FS Digest

Wanted some advice on what I should look for in an ice fishing combo. I've never done it before so I looking to get in to it and I just have no ideas. If you can point out what I should look for or what I should get it would be greatly appreciated.

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by Breloom6511

rapala54 Loc: Nappanee,IN.

First buy should be ice picks for your safety. Then poles and gear.

Elmwood21 Loc: Iowa

Depends on what fishing for pan fish we get ultra lite walleye medium or stiff you can get cheaper combos rod more important than reel in my opinion.

Smokey2 Loc: San Diego

get yourself a nice ice auger to make the holes. You can pick up ultra lite rods and reels, for panfish,
or you can go heavier if you were to target pike, bass or walleye.

Ryp Hankins Loc: N Michigan

For poles, get the Shakespear Ugly Stick combo for less than 20$. Indestructible and reliable.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

Where do you plan to fish and for what species? I fish for jumbo perch in Idaho. Two feet of hard ice and small fish. The world record is less than 4 pounds so we use tip ups, ice rods, 4 pound mono line and tungsten jigs with night crawlers and wax worms. I probably wouldn’t use that on 30 pound lake trout 30 miles north of where I fish. A good ice auger is a plus as well as a heated ice shack, snow machine, 4 wheeler, flashers for locating the fish and a big lunch box with lots of food, hot drinks and plenty of water for the day. Plenty of warm clothes and a dry change is good. Life jacket on the ice offers two benefits. One they’re pretty warm and two they float if you break through the ice and that happens on occasion.

40GRIT Loc: San Ramon, CA

Good advice!

Anybass Loc: Pa.

Many good ideas already given. Breloom had good list. If know how to skate and ice clear of snow, great way to move quickly when tip ups showing flags. If walking on the ice, get ice cleats for boots to prevent slipping. Get a sled and put up sides to contain your gear. Carry a strong and long length of rope should someone fall through ice.
If not familiar with tip ups, check internet for description. Idea my dad and I did to prevent line from freezing in the hole.
Material needed--4or5" square block of wood, 3/4" thick ok.
1/2" X 4-5" long copper tube.
Drill 1/2" hole in center of wood and slide in tube, 50% above, 50% below and flare ends.
(flaring creates smooth ends. If tube not tight in hole, put rubber band or string around
tube to maintain the 50/50 situation.) (If can't flare then find a way to make sure ends
smooth some how.)
After drill hole in ice, take tip up and run the line from the spool through the tube and attach
your hook or lure.
Determine how much line you want pulled from spool and feed in hole.
Set up your tip up and put wood block in water.
Put a drop of antifreeze in the copper tube. This will prevent line from freezing even if
entire hole freezes. Redo if need to pull block out of water.

(Now know why important to keep tube end smooth to prevent fraying line).

Where close to shore, we would always make a fire for warmth and cooking or heating liquids.

Now sit back and jig at a hole and watch your stationary tip ups for raised flags. Happy fishing.