MyFishFinder.com Just like iceshanty but warmer
Welcome to ice fishing, As "The New Guy" I would first try and find an experienced ice fisherman to show you the basic's on SAFETY items then think about the rest of the addiction - Spud bar, PFD, and picks of life should be your first expense.Good luck.
FIRST LET ME SAY I AM NOT NEW TO FISHING, IVE BEEN FISHING FOR ABOUT ANYTHING THAT SWIMS FOR WELL OVER 30YRS SO I UNDERSTAND SEASONAL PATTERNS, SAY FOR INSTANCE, WHY BASS MOVE SHALLOW IN THE SPRING/HOW TO CATCH THEM AND SO ON.SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHERE WOULD I WANT TO START? SAY FOR PANFISH AS SOON AS THE ICE IS SAFE??? I'LL BE FISHING IN THE METRO LAKES JUST SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURE/COVER I'LL BE LOOKING AT.. IVE READ A TON OF ICE ARTICLES BUT I WOULD RATHER HEAR ADVICE FROM SOMEONE LOCAL THAN GO OFF WHAT AN ARTICLE FROM WATERS WAY UP NORTH I WONT FISH TELLS ME....
the first thing you must always bring is Toilet Paper. Fishing the the rest of the day with only one sock sucks......
I have fished from my boat in winter before when we had open water and found fish (crappies) suspended over the deep water but I thought maybe there would be other winter areas to find fish, im sure there is and I will be searching very soon I hope.. I guess theres no stupid questions but what the H is a spud bar?? I have some spike things with grips a buddy gave me to climb out of the water if I was to fall through. as for gear I have a used clam flip over hut I think its called? bought a few frabill combos and some small jigs,spoons and other tackle and already had a lil buddy heater I use for tent camping. I also already have a ice 55 flasher that I use along with my other hummingbird SI unit in my boat and am wondering will the transducer that it came with work on ice??? im guessing yes but wanna make sure before I go out and possibly have no working sonar.. only thing I have to get is an auger, buddy told me to spend the extra money and get a gas/propane powered one because a hand auger will wear you out unless you get lucky and find active fish from the get go or if your content sitting on a hole with nothing below or no biting fish below and im not lucky that much and I know for sure I cant sit long if I kinow theres no active fish around so maybe I should go gas powered???
good boots and spikes, good quality suit preferable one that floats, and most important life spikes around your neck
I would say the most important thing would be a spud, then spikes around the neck.
that's what I got, 6inch lazer. buddy said long as the blades stay sharp all the extra money for a gas powered auger aint worth the little bit of time it saves and not to mention the hand auger is way lighter. im sure I'll be fishing with him a lot so that's 2 augers plus his boy and my two boys, I don't foresee any problems turning the ice into swiss cheese with minimal effort.... I cant WAIT!! for the ice to get a few inches deeper so I can fish, got close a couple weeks ago and then...well you know. my buddy said the last few years there wasn't safe ice for the most part till around Christmas time or a little before... wish it would freeze up or just disappear so I could fish... he said it can be frustrating sometimes waiting for an inch or so of ice to take a few weeks to get to 4 inches to fish...
If you bought yourself a new lazer auger I would make sure they are the made in sweeden blades and not the junk made in china blades. They should say on the bottom of the blade.