Ice Fishing Equipment: Your Basic Necessities

Ice fishing is very popular among fishing enthusiasts. This is due to its nature, where you do not need many supplies, and the supplies that you might need are affordable and won't burn a hole through your pocket. This article will discuss some of this important equipment.

Do keep in mind that with the many choices of equipment available, you are bound to find that the prices for the equipment range from the very cheap to the very expensive. What you need is to get equipment that is of reasonable quality, something that will last you more than a fishing season. Always try to avoid the very cheap equipment as they can be flimsy and not last long, which means you need to replace them often. The wiser bet is for you to purchase slightly higher priced equipment so that you are guaranteed of a couple fishing seasons.

Fishing rods: all fishing equipment lists should start with a good quality fishing rod, including ice fishing. A good fishing rod for ice fishing is short and very strong to make sure that it can take the strain and weight of the fish. Ice fishing can also make use of the tip up, a rod or a reel that is attached to a board or a 'cap' that is placed above the hole in the ice. There is also a flag or a small marker which is connected to the rod or the spring. This means that when you catch a fish, the marker will move to alert you and you can then start to work on the line and hook the fish. Most of the time, anglers will have several lines in ice holes with tip-ups so that they can see which line the fish is biting. When they see the marker, they'll then concentrate on single line fishing on that particular ice hole.

Fishing lines: when you go ice fishing, do keep in mind that the lines that you use in spinners or during fly fishing which is called the monofilament line is not suitable. Monofilament lines will not be able to take the weight, thus a braided line with a test weight of about 10 to 20 pounds will be a better choice. The braided line is your best bet as it is very suitable for withstanding the cold and icy conditions during an ice fishing trip.

Fishing baits and lures: for ice fishing you can use almost any type of lures. However the best choice would be to use the colorful and shiny minnows, plastic worms, live bait and ice jigs. These are the times that you should have in your tackle box before you go ice fishing.

Ice auger: An ice auger can save you a lot of time as it helps you cut the ice for your ice hole. Pick one that is gas operated, and you will find that you can save money and time using an auger. Do remember that the safe depth for ice fishing is at least 4 inches.

Shelter: now that you're going to fish, you need some sort of shelter to break the wind. A simple three-sided frame with a tarp stretched across would be just as effective as the many different types of canvas, plastic and even insulated shelters or 'igloo' shelters that are available in the market. A good shelter can be pulled onto the lake or be set up once you get there.

Skimmer: a skimmer is a flat slotted paddle or a slotted spoon. Its function is to remove the ice crystals from the fishing hole. Also, many anglers now have 'caps' which can help to provide a thermal layer over the fishing hole and in turn prevents in from freezing over.

First aid kit: anytime you are outdoors, you should carry a first aid kit with you. Now that you'll be out in the cold, you'll get cold fingers which are prone to cuts on hooks, so carry a first aid kit and you'll be prepared for what is to come.

And finally, do remember to have all important documents together with your fishing equipment. This includes your identification and your current fishing license. Other additional supplies such as chairs, blankets, heaters or even a camping stove can certainly provide more comfort for you and will add to your ice fishing experience.