Ice Fishing Tips - The ice fishing rod

For ice fishing the rod you need is different from other fishing rods in the sense that rather than allowing a good lure presentation it should allow you to fight and land the fish comfortably.

Technically speaking it should have a flexible tip and a strong butt and all in a rather short length. An ice fishing rod can be only 42'' long.The flexible tip will allow to cushion the shock when the fish tries to run away once hooked.

By the way, setting the hook is a tiny thing. t's actually done with a snap of the wrist!

Some ice fishing fans, prepare their custom rods by buying a cheap spinning rod blank, then cut it appropriately to allow the transition from a robust butt to a flexible tip in only 24 to 28 inches.

If you want to fish at lower depths (say, more than 30 meters - 100 feet) you will need a stonger rod. So have/make the transition (taper!) differently or look for a stronger, slightly heavier rod.

Ice Fishing Tips - the fight

Whe you set the hook, much is similar to the general fishing technique: be calm, know what you are doing, be patient!

So:

• don't move the rod over your head. Keep all the action in front of you, not over you.

The key word here is: keep the rod always under flex until you win! Make the rod work for you.

That's fishing! The fish is under control.

• Don't make a slack in the line! the fish can manage to run under obstacles and snap away!

• Work with the reel, give line when necessary or adjiust your (good quality!) drag accordingly so it will do this for you. Reel-in and also keep the rod continously under tension. Don't "pump" the rod upwards and then reel in the slack line.

• Be patient. Don't land the fish immediately and also beware the last moments when you see the fish head and you might hastily try to fetch it. You might loose the fish (e.g. the hook might get into the ice, the fish might suddenly fight, etc..).

Grab the fish when its head is at the top of the ice only.

Ice Fishing Tips - How to find the fish

Generally, fish are quite active in the middle of the water column and rather dull near the bottom. So in lake I genrally like fishing which is

Trouts:

They can live deepr than 30 m (100 feet). In winter, they probably stay above that (say 15-20 m, 40 feet) for oxygenation reasons.

How can you find the depth of a lake? Use a sonar!

Ice fishing tips - using a sonar

Vexilar FL-18 Ultra Ice Fishing Sonar Pack Described as ''one of the finest sonar units ever in the history of ice fishing'' by In-Fisherman Magazine , Vexilar's FL-18 Ultra Sonar Pack was designed to shatter the expectations of serious winter anglers. This three-color flasher depth finder/fish finder features a patented split-screen flasher display that allows you to zoom in on the bottom six feet while watching the entire water column simultaneously -- in real time! The Auto Zoom mode is fantastic for watching perch or walleye while ice fishing. These fish commonly hold tight on the bottom, and with a target ID of less than 1/2'', the FL-18 makes them easy to spot! Additional features include: Built-in shallow water mode for fishing waters under 15 feet Five depth scales down to 200 feet Built-in interference rejection Three-color LED readout tells you if the targets you see are weak (green), medium (orange), or strong (red) Two-year factory warranty Specifications High-resolution display: 525 bits High-speed real-time LED readout Backlit depth scale for easy visibility in low light conditions Three-color display: red = strong signal, orange = medium, green = weak Five depth scales: 20', 40', 60', 80', and 200' Exclusive interference rejection: 10 step Power and sensitivity: 400 watts peak-to-peak Frequency: 200 kHz Target separation: 2.65'' Target ID: .5'' Weatherproof high-impact case Dimensions: 4.4''H x 6''W x 2.5''D Weight: 1.1 lb. Voltage: 12V DC - current draw: 275 MA Transducer: ice fishing Cone angle: 12?

Ice Fishing tips -Other things you might consider

a shelter, an electric tool to make the 30 cm (10 inches) hole, walkie-takie

Ice Fishing Tips - Lures
(P.S.: I hope you don't mind the shopiing tags, their main purpose, as for in the whole website, is to show pictures and/or prices of the items)

	Suggestion: Plano 3600 tackle box to keep them.
	Little Cleo spoons
	Northland Bionic Bucktail jigs
Northland Whistler Jig Kit Unique propeller blade design adds flash and vibration. Includes 8 Whistler jigs and 16 Screw-Tail grubs in assorted sizes and colors.	Northland Whistler jigs
	Northland Airplane jigs
hand-tied jigs using Northland ball head and Whistler jigs with combinations of hackle, buck tail and rabbit strips hare self-made jig	Flytying
Berkley PowerBait Original Power Worm - 10'' "The scientists at Berkley have been working on PowerBait for years, constantly making it better. There's absolutely no soft plastic on the market that catches more fish." Larry Nixon 1983 Bassmaster Classic? Champion You wanted the original colors back -- and we listened! Same color names, made the way you want. And, with the Berkley PowerBait Advantage, fish hold on 18 times longer! Soft but firm texture is irresistible to fish. Perfect size and action for dozens of presentations.	white Berkley PowerBaits
	Experiment yourself!

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