Ice Fishing

No need to stay inside and wait until the snow melts in order to get out on the lake and catch some fish.   Be adventurous, bundle up and get out there and catch some fish a whole new way…ice fishing.  When the lake is sealed up in ice and snow, you can still catch your limit and the best part is that there are no bugs or mosquitoes.

People enjoy it for the solitude of being out on a frozen lake and the challenge of the sport. Others like the friendship and good times found in an “ice shanty town” atmosphere with friends and family. Why not try ice fishing and open your senses to an exciting winter event.

You must carry your license with you when you are fishing, summer or winter.  So make that your first stop on your outing.  The second most important thing is the clothes on your back.  Layer, layer, layer!

You can always strip clothes off but once your bones get cold, adding clothes will not help much.

Here are some of the basics for any winter sport.  Start with the layer closest to the skin. This is where you want to be sure to stay dry. Believe it or not, just a slight bit of perspiration can make you cold down to the bone and could lead to frostbite.  Wear an under-layer of moisture-wicking material such as polypropylene, including a shirt, pants, socks, and mitten liners. This is better than cotton if you have a choice, but cotton can also be worn. Be aware that cotton may get wet and stay wet, so try to stay as dry as possible and wear layers.  A good tip for staying dry is also to wear your boots or overshoes loosely tied until arriving at your site.  If you get hot along the way, be sure to unzip your jacket to let out some of the heat or even take off a layer. You could also carry a few extra pairs of dry felt boot liners, moisture wicking socks, and mitten liners. Moisture or sweat can make you very cold when the wind begins to blow.

The next layer is the warmth layer and wool is a great fabric for this.  It keeps you warm when dry and moist.  Fleece is also a popular warmth layer as well as down jackets. Wool is great for hats and mittens as long as they have a protective windbreaker fabric on the inside or outside. A face mask or neck warmer may be the ticket in windy weather.  Also, be sure your hat has generous ear flaps to cover your entire ears if the wind gets to blowin’. A one-piece insulated coverall is ideal for this sport, especially if it has a hood that can be left open or pulled tight around the face and neck.

If you choose to wear wool or fleece as a warmth layer, be sure and top it off with a rip-stop nylon windbreaker shell. The wind can cut through even the warmest wool sweater or jacket when you’re out on the lake.  Goggles tucked in a pocket can also help protect you against the blustery wind.

And the most important part of your ensemble is your boots!  When feet get cold, the whole body gets cold. So if you keep the tootsies warm, you will be a much happier fisher person.  Pack boots are ideal for this type of winter sport.  Pact boots are heavy duty insulated winter boots that are great for snowmobiling, hiking in the snow, and standing on the ice for a long time. They have a heavy rubber shell to keep water out and a gripping tread to provide traction in the winter snow and on the ice. Inside you’ll find a thick wool liner that keeps your feet warm and cozy, even if they get a little wet. The liners can be taken out to dry or exchange for a new pair when they get cold.

Now that you have your body taken care of we need to get some gear for your fishing adventure.

You will need your Fishing license and Michigan Fishing Regulations pamphlet to consult during your fishing trip so that you are fishing within the state laws.

Ice auger and measuring device- to drill your fishing holes and a to measure ice thickness and water depth. There are hand augers for thinner ice or electric augers for hard to drill through, thick ice.

It is always important to check the ice. Since you can’t tell the strength of ice by looking at it, the best place to check is at the shoreline. If the ice is squishy or broken up, chances are the balance of the ice is shaky. You can always call the coast guard to find out about ice conditions, but each individual water body should be checked before you venture out.  Always take someone with you or let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be back.

3″ (7 cm) – Do not go on ice!!!!!

4″ (10 cm) – Ice will hold about 200 lbs. (91 kg) It is okay to walk or ice fish.

5″ (12 cm) – Ice will hold about 800 lbs. (363 kg) You may drive your snowmobile or ATV on the ice.

8″ – 12″ (20 – 30 cm) – Ice will hold between 1500-2000 lbs. (680-907kg) you may drive your car on.

12″ – 15″ (30 – 38 cm) – Ice will hold over 2000 lbs. (907 kg) It is okay to drive your truck or van on ice.

Shelter-After you have determined how strong your ice is for ice fishing, the next thing you will need is shelter. Some people choose to dress really warm and not use shelter at all, but this really requires you to brave the elements. When the ice is strong enough, some people just use their vehicles for shelter. Others tow an ice house, also called an ice shack or shanty, out on the ice so they can get out of the wind without having to go back and forth to their vehicles. Larger ice houses have a bottom with areas that open up where you can drill holes for fishing and they may have room for a television, a large space heater, a generator and even bunk beds. Smaller ice houses may be bottomless or just have enough room for one ice hole and one person.

Toboggan or sled – This is a practical way to haul equipment onto the ice. Some anglers put their gear       on top of their shanty, which is transported on runners.

Skimmer – This handy tool is needed to scoop out slush or chips from your fishing hole. It looks like a            long-handled soup ladle, with a shallow, sieved bowl.

Ice chisel – Called “spuds,” ice chisels are used for chopping holes early in the ice fishing season when the ice is thinner. Be sure to secure these thin, but hefty, poles with a line tied to your arm.

Bait bucket – Holds live bait such as minnows.

Tipups and jig rods- Tipups are placed over the hole with a lure and a line. They are spring loaded so when a fish bites a flag pops up.  For a more hands on approach you should use a jig rod, which is basically just a little fishing pole.

Hooks – Small number 10 or 12 hooks are recommended for panfish.

Lures – Ice flies and teardrop lures with live bait are recommended for panfish.

Line – Light monofilament (a thin plastic length of string), 2 to 4-pound test (breaking strength), is all you need for panfish. Game fish require at least 10-pound test.

Seat – Something to sit on such as a small stool or folding chair, sometimes even a 5-gallon bucket.

Gaff hook – A special-purpose, large and heavy hook to help hoist a slippery fish through a hole in the ice.

Dip net – Used to dip into minnow buckets to retrieve bait and keep hands dry.

Needle nose Pliers-To help get the hook out of the fish’s mouth.

On a large lake you can lose your sense of direction if you get caught in the dark, or if the weather should turn nasty.  Some anglers have a compass strapped right to their arm where it’s visible or one in an accessible outside pocket. These anglers take a compass reading (bearing) of their intended route before leaving shore.  If a blizzard or a “white out” should hit, they can follow their compass in the reverse direction to get back to shore quickly. It wouldn’t hurt to take a bearing from your fishing hole back to a visible landmark as well. Careful planning begins with checking the weather report and getting back to safety before dark.

Two days twice a year, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan’s premiere outdoor activities, Michigan Fishing, for FREE! All fishing license fees will be waived for two days.  Residents and outstate visitors may enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish. All fishing regulations will still apply.

For many, the annual Free Fishing Weekend has become a tradition – a time to get together and have some fishing fun. While some may find time to reflect while fishing, there are no limits to variations on a great theme.

Winter: February 13 – 14, 2010
Summer: June 12 – 13, 2010

DNR has a list of fishing license vendor locations in the Upper Peninsula.