Ice fishing starter please.

[bowhunter]

Recently moved to Montana and are living in a house on a lake outside Helena. Water is now hard, 10-12” . Never Ice fished before but am wanting to get started. What are y’all suggestions on getting started?

People tell me to buy tip up’s and fish from the house, not sure if that sounds appealing to me. Maybe it would be. Trout, walleye and perch in this lake.

Thank you for any suggestions!!

Dan


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[bsnedeker]

Recently moved to Montana and are living in a house on a lake outside Helena. Water is now hard, 10-12” . Never Ice fished before but am wanting to get started. What are y’all suggestions on getting started?

People tell me to buy tip up’s and fish from the house, not sure if that sounds appealing to me. Maybe it would be. Trout, walleye and perch in this lake.

Thank you for any suggestions!!

Dan


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I'm no expert but those pop-up ice fishing tents in a sled with a couple seats don't cost that much. If I lived right on a lake I'd buy one of those and a Mr. Buddy heater and a gas-powered or drill powered auger and get to work.

 

[CorbLand]

Not an expert by a long shot but its pretty basic on what you need to get started.

I would get a sled, something like a JetSled is what I use and its perfect. The bigger it is the more crap you will put in it but make sure you get one big enough to carry everything you need.

An auger is next. If the ice is as thick as you say, I would get a gas or electric one. The ION ones are pretty sweet and quiet as can be.

Get yourself a couple poles as its nice to have them rigged with different lures. It saves a ton of time changing them out. You can get started with 2-3 poles but 4-5 is better. I use the cheap poles that can be found for sub 20 bucks but the more expensive ones are really nice.

A good chair goes a long ways. Get your self an ice scoop.

A tent is nice if you want to do a lot of fishing. It opens up the days that the weather is crappy. If you are a fair weather fisher, you can get by without a tent.

A good pair of gloves and boots make the world of difference.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

get an auger, an ice fishing pole or two, and a container of wax worms. Sit on an upside down bucket and enjoy!

 

[WCB]

Basics, a couple poles, some lures, auger, ice scoop, and a couple buckets (to put stuff in and sit on). I would also invest in a "fish finder". It is going to be worlds of help figure out depth and to find fish/ target them.

Auger...YOU can get attachments for your brushless drill (if you have one) that are a lot less expensive than and actual electric auger...instead of gas I would get a propane auger (don't have to deal with mixing gas and ca just throw a couple 2lb bottles in the sled).

I would get a couple tip ups as you can just throw them out in front of the house and watch for a flag to go up on those days you don't want to actually be on the ice. or if you are fishing you can throw a couple out (regs dependent) to have more lines in and up your chances.

Other than that just go talk to a guy or two on the ice or that does it and ask questions. Most guys if you have no idea what you are doing will be a great help. Also, what lake are you on? I have family on Canyon Ferry and my sister lives just SE of Great Falls and they fish a bunch in that whole area ...may be able to help with more specifics. PM if you want

 

[bowhunter]

Basics, a couple poles, some lures, auger, ice scoop, and a couple buckets (to put stuff in and sit on). I would also invest in a "fish finder". It is going to be worlds of help figure out depth and to find fish/ target them.

Auger...YOU can get attachments for your brushless drill (if you have one) that are a lot less expensive than and actual electric auger...instead of gas I would get a propane auger (don't have to deal with mixing gas and ca just throw a couple 2lb bottles in the sled).

I would get a couple tip ups as you can just throw them out in front of the house and watch for a flag to go up on those days you don't want to actually be on the ice. or if you are fishing you can throw a couple out (regs dependent) to have more lines in and up your chances.

Other than that just go talk to a guy or two on the ice or that does it and ask questions. Most guys if you have no idea what you are doing will be a great help. Also, what lake are you on? I have family on Canyon Ferry and my sister lives just SE of Great Falls and they fish a bunch in that whole area ...may be able to help with more specifics. PM if you want

Thank you for the suggestions.

House is on Hauser Lake, next lake downstream from Canyon Ferry.


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[bowhunter]

Thank you for the suggestions.

House is in Hauser Lake, next lake downstream from Canyon Ferry.


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Or is it upstream…


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[CorbLand]

Auger...YOU can get attachments for your brushless drill (if you have one) that are a lot less expensive than and actual electric auger...instead of gas I would get a propane auger (don't have to deal with mixing gas and ca just throw a couple 2lb bottles in the sled).

My buddy has one of these and it works pretty good but we dont get ice much over 8 inches here. In his words "they work good but don't hold onto them tight because when the ****** binds up, it jacks your wrist."

 

[Customweld]

If you buy an auger, whether it's a power or hand style, get a Nils brand. They are hands down the best on the market. I would go with a minimum of a 6" auger. 8" and 10" are nice if you are in a body of water that has bigger fish, but a 6" will get you going. As stated above an electric fish marker is extremely helpful, if you aren't marking fish, there's no reason to waster your time in that spot. Actual ice fishing poles help out. Regular length fish poles are a pain. If you get into it, it's a pretty enjoyable way to pass the winter .

 

[GSPHUNTER]

Power auger, I used hand auger when I was young and dumb living in So. Wisconsin. tip ups or short rod and spinning reel, mini jigs. Ask around and see what they are tipping them with. Fish from small house/shed with heater. No need to freeze your balls off. Maybe a little coffee if you drink it or hot chocolate. Chair, hand warmers. Maybe an adult beverage for hot drink, just enough for flavor.

 

[bowhunter]

If anyone is in the area and wouldn’t mind an observer for a day that would be awesome. What better way to learn than watching someone.

Bad thing is I only have Monday and Tuesday off right now.

Thanks.

Dan


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[Lawnboi]

I’ll go over some basics. First and foremost safety. Get some picks to put around your neck and a spud for checking ice. A throw bag is a good idea too. Many of the newer ice bibs and jackets also float. Though likely safe this time of year, never assume any ice is safe ice.

You will need an auger, I recommend something you can put on an electric drill. Use the drill around the house and use it on the ice. If bigger trout and walleye are a target I reccomend 8”.

Honestly tip ups are your best bet without electronics. Figure out how many lines you can have out, buy that many, take the wife, kids, buy more tip ups, learn how to set them and go catch fish.

A rod or 2 is a good idea. Something light for panfish and something heavier for game fish. Talk to your local bait shops on what works for lures and such in the area. Fishing with rods through the ice sucks without electronics.

A cheaper flasher will do you the most good for finding fish and understanding where your bait is or needs to be.

Last thing on my list would be a pop up shack. Good on cold days and known spots. Being mobile is key when ice fishing, too many guys setup shop in a shack and sit there. That said on cold days that may be h th e only option.

I ice fish quite a bit but in WI. Any other specific questions let me know. I don’t know your fish but around here perch and walleye like the bottom for the most part, and trout are about wherever they wanna be.

 

[CoStick]

You need to get electronics, flasher or fish finder, it is a blast, like cat and mouse. If people ice fish the lake walk up and introduce yourself. As mentioned be safe, ice is dangerous.

 

[DanimalW]

You can probably catch all those fish on 1/12 oz kastmaster or similar spoon tipped with spikes/wax worms or minnow heads. You want a power auger. Hand augers are ok for a few holes when there isn’t a lot of ice, but you start sweating up your clothes pretty quickly on 12”+ ice. That’s really all you need besides beer. The navionics phone app for $10 is an awesome gps feature (its like OnX with a topo map of the depth contours on the lake).

 

[cnelk]

I’ve been ice fishing for 50+ years.

Here ya go

 

[cnelk]

We put some serious miles and time in each winter chasing lake trout.

You’ll never have enough gear!

 

[KurtR]

Kdrill on a Milwaukee will go through feet of ice no problem.

Vexilar or marcum flasher find fish and depths.

Walleyes and perch buckshot spoons with a minnow head or whole minnows fish will decide.

Eskimo insulated hub and a big buddy heater.

Jigging rods and some tip ups. We all make our own out here on oahe. Just a L out of two boards with and old spool and different color tape on each half of spool so you can see it spin

Sled to pull all your stuff

We are getting ready for the biggest ice fishing tournament in the country this weekend amazed at the amount of sno bears in town all ready.

 

[bowhunter]

I’ve been ice fishing for 50+ years.

Here ya go


View attachment 366341

My favorite response so far.


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[mnhoundman]

All good advice, right now my best peice of fishing gear is my v plow!! Lots of that dam snow here!

 

[cnelk]

If you’re handy at all, make yourself a ‘tip-down’

Here’s mine I made - works good for deadsticking