Forget about casting. Ice fishing starts with cutting holes. Many holes. To do so requires either a spud or an auger, a large drill powered by hand or by a small motor.
Are you interested in ice fishing, and doing research on how to get into it? Well, there are many ice fishing clinics where you can learn about it. It isn’t for everybody, but many ice anglers like that!
Many people have different ideas on how people should get into ice fishing, and C.J. Chivers of Popular Mechanics has suggestions that were posted on the website last year.
Once you’ve cut holes, you have two primary means of fishing: with a rod or via traps. Rods are used for vertical jigging, or lightly bouncing the bait in the water, and dangling live minnows or small grubs. They tend to be short and simple—so basic that some people don’t even use a reel and make jigging sticks in woodshops at home.
They refer to tip-ups as traps, and state this:
Traps, also known as tilts or tip-ups, are renowned for hooking monster fish. They suspend a large bait for hours in areas where an old, big fish might lurk. When arrayed along drop-offs or large weed beds where game fish often prowl, traps let ice fishermen cover far more water than they could with a single rod and erase the handicap of not being able to cast.
Among other suggestions, Chivers suggests first that you be safe. Next, be comfortable and know where to go. We suggest you check out ice fishing clinics in your area and find a mentor! Ice fishing is a lot of fun, and if you haven’t tried it, how will you know if you like it or not?
To read the full article click here.
(feature photo of Brad Smudzinski)
