Thread: Ice fishing

Private farm ponds are the best locally. Would have to get way up north, probably to get a guide. Make sure at least 4in of good clear ice. This is a style of fishing that can KILL you if you do not take the time to be safe. Most small ponds freeze first and have the best bluegills. Good luck

check with RICO

indiana ice fishing guide? go to wisconsin or minnesota if you want that. i have never heard of one around here.

Bowler,

I know of no ice guides in my area. We have quite a few musky guides for open water. But anyway, I will help you out best I can. I take it you have no equipment? Do you have good outdoor clothes? What species are you looking to target?

I know it sounds like a lot of questions, but they are relevant.

hey i didnt start the thread but i think i may be in the same boat here. i love to fish but have never actually been ice fishing.... i dont have any ice fishing gear but i do have warm clothes....so if anyone could get me goin on what jigs/rod reel would be a good starter and some tactics and where and how to locate them......also how can you tell when it is safe to go on the ice?

probably mainly target panfish.....maybe some walleye

For the most part we use short rods. Usually in that 20"-30" range. Most guys use spinning reels, but more and more are switching to inline reels(basically a fly reel in layman's terms). Most will use 1-4lb. test line. As far as jigs there are a bunch of them out there, too many to talk about. I use what is called a bullfrog that is custom made by a rod maker up my way. With walleye I use jigginraps and buckshot spoons. I live in Kosciusko County, there are glacial lakes everywhere so I don't have to go far to find a place to fish. Most serious ice guys use electronics to locate fish....to see what I am talking about check out vexilar.com I usually look for 3"'s of ice, but have been on less. We use a spud bar to check the ice as we go out on it. I hope that helps.....and feel free to ask away.

yeah could you just rattle off a few good jigs for me to look into. and i have a lowrance hds5x that has capabilities to be used on ice just need to get transducer.and maybe a good starter rod/reel to look at