Now that it’s getting colder, many fishers out there are gearing up to go to their favorite ice fishing spots to chill out and get a couple of good catches. If you are still an inexperienced fisher, do not worry, because as long as you have the basic tools and equipment with you, then you’re set to have an amazing ice fishing trip with hopefully lots of fish caught.
Here are some essentials you need to pack with you when you go ice fishing.
Heavy Clothing
As the name of this activity implies, ice fishing is done when the water is covered with a thick layer of ice, and you are going to be fishing through this layer. This means that the temperature will be below zero degrees Celsius. It also means that if you do not have enough layers of clothing on, and protection for your extremities, you might end up sick or even suffering from frostbite. Make sure that you are wearing a heavy-duty jacket or parka, and pair that with thick gloves. Also opt for non-slip boots that have a good grip on the ice because you do not want to slip on it when you are moving around, or when you have a fish you want to reel in.
Augers
To first start ice fishing, you need to create a hole in the ice that you are going to fish through. This can get dangerous if you do not have the right auger to drill through the ice. Any mistakes can lead to the ice cracking, and you getting an unwelcome icy bath.
Rods
Getting the right rod is important when you want to fish. This is also twice as important when you want to go ice-fishing, as the required hard water tackle is one that you can depend on to reel in your fish every time you get a bite. You need it to be light in weight so that it does not add to the mass that you will be reeling in, and it has to be easy to keep your grip on so that it does not slip out of your hands and into the icy water beneath you.
Bait
To catch fish, you need the right bait with you. What bait you get largely depends on where you go ice fishing, so check the rules and regulations of the place to understand what kind of bait is allowed when ice fishing.
Hooks
The hooks you bring with you need to be very sharp so that fish get caught easily on them. Dull hooks will result in a few fish because they will easily slip off the hook that you use. If you plan on having a big catch, then get a bigger hook so that you have a better fighting chance when reeling in a fish after it takes the bait.
Having this equipment is essential before you go on the next ice fishing trip. Of course, there are more advanced tools out there that you can get, but they do not guarantee that you will go home with a catch. The most important thing to remember is to remain patient so that you end up with a great catch and a story to take home with you.
