How to Ice Fish
Follow these tips to keep safe when catching dinner out in the freezing cold.
Up next in Fishing for Beginners (11 videos)
Become a better fisherman with the fishing tips in these how to fish videos from Howcast.
You Will Need
- Freezing cold weather
- A fishing license
- A towel
- A bucket
- Warm clothes
- Boots
- Gloves
- A float coat
- Ice cleats
- A spud bar
- An auger
- A scooper
- A fishing pole with reel
- Fishing line
- A depth finder
- A bobber
- Hook
- Bait
- A lake with fish
Steps
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Step 1
Contact the DNR
Contact the appropriate state agency to buy a fishing license and check for any ice warnings.
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Step 2
Research fishing spots
Research popular fishing spots on the web or from people at local bait shops.
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Step 3
Pack and dress for the weather
Pack all your fishing essentials and a towel in a bucket. Wear warm clothes, boots, gloves, and a float coat.
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Dressing in multiple layers will keep you warmer.
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Step 4
Walk with a spud bar
Walk onto the ice wearing ice cleats and using a spud bar to spear the ice as you go.
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If the bar sticks in the ice, stop and back up slowly -- the ice is not secure.
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Step 5
Drill a hole
Drill a hole with an auger and scoop out the ice.
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Step 6
Measure the line
Let the line from the fishing pole loose into the water with a depth finder attached until it reaches the bottom of the lake. Reel the line up 2 to 3 feet and attach a bobber where the line hits the water
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Step 7
Attach hook and bait
Pull the line up and attach the hook and bait. Drop the line back into the water and you are now ice fishing.
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In 2006 in Wisconsin, ice anglers spent 11 million hours catching 14 million fish.
