By Greg Cook
waterhead.com
October 5, 2011

Ice fishing is one of the most popular and enjoyable winter activities, and can provide healthy enjoyment for the whole family. In fact nowadays more children take part in ice fishing than in any other kind of fishing, and thoroughly enjoy the fun and comradeship. It is an excellent way to encourage family sport and outdoor activity, but if you are thinking of getting involved as a family, there are several essential points to watch, including, of course, safety.

Ice fishing consists of drilling holes in ice and catching fish through the openings, using spears, or lines with hooks. It is most commonly carried out on frozen lakes in the northern hemisphere, especially in Canada and the north of the USA. It can actually be particularly exciting on streams and rivers, but extra care has to be taken in these locations, so they may not be suitable for children. In the first place, ice can be weakened by moving water, so that it is more dangerous to walk across, and in the second place, if you fall through, you are more likely to be carried downstream by the water, and drown.

The most common types of fish caught in ice fishing include walleye, northern pike and whitefish. Walleye can grow up to 31 inches in length and are easy to see in the water because they are golden and olive in color, and have eyes which reflect the light. Northern pike are very popular because they can be very aggressive, and landing them can be an exciting battle. They can grow up to six feet in length, and are easily recognized because their heads taper to a sharp point. As well as these larger fish, anglers also enjoy catching smaller fish such as yellow perch, which are known as panfish because they fit into a pan and can be cooked and eaten on the spot.

If you are a complete novice, the best way to get started with ice fishing might be to use a professional guide the first few times. This way you can be sure of keeping safe, and at the same time test out whether it is something you really enjoy. Later when you start out on your own you will have picked up lots of tricks and tips about equipment, safety and techniques, without having to make expensive or dangerous mistakes

When starting out with ice fishing, one of the first considerations is to make sure you wear the right gear. It goes without saying that it will be cold out there, but many people still fail to realize just how penetrating the cold can be. The best advice is to use lots of layers. It is better to err on the side of wearing too many, then you can remove one or two if necessary. Have a moisture wicking layer next to the skin, to prevent chilling, and on your feet wear wool or wool-blend socks to enable moisture to evaporate, and insulated waterproof boots fitted with metal cleats for ice safety. The ideal outer layer would be a lightweight down parka, and with waterproof gloves you should be ready for any weather.

Apart from avoiding death from cold, the number one priority for ice fishing is of course keeping safe. The first rule is never, absolutely never, venture out on ice that is too thin – that means ice that is less than four inches thick. Ideally it should be at least six inches thick, and then only when on foot – never with a vehicle. The best way to check for safety is to use a spud bar, which is a long, heavy rod made of metal, with a chisel at the end. As you walk out, keep slamming the spud bar down ahead of you. If it pierces the ice it is not safe – back away carefully. As long as the spud bar bounces off the ice, you can keep going. Other safety items you should carry include a 25 foot rope with a 2x4 wood on the end, to throw to someone who falls through the ice, and an ice-pick with a thin rope attached round your neck. If you do fall through the ice, you can use this to pull yourself out of the water.

Once you have reached the spot where you want to fish, you will need a special drill called an auger to make the hole. For walleye, you need a blade of 8-10 inches, while for panfish a 5-6 inch blade is better – the smaller the blade, the easier it is to drill. Other items of equipment you will need include a five gallon bucket, which you can use both for carrying your gear and for sitting on, and a plastic scoop for removing the chips of ice from the hole.

There are three main ways of catching fish in ice fishing – you can use a spear, a tip-up or a rod. A lot of people consider a rod provides the most enjoyment, especially for families and beginners. A very light reel and rod combination enables you to detect bites more easily. You should use a light rod with a six pound ice line for walleye, and an extra light rod with a four pound line for panfish. To attract the fish you use brightly-colored or fluorescent jigs or lures, with bait attached. The best bait for panfish are waxworms or maggots, while minnows are usually used for walleye.

Ice fishing can be carried out at any time of day. The best times generally are dusk and dawn, but different species of fish are active at different times of day. The best tip for success in ice fishing is to keep moving, as after a hole is drilled, fish will only bite there for about 10 minutes. Modern ice fishing is usually carried out using battery powered sonar units which can detect the presence or absence of fish at a hole. This means that as soon as fish stop biting at a particular hole, you can move on, quickly drill another hole with a fast auger, and use the sonar to check if fish are there. If not you can quickly move on and drill another hole. After about an hour it is possible to return to earlier holes where fish were biting before. This method obviously makes it possible to catch a much greater quantity of fish in one day, though not everyone derives the same enjoyment from this more “high tech” method. You can also use portable shelters to enable you to stay on the ice longer, and even sleep overnight.

Anybody who has experienced ice fishing agrees that it is one of the greatest and most exciting outdoor experiences. Unlike other types of angling, such as fly fishing, it is not really about solitude – it is much more about companionship and camaraderie, and in fact from the safety point of view it is not a good idea to go out on your own. Instead, go out there as a family or a group of friends. You can enjoy some of the most amazing scenery in the world, a satisfying sport and a huge adventure, all at the same time.

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