Sarley: Get right gear for ice fishing

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Ice season definitely is in full swing. Fishing gear is important, but safety gear is paramount when it comes to fishing on hard water.

Warm clothing is the first thing to consider, whether for ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or any Northern Illinois winter outdoor recreational activity.

Layer your clothing so you can add or subtract as the conditions change. Thinsulate is the magic word to look for when shopping for cold-weather gear. It’s light, comfortable and will keep you warm.

Warm, dry clothing is critically important as hypothermia can set in incredibly quickly, especially when skin gets wet. Hypothermia can be fatal, and it doesn’t have to be sub-zero outside to take effect. Be careful.

Getting your feet cold is the fastest way to put an end to your ice fishing experience. That’s one piece of clothing I will not scrimp on. Make sure your boots are rated to withstand the coldest temps. Make sure that you won’t suffer from water leakage by applying a good waterproofing treatment, such as Camp Dry. When you apply Camp Dry, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area – it has a very strong odor until it dries. 

A set of ice cleats mounted to your toasty warm boots is a must. A slip can ruin much more than a fishing trip.

Don’t forget to bring along your trusty pair of polarized fishing sunglasses. A small amount of sun combined with the whiteness of all of the ice and snow can make you near blind, even in the middle of winter.

For safely crossing an iced-over waterway, a spud bar is key. A spud is a long rod with a very heavy metal end. The idea is for you to strike the ice in front of you to make sure that it is solid before you put your weight on it. A length of rope can be a lifesaver for someone who has the misfortune of falling through the ice.

You can ice fish with as simple a setup as a $5 rod, a hand auger and a bucket to sit on. One thing that will make your outing more enjoyable would be a gas-powered auger. Even better is a friend with a gas-powered auger! You really need to drill a lot of holes and move around quite a bit to be truly successful, and hand-drilling is tiresome.

There is a million-dollar difference between the basic five-buck rod and something state-of-the-art like the St. Croix Legend series of rods that will run you $50. It’s cold out there, and that Legend will get you off the ice with your limit of fish a heck of a lot quicker than anything else you can use.

For me, a sonar depth finder is a must for the ice fisherman. You are blind out there with the water covered with ice. A sonar unit, especially one that reads accurate depths through the ice, saves you a lot of time and puts you on hot spots quickly.

Underwater cameras are fun and effective, but are a luxury, not a necessity. A portable ice shanty and a heater can be nice, but if you are serious about your fishing, you will be moving around so much that you won’t have time to park yourself indoors.

The hottest name in ice fishing jigs is Marmooska. They are world-renowned for their fish-catching power. These Russian jigs get to the right depth quickly and have good hooking capability. Although much more expensive than standard ice jigs, they are worth the money, and you’ll only be buying a few of them.

Line is key in ice fishing. Two- or four-pound test line is all you’ll need to catch anything but pike. Fluorocarbon line is virtually invisible and worth the extra dollars. Remember that you’ll only need to out about two or three feet of the fluoro onto the end of your regular line, so the cost is very minimal.

The traditional five-gallon bucket remains an ice staple. You’ll use it to haul your gear to the lake and to haul it back, plus all of those tasty fish you’ll be bringing home. Of course, the bucket inverted serves as a handy seat. You can buy a bucket at the local home improvement store, but to save a few bucks, ask for one at the local bakery. They go through them by the score and should be happy to let you have one.

Now that you are geared up, you only need to decide on where you’ll be drilling those holes. Don’t attempt to ice fish on a lake or pond that you didn’t fish during open water season. You should fish where you know the lay of the land,  or rather, the water. You need to have a general idea of where a body of water’s drop-offs and weedlines are located.

If you fish open water, you realize that if you start getting close to other anglers, you’ll be treated to some nasty glares. Open-water fisherman don’t like having their space infringed upon. It’s different in the ice world. Try to fish near other anglers. Ask if it’s okay and you’ll be pleased to almost always get a positive response. Don’t be totally surprised to find that you be may be invited to share a couple of open holes.

Last but not least, never ice fish alone. That is rule number one. Communal ice fishing is fun and much safer. Now get out there and have a great time, and don’t forget to send me your reports and pictures, please.

• Lake County Journals outdoors columnist Steve Sarley's radio show, "The Outdoors Experience" airs live from 8-9 a.m. Saturday on AM-560. Sarley also runs a Web site for outdoors enthusiasts, OExperience.com. He can be reached by e-mail at sarfishing@yahoo.com.