Top Ten Pieces Of Ice Fishing Equipment

Yes, yes, it's that time of year is coming again - ice fishing season. Even though there is hardly any snow lying on the ground, and just a tiny glazing of ice to be seen on rivers, it won't be long until the sought after white snow is absolutely everywhere underfoot. Soon, anglers will be rushing as if their lives depend on it to walk on water in search of some hot ice fishing action.

To prepare you for what is bound to be another eventful season of ice fishing, this article will give you info on this years top ten advancements in sport of ice fishing. From augers and shacks to lures and rods, the top ten are as follows:

No. 10 - Are you getting really tired of your auger blade grinding into the ice and then freezing solid with all the newly frozen water from the dozen or so holes you just made? Then, do you really worry about the blades rusting and becoming unreplaceable? I don't either, but just in case you do - Cold Snap industries are here to help! They have created a simple protector called the 'Cold Snap Cover'. Its has an easy attaching cover and a rubber security strap which provides all the protection you could ever want/need for your auger tips. The product retails at around $27. You can find more information on this handy cover at www.coldsnapcover.com.

No. 9 - Now, many anglers are just like me, and really need protection from the ice, the cold out-flowing water from fishing holes, and the wind. If this applies to you, you should definately dress warm, and wear waterproof clothing.

Now, with a lot of thanks to Clam Corporation, protection from these weather conditions can start at body level. Clam Corporation have recently released a new Ice Armor body suit which is completely windproof, waterproof, and has more storage area than you can imagine. It comes with multiple pockets, pouches and D-rings which you can use to attach your tackle and ice fishing tools to. The body suit retails for around $300 which definately sets the pace for ice fishing fashion. More information on this product can be found at www.clamcorp.com.

No. 8 - This next item is made for the new generation of ice anglers. If the fish aren't biting - storing, transporting and re-setting equipment can be a pain, and can really slow down your trip. Ready Rig industries took this into consideration when they created the Ready-Rig Icepack. The Ready-Rig Icepack stores a lot of essentials, such as tip-ups, several rods, tackle boxes, and even a chair. Everything you need will be strapped to your back. The item boasts many pockets and a large main area to put all your ice fishing gear in. You can learn more about this product at www.readyrig.com.

No. 7 - Every year we see new competititors in the sonar market. Each company attempts to break into the the hold that Vexilar has on the market. This year is no different. A company named Lowrance has entered the scene with its brand new X67C Ice Machine. The machine is similar to portable sonar systems for open water fishing, but it boasts a great 3.5 inch monitor which uses 256 colors in its display. It uses a 320x240 resolution, which is level with many warm water fish-finders. A 12-volt battery powers this system. The battery comes sealed in the pack, which prevents any wiring disconnections. A battery charger is included with this package, which makes this even better value for money. This model retails at around $400, which really is worth it. For more information, you can visit www.lowrance.com

No. 6 - Buzz Stix ice rods first generation was extremely impressive, but it still left a lot to be desired. However, with the release of the second season of the Buzz Stix ice rods, several new improvements have been made. The Auto Buzz Stix rods now boast three different levels of fish-attracting wiggle. The rod has been designed to attract the fish through a constant buzz. It also pulsates in very short bursts to trigger the curious fish and to convince negative fish, the rod goes into a pause-buzz-pause sequence. With these three new options, this series definately gives a lot more control to anglers. Especially anglers that are targeting certain areas, and using tactics that depend on how the fish are/aren't biting at the given time.

In addition, Buzz Stix have introduced a brand new 'Hot Stix line'. These models are designed to generate heat to keep anglers hands warm on the ice, which is very important. By easily inserting a heat pack into the rod, anglers can keep their fingers feeling great, rather than numb.

No. 5 - 'Eastman Outfitters' is a total newcomer on the portable ice shack scene. However, their cool new sixty-second pop-up 'Tundra Tuff' ice shanties draw on years of the company’s experience. The Tundra Tuff boasts very lightweight transport, in both it's two, and four person models (20lbs and 24lbs). It also features very minimal setup effort. This is great, because it means that anglers can spend more time fishing, and less time loading and unloading their shack. As a bonus, all of the 'Tundra Tuff' models come with a backpack. For more information on the Tundra Tuff models, go to www.eastmanoutfitters.com

No. 4 - Frabill’s new Arctic Fire line of tip-ups are extremely reliable, and very well priced. They come at just $10 each, so we recommend that every angler buys three or four to fill the front line in the battle to catch more predator fish. The Arctic Fire line has a classic blaze orange flag and a bright yellow body. Because of this, this tip-up is incredibly tough to miss. It also comes with a built-in ruler, along with numerous high quality parts from the flag to the filament spool. These are the things that will make this item a top choice amongst a lot of anglers this year. For more information, check out www.frabill.com.

No. 3 - Swimming lures have become all the rage, when trying to attract fish. A company named 'Northland Tackle' have now entered this competitive arena with its new Airplane Jig. The Airplane Jig was an old classic lake trout lure, however, during the warm-water season, it's had some tweaking done. A stabilizing 'V' has been built into it. This new version of the Airplane jig is sure to hook both anglers and fish with it's classic flying movements. You can learn more about this product at www.northlandtackle.com.

No. 2 - If you had eyes in the back of your head, it would give you a huge advantage when participating in any outdoors activities. NatureVision, the company that leads the underwater optics industry grants anglers that wish, with its brand new hot model for 2005. Naturevision have brought out the ' Aqua Vu Quad 360', which consists of a 4 frame monitor and a 4 camera under-the-ice unit which gives anglers the ability to see absolutely everything that's going on in any direction underneath the icehouse. It features a 7 inch monitor which is compact enough to fit into any ice-rig. However, it's still big enough to show any movement at any angle. The Aqua Vu Quad 360’s spectral response lighting system really helps to brighten up the water, and it provides great vision on the ice at night. More information can be seen at www.aquavu.com.

And now for the hottest, most innovative and most sought after advancement in ice fishing this year is...

No. 1 - Most anglers believe that more is better. The engineers at Strike Master couldn’t agree more. The 'StrikeMaster Laser 224' auger has 4 blades that will help you cut through the ice like a knife through an apple. The Strikemaster Laser 224 is tipped with a powerpoint stabilizer, therfore it stays in position whilst the 4 blades get to work ripping through the thickest ice. The 224 is the companys newest, most powerful, and fastest model. It can tear through 3 feet of ice in just seconds. It boasts a two horsepower engine, yet it's still compact enough to be transported easily. When it comes to breaking holes in the ice, the Strikemaster Laser 224 is easily the best out there. For more information on this product, go to www.strikemaster.com. This is a must for serious anglers!