Winter Fun Ice Fishing

With some simple gear, safety sense and thermals you can spend many hours fishing on the barren waste of a frozen lake.

A simple stick with 30 feet of fishing line a hook a small shiny washer, bait, a cutting tool and a frozen lake is all you need.

Ice fishing Is simple. Just cut a hole in the ice and then lower a baited hook down the hole. Baits can vary as to the target fish--grubs and dough baits are always good. The rig pictured above is good for trout or perch. See my other Instructable "Ice Fishing Tip-up".

You will also need an ice strainer like the orange thing in the above picture to remove ice chips and slush from cutting the hole.

First make sure the ice is safe--my rule is at least 6 inches. Cut a hole with ice auger, an axe or ice chisel. Lower bait to where you believe there to be fish. If you jig the bait or move the hook up and down, the flashing washer and moving bait will attract fish.

When the fish takes the bait the line with tighten and you will feel a slight tug. Give it a good yank to set the hook. Then pull up the line up--do not reel it up.

Once the fish is landed and removed from the hook you can re-bait and lower the hook back to the depth where you know there are fish.

Ice Fishing is great Winter Fun and a great way to add a healthy protein to your diet.