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A Quick Guide to Ice Fishing Equipment
from: Maxx Sports GuidesIn areas of the frozen north, a number of countries practice a style of angling that's much different than any other form of recreational fishing. Ice fishing is a slow, often dangerous sport that requires a lot of patience and the right equipment.
Ice fishing started in frozen areas of countries such as Canada and Norway, but certainly isn't limited to these locations. In fact, some lakes in Alaska freeze thick enough to allow ice fishing. Of course, ice fishing means this type of angling only occurs on frozen lakes thick enough to hold a lot of weight.
Traditionally, ice fishing equipment is nothing more than a good, sturdy wooden pole, a long, strong piece of fishing line, hooked and baited, and a stool to sit on for hours at a time. Also, there are those who prefer to hunt with a sharpened wooden spear. Although it's not as widely used or appreciated, a spear is another possible piece of ice fishing equipment.
But, there's more to ice fishing than just sitting and waiting. A fisherman must be able to cut out a large enough hole through the frozen lake to get to the water below. That's where an ice spade or ice saw, two specialized pieces of ice fishing equipment will definitely comes in handy. A fisherman uses these tools to cut a hole of about 5 inches in diameter out of the frozen lake. A strainer is another piece of ice fishing equipment used to sift out newly forming chunks of ice within the hole.
There are some different types of angling techniques that can be used when ice fishing. The first uses small, fast lures plus a keen eye, to catch smaller game. The second method requires a special piece of ice fishing equipment known as a 'tie-up'. Using this method, the angler drags the multi hooked fishing line by hand until it strikes, thus, 'tying' the fish in a web of hooks.
The final method is the spear method, in which a fisherman places a decoy fish at the top of the water in the cut hole, then waits until the perfect moment to strike.
As stated, ice fishing can, at times, be a dangerous sport. Water must be frozen about 4 inches to support average humans' weight. Some times the ice is a bit thinner than 4 inches. Mistakes, such as misjudging the strength of the ice, can be a potentially life threatening error. If you ever fell into a partially frozen lake, there's a good chance you could die from hypothermia, if not properly taken care of quickly.
If you have sufficient knowledge and the right ice fishing equipment, ice angling is a fun and adventurous sport people of all ages can enjoy.
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