Ice Fishing Minimum Requirements

Okotokian · #1 10-20-2017, 04:20 PM

Soooo... never ice fished, never wanted to. Now I'm thinking it would be nice to not have to put away the hunting/fishing activities for, oh, 5 months that there is snow and ice around here.

I'm not going to rush out and buy a tent, power auger, fancy electronics, sled and something to pull it with, other specialized equipment... at least not all at once right off the bat. What do you consider the "minimum" to have a positive experience and catch a few fish in the first winter? I've got warm clothes and soft water rods and fishing tackle, but nothing else. I'll be honest, not crazy about the idea of drilling 20 holes manually. I'm oooooold. LOL

oh, also, I'm not crazy about driving my truck onto the ice (no experience and it makes me nervous), so I guess I do need some way to get any gear out there. Thanks in advance for any advice!

35 whelen · #2 10-20-2017, 04:24 PM

First thing would be a hand auger and a Pull sleigh or a quad

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RavYak · #3 10-20-2017, 04:49 PM

All you need is an auger, rods/reels if it is nice out. Sled if walking on, chair if you like to sit. Flasher or camera gives you a big advantage and also makes it a lot more enjoyable if fishing is slow. Tent and heater are only important on cold days so if you want to fish every weekend they are necessary imo but if you are willing to settle for every once in a while when the weather is nice can do without.

I had everything but sold it all this year. If I decide to get back into it what I would buy would depend on who I plan on fishing with. If a buddy has a tent and auger all I would probably get is a flasher but if I was on my own or taking someone without gear I would be getting everything again as I find it more enjoyable.

Key is to buy stuff used and on sale. Then when you go to sell it you don't lose much.

HowSwedeItIs · #4 10-20-2017, 04:54 PM

You can definitely be out there and fishing with a hand auger, but if you were going to make one big purchase then a power auger would be the one. We'll have 3 feet of ice most places here and it ain't fun hole hopping when you're drilling by hand. A smaller hand auger (6" as opposed to 8") will be easier to crank

If you're looking for an ice rod you might be tempted to get a combo rod/reel but make sure you read as many reviews as you can, because a lot of the reels on those things are crap and you end up buying a new one anyhow. I just pull the smaller ones off of my summer rods

If you don't want to buy a sled to pull around you can get a 5 gallon bucket to carry everything in, works just fine and it doubles as a seat.

Since you already have lures (and a small tackle box I assume) then a short list could be: auger, ice rod, bucket, ice scoop, and you'll be fine

Timidhc · #5 10-20-2017, 04:57 PM

You can get out with nothing but a hand auger and a rod and catch some fish through the ice!

Smelts or minnows where they are allowed and lures like spoons and jigs with plastics will get you on fish and are probably the most affordable.

You'll be restricted to warm days and get tired of hand drilling holes real quick but it'll get you rolling.

Although I'd recommend a tent or shelter with some form of heating. That will make the experience a lot more enjoyable on anything but a nice, sunny day.

kostianych · #6 10-20-2017, 05:01 PM

Minimum - is a buddy with all the #$&@ for icefishing

calgarygringo · #7 10-20-2017, 05:20 PM

Second that. There are enough ice fishermen on this forum with all the gear you are really not sure about I am sure someone would love to have some extra company for a few trips to figure it out. Get a couple ice rods and put your summer reels on them some warm clothes bait and see if you like.
If you do then sled, tent, good heater, chair, auger, electronics and you can fish as in summer.

Redfrog · #8 10-20-2017, 07:32 PM

You seem like a nice young man for the most part.

I suggest you try to hook up with an experienced guy with the gear. You could invest in a rod/reel or two. I wouldn't get too carried away with tackle until you talk to your new mentor.

If you want to stretch hunting season . you may want to consider calling predators. It can get the adrenalin flowing pretty quickly.

Okotokian · #9 10-23-2017, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgarygringo

There are enough ice fishermen on this forum with all the gear you are really not sure about I am sure someone would love to have some extra company for a few trips to figure it out..

Yeah... it would have to be a really new member. Someone who hasn't read many of my posts.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

neilsledder · #10 10-21-2017, 08:41 AM

Some of those cordless drill augers are just about as much as a power auger.

The basic things have all been mentioned, but I would add a tip up in there to. I caught lots of fish with a tip up! Keep and eye open for sales. My brother bought a power auger at Canadian tire last year for $150ish, it’s not the best kind but it does work good

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Vacation · #11 10-21-2017, 09:06 AM

Hand auger, ladle, snow pants, tackle, rod, blanket, plastic jug and a sled. Walk on the ice with your gear in tow. Dead stick a line from the jug. Lay under the blanket, snow pants and winter gear on and jig away. U can tatally hear the jug being pulled to the hole when u are jigging. That's my old methodsd in my younger years. Now I take way to much crap...not as fun as its a lot of work. Simple is nice.

PerchBuster · #12 10-21-2017, 10:50 AM

Don't forget a good pair of needle nose pliers, spreaders to help remove hooks on Pike and Walleye, Fluorocarbon Leader, and some method to be able to quickly check your depth manually or digitally.

Smiity · #13 10-21-2017, 12:13 PM

I just started ice fishing 2 years ago. The first year i just went out with buddies who had everything and learned from them. Then last year, decided that i loved it so much i bit the bullet and bought everything for myself (except the flasher). Hence this year comes the flasher. The biggest thing i hate is relaying on someone so that's why i bought my own stuff. I can go when and where i want, and also take buddies along that can't afford the toys. If and when my wife gives me grief about buying fishing toys, i tell her that she buys make up/clothes and i don't say a word so don't say anything when i buy my toys lol.

CMichaud · #14 10-21-2017, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

I'm not going to rush out and buy a tent, power auger, fancy electronics, sled and something to pull it with, other specialized equipment... at least not all at once right off the bat.

Of course your not....

TylerThomson · #15 10-21-2017, 10:03 PM

Absolute minimum is a chisel, line and hook. Bait helps to. Ive caught fish while out of town working and getting an unexpected day off with the above on a lake I've never fished before with the only difference being my brother and I got a cheap hand auger rather than as chisel.

If you stick to fishing warmer days you can usually reopen holes from the day before with a swift kick.

Everything else is a bonus. It depends on the level of comfort you want and your budget really. I started with pretty much the above and now have enough stuff to outfit a small village lol. Even with all the electronics and tents and fancy rods and reels you'll still have slow days. Keep an eye on kijiji and get what you can a piece at a time. If it's something you enjoy I doubt you'll ever have enough "stuff"

The Spank · #16 10-22-2017, 05:34 AM

I have always kept an 8” folding hand auger, slush scoop, a few 1’x 2”x 1/4” plywood sticks with concaved ends wrapped with monofilament, a roll of orange flagging tape and a 36” ice rod with spinning reel for jigging in a plastic sleigh I can pull out behind me. Mother nature sometimes provides a nice soft bendable branch for my set lines although I always have a few 1/2”x36” wood dowels and a roll of stove pipe wire to make set line holders with. And I have a couple of the polar tip ups as well.