Tales from the Outdoors: Ice Fishing 101

By Bob Chapin

Many folks, particularly those from southern states, think ice fishing is absurd. Who would want to sit out on the ice and freeze to catch a fish? Usually, these are folks who have not tried it. To those of us who live in northern tier states, it is a way of life that we look forward to as soon as the ice is safe.

A whole industry has grown up to support the equipment needs of anglers. Everything from shelters, augers, fishing rods and reels, special lures, baits, and clothing. Everything you need to stay comfortable out on the ice, even overnight in some cases. It is a safe and fun filled activity for families, clubs, and individuals as long as you mind the safety precautions. If you don’t, trouble is not far away….

Below are some suggestions to keep you safe and help you to catch fish through the ice successfully:

Safety

•    How much ice is enough—1 person 4 inches, 2 people 6 inches, ATV/snowmobile 9 inches, Small Truck 11-plus inches

•    Lakes/ponds/rivers/streams— Do Not freeze evenly

•    Shorelines less ice than centers but…

•    Springs create soft/thin spots almost anywhere

•    Moving water—outlets/tributaries, rocks that break the surface—danger!

•    The only way to know for sure is to test drill

•    Start close to shore and work out

•    Look for others’ huts, ATVs, snowmobiles, trucks

•    Carry ice picks on your person in an outer pocket or loop these through your sleeves so they are immediately available

•    Tell someone not going on your trip where you are going and when you expect to return—-call them with changes in plans and when you are off the ice

•    Carry a cell phone on you—preferably in a waterproof case in an easily accessible outer/upper pocket

Before you go

•    Decide what water you’d like to fish and what species you are after

•    Determine access points and parking—note some lots may not be plowed

•    Assemble your gear—shelter, sled, ice creepers, space heater,  traps

•    Auger or ice spud/ auger fuel and starting fluid, skimmer, rod/reel, lures

•    Lively bait—shiners, smelt, suckers, wax worms, night crawlers

•    Dress for the weather — chemical hand warmers (in your boots) extra gloves

•    Know the law for that lake, species, size, bag limit

Once there 

•    Confirm access point and ice safety

•    Decide where you want to fish—often driven by species sought and wind—sometimes distance from parking, use prior drilled holes as an indicator

•    Decide how you want to orient your traps—5 traps in Maine; 2 traps in New Hampshire

•    Drill your holes—If you plan to jig a hole with a lure, only set 4 traps in Maine. Consider drilling all 5 or 10 holes at one time—hint: drill at various depths all in a line so you can easily see and visually check them

•    Skim out the loose ice chips and determine the depth—using a sounder or electronically

•    Bait your traps—mixed bag of live shiners and worms usually

•    Adjust depth of your line to be ~1 foot off the bottom (1 foot below the ice for rainbows and Salmon)     

 

FLAG!

•    The universal call for yours and anyone else’s trap being sprung by wind or fish

•    Get there quickly but do not touch trap

•    Look at the reel and see if/how fast it is turning—no movement=wind flags or hit ’n run?

•    Don’t delay too long before reeling in—fish will find underwater obstructions and wrap your line

•    Lift the trap and set it alongside hole

•    Hand over hand the line until you feel the fish or it is visible below the ice, may wish to give a short, sharp tug to set hook; do not pull up on the line until you get the fish’s head pointed up the hole

•    If the line snags, stop pulling and give the fish slack…he may just clear the obstruction himself

•    Then an easy but constant lift in one motion until the fish is clear of the hole slide him away from the hole opening

•    Keeper or not—unhook and put him back after pictures or put him in your sled

•    Don’t dump your bait bucket at end of day

•    Clean up any bait containers, drink cans, cigarette butts, food wrappers, etc. yours and others 

Special Fish—Cusk or Burbot

•    Fish after dark

•    Single hook—weighted to sit on the bottom

•    Hook within 7 inches of weight

•    Fixed line (secured at the reel)

•    Bait with live or dead minnows, cut bait, gob of worms, corn, catfish bait

•    Your name and address on your trap

•    Check traps once an hour in Maine; once every 24 hours in New Hampshire—no
continuous watch

•    Excellent white fleshed fish for chowders 

Ice derbies are great family fun. Find them on IFW Website <