Ice Fishing Equipment Made Simple

• Rods – ice fishing equipment lists should start with a good quality rod or tip-up. Rods for ice fishing are very short and typically very sturdy to accommodate for the tension and weight of the fish. The tip-up is a rod or reel attached to a cap or board that sits across or above the ice hole, with a flag or marker attached to the rod or spring where the line lids through. When a fish strikes the flag moves, allowing the angler to work the line and hook the fish. Typically anglers with more than one line in the water will use tip-ups to locate where fish are biting, then move to single line fishing.

• Lines – the monofilament lines used in spinners and fly fishing will not work well with the ice fishing equipment. A braided line that has a test weight of 10 to 20 pounds will be much better suited to the cold and icy conditions found when ice fishing.

• Lures and Bait– lures can be of almost any variety, but shiny and colorful plastic minnows, live bait, plastic worms and ice jigs being some of the best to have in your tackle box.

• Ice Auger – a gas powered ice auger can save a lot of time chipping a hole through the ice. Since a safe depth of ice for fishing is at least four inches, an auger can be a time and energy saving piece of ice fishing equipment.

• Shelter – there are many different types of canvas, plastic or even insulated “igloo” type shelters that can be pulled onto the lake or can be set up when you get there. Even a simple three-sided frame with a piece of tarp to break the wind can be effective.

• Skimmer – a slotted spoon or flat slotted paddle type device to keep removing the ice crystals from the fishing hole. Many people now use “caps” which provide a thermal layer to prevent the hole from freezing over.

• First Aid Kit – cold fingers often result in cuts on hooks so a good, well stocked first aid kit is important.

Last, but not at all least it is important to have identification and a current fishing license in your ice fishing equipment. Additional supplies such as heaters, chairs, blankets and even a camping stove are great additions to your ice fishing equipment and gear.

And most of all — Have a great time!

In this article I want to discuss some of the more popular fishing lures in the hopes that I can narrow the choices down to the best fishing lure. Actually, I believe that the term the best fishing lure is different for every angler, I mean come on is one fishing lure actually the best? Of course not, there are different fishing lures for different fishing situations, so what I’m going to discuss the most popular, and you can make your own decision as to which fishing lure is actually the best fishing lureÂ…for you.

Obviously, when it comes to fishing lures, trying to figure out which is the best can be a tough decision. There are literally tens of thousands of choices available and navigating through those choices can be a tall order. With this article I hope to cut through some of the BS and give you some real world information, and even some suggestions as to the effectiveness of this or that fishing lure. Lets begin our search for the best fishing lure, shall we?

• Top Water Fishing Lures – Top water fishing lures are just what the name suggestsÂ…fishing lures that are fished on the surface, or top, of the water. These fishing lures can imitate wounded bait fish, frogs, or even small mammals. I’ve always had success with frog imitation poppers and minnow imitation top water plugs such as the Zara Spook. A great tip for fishing top water lures is to do it when the water is as calm as possible, the more the surface of the water is like glass, the better top water fishing lures will work.
• Spinners & Spoons – I’m grouping spinners and spoons together because I believe they are in the some family. The both imitate baitfish (for the most part) and can both be quite effective as fishing lures. The two most popular versions of spinner and spoons are probably Rooster Tails for spinners and Daredevils for spoons. A daredevil spoon in the colors red and white have long been known as a great pike bait. Rooster Tails are wonderful for trout and smallmouth bass fishing. Are spinners and spoons the best fishing lure? ThatÂ’s for you to decideÂ…
• Minnow Imitations – Minnow imitation fishing lures are more than likely the type of fishing lure that all of the world is the most familiar with. These are the fishing lures that look like bait fish and come in all of the sizes and colors that actual baitfish are available in. These types of fishing lures are also available in colors that only a 3-year old could love. There are minnow imitation fishing lures that dive a few feet deep to as many as thirty feet deep. You can cover the entire water table with minnow imitations. The most popular of these types of fishing lures has to be Rapala’s. Rapala’s are made from balsa wood and are a very lifelike, realistic, and effective fishing lure. Another lifelike and realistic fishing lure is the KickTail Minnow. The KickTail Minnow is fairly new to the fishing lure market and looks as much like a real bait fish as anything that I’ve ever seen. The bottom line is that minnow imitations are exactly what the name suggests: fishing lures that imitate minnowsÂ…
• Rubber Worms & Grubs – These might not be considered ‘fishing lures’ to some anglers, but they are close enough to be added to the list in my mind. Rubber worms have been a favorite of bass fishermen for generations, and rubber grubs attached to a jig head can be an incredibly effective method for catching almost every species of fish. Rubber Worms are rigged in various ways and one of the most popular methods is called the ‘Carolina rig’. Rigs such as the Carolina rig are used mainly for fishing for large mouth bass.

At the end of the day, the best fishing lure is the lure that’s your favorite. It would be impossible to say that one type of fishing lure is truly better than another. Some work better than others, or dive deeper than others, but the bottom line is that your favorite, is your favorite, and your favorite fishing lure is, to you, the best fishing lure. No matter what type of fishing lure you consider to be the best, make sure that
You’re fishing when the fish are the most active
. There is no substitute for the two factors of fishing when the fish are active and practice. The better that your angling skills become, the more fish you’ll catch, no matter what type of fishing lure you use.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing countryÂ…..Montana!

Great Fishing Lures: http://www.jrwfishing.com/ktm.html

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk DHJ12 Lure $6.99 Deep divers! Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk Lures run nearly 20′ deep. A deep-diving version of their popular Husky Jerk, these reach depths of nearly 20′ when trolled and will run as deep as 10′ when casting and retrieving. Perfect for anglers who want a lure that can run straight and true, even when running fast and deep! Oversized lip helps it reach 20′ depths while trolling, 10′ when casting; 4 3…

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk Lures Size: DHJ12 (4 3/4, 1/2 oz.); Color: Glass Minnow (GMN) $5.75 The Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk can reach depths of nearly 20 feet when trolled and will run as deep as 10 feet when cast and retrieved thanks to its oversized diving lip. The Down Deep Husky Jerk is perfect for anglers who want a lure that can run straight and true even when going fast and deep. These lures have been gaining popularity on the big walleye waters of the Great Lakes but are proven p…

Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk Lures Size: DHJ10 (4, 3/8 oz.); Color: Silver (S) $5.75 The Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk can reach depths of nearly 20 feet when trolled and will run as deep as 10 feet when cast and retrieved thanks to its oversized diving lip. The Down Deep Husky Jerk is perfect for anglers who want a lure that can run straight and true even when going fast and deep. These lures have been gaining popularity on the big walleye waters of the Great Lakes but are proven p…

best bait fore fish in feeder?

ive taken fishing up again started using my swimfeeder but so many baits to choose from witch are the best to use in winter and summer

It depends what you’re fishing for, but on carp lakes I use a mixture of Sensas Crazy Bait Gold (about 50%), Dynamite Baits 3mm halibut pellets (about 20%); tinned hemp (about 15%) and sweetcorn (again about 15%). You can also bung in just a few maggots or whatever other bait you’re using on the hook. Mix the bait with the juice from a tin of sweetcorn to a damp but not wet consistency – so that it holds together if you squeeze a handful but falls apart again if you rub it in the palm of your hand.

My favourite hook-bait with this concoction is two grains of sweetcorn on a hair rig, with a couple of maggots on the hook as well.

Tight lines.

1000 Live 3/4 Crickets $30.00 You cant go wrong with crickets! Just about every reptile, amphibian, and arachnid enjoys live crickets. Crickets make a great meal for your pets because of their nutritional content and their natural appeal. In their natural habitat, your pets would enjoy hunting down crickets to satisfy their cravings! Nothing revs up a herps appetite like chasing crickets down for their supper. We offer several…

Angling in Colour …

Okuma Fishing CD-80a Coronado Baitfeeder Spinning Reel (Small, Grey/Gold) $65.99 Coronado “a” Features: Patented On/Off auto trip bait feeding system DFD: Precision Dual Force Drag system Multi-disc, Japanese-oiled felt drag washers 4 HPB stainless steel shielded ball bearings 1 Quick-set anti-reverse roller bearing Precision machine cut brass pinion gear CRC: Corrosion Resistant Coating process HDGII: Corrosion resistant, High density gearing L…

Okuma Fishing CD-55a Coronado Baitfeeder Spinning Reel (Small, Grey/Gold) $64.35 Coronado a Series Baitfeeder Spinning Reels Feature- Patented On/Off auto trip bait feeding system DFD: Precision Dual Force Drag system Multi-disc, Japanese-oiled felt drag washers 4 HPB stainless steel shielded ball bearings 1 Quick-set anti-reverse roller bearing Precision machine cut brass pinion gear CRC: Corrosion Resistant Coating process HDGII: Corrosion resistant, High density gearing Li…

Cedars Bill Dance Porcupine Fish Attractor Spheres 3 Pack $29.99 The Cedars Bill Dance Porcupine Fish Attractor Spheres 3 Pack allows you to make your own custom fish habitat with 1/2 inch PVC pipe. Spheres measure 6 inches in diameter. What a great value! Now you can build your own Porcupine Fish Attractors with these spheres from Bill Dance. Simply add your own Porcupine Spikes to the three spheres provided and you have three Porcupine Fish Attractors for a f…

Munchkin Multi-colored Baby Bowls (Pack of 5) $6.99 This bright and colorful multi-bowl set from Munchkin features a fascinating fish pattern to add delight to any dish you prepare. These baby bowls come in a variety of colors and are top-rack, dishwasher safe.