Ice fishing

Frequently asked questions

What is ice fishing and how does it work?

Ice fishing means fishing through a hole drilled in the ice of a frozen lake with short rods or tip-ups. Anglers jig small lures or baits, or set tip-ups whose flag signals a bite, often locating fish with a flasher. Perch, bluegill, crappie, walleye, pike and trout are common targets.

Take Me Fishing explains that ice fishing uses specialised gear: short rods, usually 24 to 36 inches, light lines, small jigs and live baits such as wax worms, maggots, spikes or minnows, or tip-ups with a reel and a flag that pops up when a fish takes the bait. Holes are cut with a hand or power auger. A common approach is jigging from the bottom up until you find the depth where fish bite; flashers (sonar) show fish, and your bait, under the hole. Its ice-fishing FAQ, written with the USA Ice Fishing Team, notes that shallow weed beds in the Midwest often hold bluegill and crappie, perch are often in colder, deeper lakes, and tip-up anglers with minnows target pike or muskellunge. Rules vary: some European regions ban fishing under the ice (Wallonia and Flanders), while others allow it on specific lakes, such as Canton Glarus on Garichti and Oberblegisee. Studies show that exposing walleye to winter air after capture impairs them, so release fish quickly.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing rods and reels ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing bait and lures ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing FAQ ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing electronics ; Wallonia – AGW of 08.12.2016 on fishing conditions ; Flanders – decree of 01.02.2013 on public fishing ; Canton of Glarus – fishing rules (ice fishing) ; Logan et al. 2019 – winter air exposure and walleye physiology, Fisheries Research ; Twardek et al. 2017 – post-release survival of walleyes following ice-angling, NAJFM

When is ice safe for ice fishing?

Take Me Fishing gives 4 inches of clear, solid new ice as the minimum to support a person on foot, to be doubled for white snow ice, and it varies greatly across a lake. Check conditions with a local bait shop or state agency, test thickness every few steps, never go alone and carry ice picks and a life jacket.

Take Me Fishing's ice-safety guidance states that a minimum of 4 inches of clear, solid ice is required to support an average person, that white or 'snow' ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice, so guidelines should be doubled on it, and that a foot of old, partly thawed ice may not be safe. Ice rarely freezes uniformly: it can be a foot thick in one place and an inch or two a few feet away, and it is weaker over current, near streams, bridges and culverts, near shore and under snow. Its FAQ adds that 4 inches usually form after about a week of nights below freezing, but advises checking with the local bait shop or state agency first. Test with a spud bar, auger or drill every few steps, avoid slush and cracks, never fish alone, tell someone your plan, wear a life vest under winter clothing (but not in an enclosed vehicle) and carry ice picks. Avoid alcohol, which impairs judgement and cools you.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice thickness guidelines ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing safety ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing FAQ ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing clothing

What are the best ice fishing rods?

Ice rods are short, usually 24 to 36 inches, according to Take Me Fishing. Pick sensitivity by species: an ultralight rod for panfish, a heavier rod for walleye or pike. Pair it with a small spinning or spring-tension reel, or use tip-ups for larger fish. We do not rank brands.

Take Me Fishing's ice rod guide says ice fishing rods are typically 24 to 36 inches long, compact and durable in the cold, and that the target species determines sensitivity and weight: an ultralight rod works best for panfish, while game fish such as northern pike need a heavier rod. Reels include spinning reels, spring-tension spools and even fly reels, which reduce line twist; match the reel to the rod's weight and sensitivity and to the line. Many anglers fish a jigging rod in one hole and a tip-up nearby for larger fish such as walleye, since the tip-up flag signals a bite. For walleye specifically, its night-fishing article uses a medium-action spinning setup with 10-pound monofilament in open water, and its ice line guide suggests 8 to 10 pound line for walleye under the ice. Official sources do not rank models.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing rods and reels ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing lines ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – How to catch walleye at night

When is ice fishing season?

Ice fishing starts once lakes freeze to a safe thickness, at least 4 inches of clear ice according to Take Me Fishing, and ends when the ice weakens in late winter or spring. Dates vary by region and year, and species seasons still apply on the ice. Early ice is often productive on weed beds.

There is no fixed calendar: ice fishing depends on ice. Take Me Fishing's FAQ says a good rule of thumb is to wait until the ice is 4 inches thick, which usually happens after about a week of nights below freezing, and to check with the local bait shop or state agency before going out. It recommends starting early-season ice fishing on a new lake at the largest weed bed, and notes that hand augers suit early season while power augers help once the ice is thicker mid-season. Old, thawing ice at the end of winter is weaker than new ice of the same thickness. Regulations still apply: species seasons and limits run on the ice as in open water, and some jurisdictions ban or restrict fishing under ice, such as Wallonia and Flanders in Belgium, while Canton Glarus allows it on designated lakes such as Garichti and Oberblegisee. Check your state or regional rules.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing FAQ ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing safety ; Wallonia – AGW of 08.12.2016 on fishing conditions ; Flanders – decree of 01.02.2013 on public fishing ; Canton of Glarus – fishing rules (ice fishing)

What is the best line for ice fishing?

Lighter line than in open water. Take Me Fishing suggests 2- to 4-pound monofilament, the most common choice, or 4- to 6-pound braid for panfish deeper than 20 feet, and 8- to 10-pound line for bass or walleye, often with a fluorocarbon leader. Heavy braid is used on tip-ups.

Take Me Fishing explains that ice lines are generally much lighter than open-water lines so they transmit subtle bites, and come in monofilament, braid and fluorocarbon. For panfish at depths over 20 feet, light braided line of 4 to 6 pound test helps detect bites and set the hook because it does not stretch, while light monofilament of 2 to 4 pound test is the most commonly used ice line because of its durability. For larger species such as largemouth bass or walleye, it recommends 8 to 10 pound test, possibly with a fluorocarbon leader that is less visible and more abrasion-resistant when bringing fish up through the hole. For tip-ups, heavy braided line on the spool is standard, with a barrel swivel to prevent twist and 2 to 3 feet of fluorocarbon leader for walleye, bass, trout, perch and crappie. Choose line by species, technique and depth.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing lines ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing rods and reels

What are the best ice fishing boots?

Warm, waterproof, well-insulated boots worn over moisture-wicking liner socks and warm socks, plus ice cleats for traction. Take Me Fishing lists these as part of basic ice-fishing clothing, alongside layered clothing, a hat, waterproof gloves and ice picks. It does not rank boot models.

Take Me Fishing's ice clothing guide recommends layering: a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulated wind-breaking middle layer and a breathable outer shell, noting that many dedicated ice suits are insulated, windproof, waterproof and sometimes buoyant. For the feet, it recommends moisture-wicking liner socks under warm socks and good boots, and ice cleats to keep traction on slick ice. It also advises a warm hat, good gloves (fully waterproof neoprene or more flexible water-resistant fabrics, each with trade-offs) and safety picks worn around the neck to pull yourself out if you fall through. We found no official test comparing boot models, so we give criteria rather than brands: waterproof lower, insulation rated for the temperatures you fish in, room for warm socks without squeezing, and grip or cleat compatibility. Wet feet chill quickly on the ice, so carry spare socks.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing clothing ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing safety

What is the best fish finder for ice fishing?

Ice anglers mainly use flashers, sonar units with a circular display that show fish, the bottom and your lure in the hole, or LCD fish finders with heated screens, plus underwater cameras. Take Me Fishing describes these types but does not rank models; choose by ease of reading and cold-weather performance.

Take Me Fishing explains that electronics are now standard in ice fishing. Flashers are sonar devices that display the water column on a circular screen, showing whether fish are under your hole, at what depth, and your line and bait at the same time, so you can see fish reacting to your jig. Ice-specific fish finders fixed an old problem of LCD screens freezing, some with heated screens and others using LED displays, and are easier for anglers who find flashers hard to read. Underwater cameras give a live image of fish behaviour, and GPS units mark spots and help navigation. Its FAQ recommends jigging from the bottom up until you find the depth where fish bite, which is exactly what a flasher helps with. We found no official comparison of models, so we do not name brands. Consider battery life in the cold, transducer set-up for holes and screen readability.

Official sources : Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing electronics ; Take Me Fishing (RBFF) – Ice fishing FAQ