When winter arrives, the season heats up for ice fishing anglers. Frozen lakes and rivers offer excellent opportunities to catch Perch, Pike, Bass, Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and more. This specialized form of fishing makes it possible to target our favorite game fish species through the coldest months of the year. But you’ll need more than just a rod and reel…
Specialized ice fishing gear is needed to cut through the frozen water and entice that bite. And that’s before we mention tactics! Read on to learn more about the different equipment and methods you’ll need to enjoy the ice fishing season.
What is ice fishing?
The basic act of ice fishing is accomplished by drilling a hole in the ice with an auger. The hole is maintained by clearing slush and debris while dropping a line and hook into the water. Standing or sitting over the exposed hole is common but many anglers add more comfort by erecting shelters over the hole for weather protection.
Ice fishing can be a simple endeavor with minimal equipment or one that uses advanced equipment to find fish, drill holes, and create a very comfortable setting. It all depends on your environment and preference.
That all being said, you should also be aware that ice fishing isn’t possible until the ice is thick enough to safely support the weight of human activity on the surface. There’s a season between the first freeze and the ice fishing season when the ice is thin and dodgy. Experienced anglers know how to probe and test thickness before beginning their season. If you’re new to the sport, wait until you see a few anglers out on the ice before trying yourself!
Ice Fishing Rods
That’s enough of the theory, though. Let’s get into the different gear used for ice fishing. Ice fishing rods are distinct from most other rod categories. As you won’t need to cast while ice fishing, your rods will be much shorter than other spin and casting rods. While you can use any rod for ice fishing, specialized, lightweight, short rods are fun to fish. They’re ultra-flexible and the weight of a fish feels great when you’re hooked up.
Rods typically run 2–4 feet in length with a standard spinning reel or an inline reel with a convenient lever that releases line quickly, along with a drag system for hauling in fish. Like the rods, ice fishing reels are also miniature. Anglers don’t need a large arbor to hold line as most ice fishing happens at a relatively shallow depth. While fish fight hard, they don’t make blitzing runs in the icy waters so you won’t need as much line to land them.
Best Lines for Ice Fishing
Fishing in icy weather can cause lines and other ice fishing gear to freeze up. It’s important to keep your rods and reels dry when you begin fishing. After reeling in and out a few times, however, ice is inevitable. But choosing a line that stacks neatly while having a low propensity to tangle can help here.
Braided lines are excellent for ice fishing because they unravel evenly and have a narrow diameter. This means your reel can hold more line than with monofilament or fluorocarbon. For deeper waters, the braid offers a big advantage.
For most ice fishing situations, monofilament and fluorocarbon lines also work great. Opt for low-memory, softer lines as they’re less brittle and perform better than stiff lines when the temperatures are low.
Ice Fishing Baits
You can catch plenty of fish beneath the ice with artificials but real baits are hard to beat. The scent factor of the real thing is critical for attracting fish in their sluggish winter state. It should come as no surprise, then, that scent-filled bait is most effective.
Worms
The classic nightcrawler is an ice fishing staple. It’s a good idea to cut them down into bite-sized morsels, otherwise, Crappie and Panfish will nibble the worms down without mouthing the hook. Mealworms and maggots are also worth trying. Smaller worms are easier to rig and are especially deadly for Crappie.
Powerbaits and Salmon Eggs
These classic jars of bait are easy to carry and maintain. They have the color, scent, and profile that fish love and can help you catch every species you’ll target beneath the ice. Walleye, Pike, Bass, Crappie, and Trout are all on the table with these simple baits.
Minnows
Keeping live minnows in the cold is difficult. While live minnows are possible, fishing dead minnows is just fine and they function much like cut bait. Check with your local bait shops to see what they have available. Minnow supplies often dwindle in winter as they’re more difficult to catch and store.
Cut Bait
Slice a chunk of meat off any dead fish species and drop it beneath the ice. Sucker meat is extra stinky and Pike and big Lake Trout love to gobble it up. I like to catch suckers during summer and freeze pre-cut slices for the winter season. Just grab a few chunks on your way out the door and rig them on a hook with a weight to start fishing!
Ice Fishing Lures
When baits aren’t an option, lures can be a productive add to your ice fishing gear box. Look for lures that are made to fish in a vertical manner. You won’t have room to cast and retrieve, so the best lures are ones which will stay in the strike zone.
Ice Fishing Jigs
Small jig heads with marabou or feather tails are excellent when Crappie and Perch are present. I love yellow and black or red and white color combinations. You can also run larger jigs for larger species. Meanwhile, tipping jigs with cut bait is a simple way to rig. The combinations of bait, soft plastics, and natural materials make for an endless array of jig fishing options.
Knife Jigs
These have multiple different names and they’re very versatile. Knife-style jigs are a hybrid between a jig and spoon. They work in a cast-and-retrieve style of fishing and in a vertical jigging action. For Pike, Walleye, and other predatory species, these offer an attractive action and profile. Note that they’re sometimes called blender spoons or spoon-shaped jigs.
Standard Spoons
While I prefer jigs and knife jigs, the standard spoon is deadly when fished in a vertical fashion. It seems unconventional but dropping a spoon, bouncing, and even retrieving vertically gets the job done. Some of the larger fish caught through the ice are on spoons, when fished aggressively.
Flies
The ultralight nature of ice fishing rods makes them a good candidate for flies. Bead head flies have enough weight to drop and they’re extra sensitive on the grab. You’ll want to maintain contact with the fly by holding your rod to detect subtle strikes. Flashy bead head flies are great for Trout fishing under the ice, along with Crappie and Perch. Some anglers even look into the hole so they can watch the fish swim and eat their flies.
Other Essential Ice Fishing Gear
Ice fishing has its own set of gear that’s unique to the sport. You can keep it simple or gear up to stay comfortable in extreme conditions. For the hardcore anglers, shelters and warming mechanisms are essential. Staying warm means you’ll stay out longer while still enjoying your time on the ice. Here’s a quick look at some other key ice fishing gear:
- Auger. This is a drill for boring holes in the ice. Hand augers are labor-intensive but they’ll help you warm up while drilling. Gas or electric augers are more popular and faster at drilling holes. If you want to drill multiple holes to explore different spots, it’s nice to have a gas-powered model.
- Ice scoop. After drilling a hole, it will ice up and turn slushy while fishing. You’ll therefore want a scoop – a large spoon to maintain your hole. Scoop out the slush and stir things up to prevent freezing.
- Fish finder/Sonar. Using technology to help locate the fish is a game changer on the ice. Stop guessing and use a fish finder to pin down schools and read depth. Some even come with underwater cameras for a real-time view of the actual fish. Even the most basic models will offer a leg up and they’re well worth the investment.
- Tip-ups. Hands-free fishing anyone? Some tip-ups will integrate with a rod but most function independently. They have a spool and line management mechanism that connects to a flag. When a fish is hooked, the flag pops up and you can retrieve the fish. Make sure to use bait that doesn’t require a rod for control.
- Ice house. You can sit on a bucket or chair out in the open but an ice house is a real game changer. Some anglers build entire shacks over their favorite holes but mobile ice houses make it easy for anyone to have a shelter. These are essentially large tents that use a hub system to erect and collapse with minimal effort. Look for an insulated design and add a heater to really enjoy your time on the ice.
- Sled. With your ice house, auger, rods, and layers of clothing – and additional gear – the weight load adds up. You can drive on some lakes but many require a walk to reach your fishing spots. A sled makes it easy to load and drag everything to your fishing hole.
Get Your Gear and Go Ice Fishing This Winter!
Any angler can get started with an auger, ice fishing rod, and a handful of hooks and jigs. Ice fishing isn’t complicated by any means but it does require dedication to find productive fishing areas in cold weather.
If you stick with the sport, adding a fish finder, ice house, and a small heat system makes a world of difference. Once you crack the code and start catching fish, the addiction will likely set in. Ice fishing is a ton of fun and the quality of meat is exceptional due to the cold water. It’s time you experienced it this winter!
Are you an ice fishing enthusiast? We’d love to hear about your favorite gear and tips. Share away in the comments below!
The post The Best Ice Fishing Gear: A Beginner’s Guide for 2025 appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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