scoop to be very useful to remove excess ice from the hole you are cutting with your ice saw.
Don’t forget that the ice gets very cold so you will need something to sit on while you are fishing. Many people like to use a large basket making use of the inside space for their gear. As in any activity there is an endless supply of gear you can take with you to make life just a little better on that ice. This equipment can ranges from fish finders to a fishing hut. Don’t underestimate the fishing hut and a small heater to take that chill off of you while fishing. Other nice to haves would include cheated shoes for easy ice walking, LED flashlights or lanterns, Matches or lighters, sunglasses and for safety something to check the thickness of the ice.
Should you be planning a complete day trip then make certain to include food and drink in your supply list.
Copyright @2008 Joseph Parish
