Ice Fishing Trips

Planning for an ice fishing trip is not like planning for an average outing. There's much more to it than packing for a day at an amusement park or a jaunt across the country for a weekend in Vegas. No, there are myriad topics and items to consider, pack, research, and choose beyond which shoes will match that purse. Here are a few helpful hints to get you through your ice fishing trip.

Planning your ice fishing trips

Essential items to get started

Ice fishing is a special sport with very particular weather circumstances. That is why it is paramount to plan meticulously before setting out into sub-zero temperatures for long stretches of time.

Ice Fishing Clothing

The first and probably most obvious items to think about are clothing. The best approach for winter clothing is layering, bearing in mind that the outermost layer should be windproof. Three to four layers of clothing should suffice, allowing you to add or subtract layers throughout the course of the day to meet your comfort level, regardless of the weather. Hat and gloves are absolutely essential items, as 75 percent of a person's body heat is lost through the head. Warm socks and insulated, waterproof boots will help guard against frost-bitten toes. It is important to bring extras of everything. After all, this sport does involve being around water, and the likelihood of getting something wet is reasonable enough to warrant precautionary measures.

Ice Fishing Equipment

Next, think about miscellaneous equipment. It is wise to have a first aid kit handy for any outdoor activity and especially for ice fishing. Along with this kit, high-energy snacks and a thermos of non-alcoholic hot liquid will help keep you going on a cold day. Hand warmers, those pocket-sized, seemingly luxurious items, are inexpensive and can go a long way to keeping you out there fishing longer. A five-gallon bucket of any sort will function nicely to carry gear and also double as a seat when turned upside down.

The amount of fishing equipment brought along can be sizeable or minimal, depending on your needs and resources. The necessities, however, include an ice auger or a spud bar to make a hole in the ice. An ice skimmer should be present to clear the hole of ice chips and keep the hold from quickly freezing back over. Other obvious indispensable items are fishing poles, bobbers, lures, bait, and hooks.

With all of these items in your possession and ready to pack, it is time to figure out where you will go. The Internet, periodicals, and good old-fashioned phone calls will help you figure out where is ideal for you. This will depend on what kind of fish you are looking to catch, what time of day you want to be out, where you want to go, how much money you should expect to spend if a guide is involved, and who you should take with you. Once you get all of these details ironed out, you can load up your car (and wallet), and head for the great outdoors.