Beginner Ice Fishing Information

If you're a fisherman but right now in an area where all the lakes are frozen over, you need some ice fishing information to be able to continue your sport.

The first thing to know is that fishing in the ice is just as difficult as fishing the in any other space. Knowing where the fish are is a skill that not everyone possesses. You can either ask around, or look around, to see where the local fisherman are putting up their tents or ice fishing houses. They will have a good idea where the fish may be biting.

Safety Precautions

It's hard to gauge ice thickness. Ice needs to be at least three inches thick to safely hold a person walking across it. But once you're on the ice, it's hard to tell just how thick it is, especially if there is new snow on top. You should walk very carefully on the ice and look for any cracks or areas that may be a little thinner. Avoid these spaces. The most likely area of thin ice is along an edge. Study the shoreline before you take your first step onto the ice.

While it looks solid and sturdy, that doesn't mean ice is going to be easy to walk on. If you haven't gone ice fishing before, you may be unpleasantly surprised to find out just how slippery it can be. The best way to avoid slipping is to have boots with spikes or creepers on them to help you keep traction when walking across the surface.

Picking a Spot

Once you find the lake you want to fish, you are going to have to find a good fishing spot on that lake.

A lot of people have a temptation to cut big holes in the ice. This is not necessary. A four or five-inch hole is enough to do the job of getting a fish out of the water once you've hooked it.

Choose your first spot and then be patient. The sound of cutting your hole in the ice will send fish scurrying. So, once the hole is cut and you drop your bait, be prepared to wait a while for them to come back.

Ice Fishing Etiquette

Once you find a fishing spot, there are some things to keep in mind.

You are not going to be the only person on the lake, respect the space of others and don't get too close to where they have set up.

Silence is golden. You want to be quiet as you take your gear out to the lake and set up to avoid scaring any fish away from the area. Stay quiet once you set up your fishing spot, as the fish will be able to hear you.

Dropping Your Bait

A very important piece of ice fishing information is how to get the fish to notice your bait.

You should remember that fish are cold-blooded animals, so they are going to look for warmer waters. If the surface is frozen, those warmer waters are down towards the bottom. The best place to dangle your bait is a couple of feet from the bottom as most of the fish will be in this area staying warm.

Just because the ground and lakes are frozen, there's no need to avoid taking a fishing trip, once you have the right ice fishing information to make a safe and successful time of it.