I grew up fishing in Wyoming, where ice fishing is more of a sport than a way of life. I don’t know anybody who depends on their catch to feed their family – most people just do it for fun. So when I saw native Alaskans on TV catching large numbers of fish during the …
When Winter’s icy grip settles across the Northern United States and Canada, frozen lakes usually spotted with fishing boats transform into cities of Icehouses, pop-up shelters, and pickups. Ice fishing is a way of life for many outdoors people living in these regions, and they know it’s time to hunker down, set up their homes …
One of my favorite parts of ice fishing is eating what I catch. I don’t always keep fish for the oven, but when I do I like to make sure they taste as good as possible. This means keeping the fish alive until I’m ready to go home. You’ll be absolutely amazed what a difference …
You want to be catching fish out on the ice, not figuring out how to adapt your Striker 4 to ice fishing. This post will coach you through the setup process and tweak your Striker 4, so it’s ready to hit the ice. We’ll review the Striker 4’s features, how to set it up, and …
Ice fishing can be a pretty tough hobby. You’ve got cold temperatures, slippery ice, and bitter wind to contend with, and that’s just the start. You shouldn’t add stiff legs or a sore behind to that list of discomforts. Get yourself a good ice fishing chair, and you’ll be fishing longer hours thanks to the …
Ice fishing is a hobby that requires quite a bit of gear, and you only collect more over time. On top of that, fishing rods are delicate and the lines can get tangled if you don’t keep them in a secure case. You definitely want to protect the fishing gear you buy from getting lost …
If you’ve ever gone ice fishing, you’ve probably benefited from having a shelter out on the ice. But what about a floor for that shelter? Having an ice fishing shelter floor is not completely essential, but definitely necessary if you want to be comfortable. Shelter floors can keep the interior of your shelter warmer by …
When I was a kid, I hated ice fishing because I was always cold and we constantly struggled to catch anything. I could never understand why my grandfather wanted to take me out. As I got older, I learned more about what ice fishing is supposed to be and learned that ice fishing bibs are …
In my years of ice fishing at lakes across Wyoming, I’ve had several otherwise good fishing days ruined by cold feet. This is a sport that threatens to freeze your toes in a variety of ways: cold outdoor temperatures, frozen ice below you, water from the lake and melting snow, and, of course, the wind. …
There is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to ice fishing sonar. Many anglers think you’re limited to choosing between an ice fishing flasher or a fish finder. They think only one or the other will work, but that’s not always the case. The goal of this guide is to explain how …
Maybe you’ve been ice fishing with the guy who brings every new gadget, or maybe you’ve just heard about underwater ice fishing cameras online. Is a fishing camera something you need, or is it just a fun “extra” for ice fishermen to waste their money on? The truth is, it’s not really necessary to have …
Ice fishing can get expensive, especially for first-time anglers, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. You can cut costs by starting without snowmobiles, sleds, ice shelters, etc. But because the fish are under the ice you’re standing on; you can’t ice fish without some way to make a hole in the ice. Sure, …
It’s the perfect day for ice fishing. You’re ready to hit your favorite lake and haul in a bunch of walleye. But what are the best ways to get their attention? What are some of the most effective baits when ice fishing for walleye? Generally, minnows work best for bringing in the walleye. But there …
A custom-painted ice fishing lure or jig head might be just what you need to finally catch that trophy-length pike or the lunker walleye you have been chasing. Lure and jig painting is a super rewarding hobby that will let you exercise some creativity and attention to detail as part of the greater hobby of …
To find the best chair for ice fishing you must first think about what features are most important. Portability, comfort, and durability are three that come to mind. But, finding all three of these features in one product isn’t always easy. The goal of this guide is to help you understand what characteristics make a …
We don’t talk about them often, but we use spoons daily. We cook and eat with spoons; we use them to take medicine. Ice Anglers even fish with a type of spoon. But the question is, do spoons work for ice fishing? The answer is a resounding yes. What would our lives be without them? …
If you are investing in an ice fishing shelter, you definitely want to stay warm. It can make the experience of ice fishing even more fun when you don’t have to be bundled up in a heavy coat and bibs. Some small shelters will stay warm just from sunlight and body heat. But if these …
Tying a hook onto a fishing line may be the first and most important step in catching a fish. No hook, no fish. Worse, if you tie the wrong kind of knot or do a poor job, it could come undone or snap the fishing line, letting your fish escape. Maybe you’ve been through this …
You’re heading out to the ice for a day of ice fishing, and you’re planning to use live minnows this time. Live bait is preferred by many anglers because it is often the most successful at bringing in the fish. But how do you hook a live minnow for ice fishing? And how do you …
Many people find ice fishing to be tougher than open water fishing for one primary reason. They think it’s tougher because they don’t know how to actually find fish. When you’re fishing during the warm weather you can see things like stumps, grass, and ripples in the water. These things can indicate a fish and …
