Gear That Put Fish on the Ice in Montana

[Seedtree]

For me:

-Flasher.
-Shanty/Heater because they enable me to fish longer.
-Making a reasonable plan to land a big fish in a small shanty.  Details like good knots, fresh line, sharp hooks, tending to the obstacles to land a big fish (a challenge, and freak out, for those who haven't landed a big pike in, say, a 1 man shanty).
-Small ice jigs.  On reflection, I have caught more fish, including big fish, on these than any other.

Not gear related, but a basic understanding of fish is best.  Learning  the changing water they are submersed in over the seasons, and how it affects their feeding/breeding/etc.

My .02s.

[Fishman Teters]

I agree with the small jigs. Micro jigs all glittered up or a glow, tipped simply with maggots or meal worms has produced time and time again for trout, perch, gills, and eyes. I would love to ice a 35" pike tho...I don't think that's happening on micros...

[SpringTipWhenYouNip]

Petes tackle is killer for Montana waters. Also a gas auger helps a lot, lots of holes to move around a lot.

[fishin7]

Flasher (a must)
Good auger
Sharp blades on your auger (usually drill all day long looking for active fish)
Warm clothes (seldom sit in the shanty unless to warm up or eat lunch)
36" medium heavy rod
4 wheeler

That should do it!

[Mr Deadeye]

Don't forget the secret lures, fishin7!!!

[PerchPounderMT]

No gear beats days on the ice

[wirehairman]

It's not technically gear, but the best way I know to put fish on the ice is to take Fishin7's kid.

[fishin7]

Who this guy?  Nah he's just lucky!

[njoy]

When [if] I grow up ,I want to be just like him

[whiptail]

I take my HT Polar Fire rods and Pete's Tackle, it don't madder what tackle but Pete's and my Vexilar and my Brush Pile sent and fish on.

[brkmsla]

Don't forget the secret lures, fishin7!!!

What kind of a lure is this? Looked online did not find anything ice related.

[untouchable]

-hut
-gas auger
-tons of jigs of all shapes sizes colors cuz the bite change
-good ice line (I usually go with an ice braid of 8lb with a 6ft leader of floro 6lb)
-jaw jackers

 ........ But most importantly BEER!

[JiffyJockey]

- GPS
- Small tungsten jigs
- Spring bobbers (on the days when perch / walleyes are really finicky, I stand the rod on the ice and tap the spring bobber ever so slightly to make small movements to my jig)
- Medium sized spoon (pound it on the bottom to stir up the lake silt and attract the fish....works wonders, especially on lakes that have current)
- Staying mobile (not really gear, but definitely key to success)
- fresh maggots (red, white, blue)
- Flasher
- warm mittens / gear
- my fishing buddy   

Can't wait to hit the ice.  Be safe out there and taker' down!  Here's a pic to get everyone salivating and pumped to hit the ice (all caught using the recipe above)

. 

[Will1234]

I miss a lot less bites with jaw jackers. My lowrence fish finder is fun, entertaining and helps to get on and hook the trout.

[elktalk101]

I agree. If you can use multiple poles the jaw jackers work great.  You can spend time jigging on one and let the jaw jackers to the rest.

[bigschultzy]

I've caught quite a few walleye and ling on Northland buckshot rattle spoons.

[Seedtree]

It's not technically gear, but the best way I know to put fish on the ice is to take Fishin7's kid.

I have hunted and fished for many years, and this is a good point.  Some things seem to result when you are with certain folks. 

Looking back, there are folks that I go out fishing with and just nail them.

Others, like my brother, seem to shut things down.  I told my brother a long time ago, " I like to go fishing with you because we don't have to mess with cleaning fish".  This is still the same to this day decades later.

There was  a Patrick F Macnamus book about this, where guides took him fishing/hunting to add to there resumes if he landed a minnow.

LOL>

[Outpost2096]

Power auger and a flasher are a must. Don't get stuck in one spot