Cheapest ice fishing gear?

[TrollingThunder]

Never been ice fishing before, however, last year we got my boat out the 18th of december; with 2 cinderblocks attached to rope and chain we smashed our way out of the boat launch ice and into the channel haha, had a great time doing it hahaha. This year I cant imagine going all winter without some fishing, but I'm not sure how much I would be willing to spend on any gear as time is something I lack durring the winter. What would guys recommend as the base minimum for ice fishing. Is an ice shelter a complete necessity is my one main question as I imagine those can get pricey and are hand augers actually useful vs gas?

[Rico24]

Never went ice fishing, but i bought some gear the other day.

At least 2 rods, it all depends what fish your going for, also a tip up for some pike. The ice shelter is not a necessity, but it is warmer to fish in there, and more comfortable. As for the auger, hand augers are obviously way cheaper than gas augers, but the downside of them is that it can get tiring drilling some holes when searching for a spot, but if you would rather spend more time fishing instead of drilling holes, a gas auger would be the right choice, but they can can bring you up to around 300 - 400$.

Also you might want a flasher, very useful, but they can be quite pricey. About 250$ and up.

[Out4trout]

Re: shelter
I use my portable pop-up hunting blind, anchored to the ice with ice screws. The unit backpacks in a storage bag with shoulder straps, with the rods and folding chair in the bag as well. Pail in hand with tackle and bait and lunch...

Seats 2 people comfortably and is great for wet snow or biting wind days.

If sun is shining then I prefer to sit in the open.

O4T

[almontefisher]

The cheapest Ice gear..... It starts cheap but look out ...Anyway here is a great way to go fishing cheap....

1) Head to the country in search of wood...Or look for a half moon on the door and watch for the leftovers...Load the outhouse on the truck and go......

2) Once you have driven around with the "Hut" in the back of the truck for a few hours airing it out...Take it to your local lake and place on ice.

3) Now go back to shore look for more wood....That broom handle by the cottage would work great. Grab it, snap the broom head off and voila...Ice rod.

4) reach into your pants grab the waistband from your thermo long johns and carefully remove a string from them...** Note of Caution *** Do not and I repeat DO NOT remove the whole waistband ..

5) Find some frozen over holes and look around for minnows left on the ice...Once found warm up so they bend a bit and find hook.

6) Hooks are harder to come by but your wifes 1980's style earing would work great..just tell her the dog ate it.

7) SO take earing...I mean hook and tie it to line...grab pants and pull up again...I repeat do not remove the whole waistband...Once hook is tied on good go to step 8

Warming up minnow: Take minnow, place in mouth...warm up.

9) Take swig of favorite drink to get rid of taste...There has to be an easier way to warm them up like over a fire or something

10) Remember to build a fire

11) Put minnow on hook and get ready to fish.

12) Find a spot to make a hole but not a big hole...Remember to always check depth of ice as it could be to thin to support you..

13) Pull your frozen butt from water after making hole the hard way

14) Once hole has been made drop line and minnow down hole and wait for fish.

15) If this does not work then go to step 16

16) Forget about icefishing, go to Lapointes and enjoy fish in the warm comfort of your house.

[joco]

Is an ice shelter a complete necessity

NO NOT AT ALL.

i my last 1000' ice fishing outhing..mabe got inside a chak 20 time. and this is in more then 35 year off ice fishing.

nothing wrong froze your butt a bit...

and you dont need mutch to start ice fishing.

dont get in the spending patern we are almost in.. ..all new toys etc..

but you will find out pretty wuik that you will need more.

but you dont have to have it all to have fun.

a couple tip up home made and a couple rod..dont have to be expensive and a bucket for the minnow and sit and mabe a ice auger manual to start and there you go......ready to go ice fishing.

for 125$ you can get start.

and you can get used stuff to save some $ then upgrade frome there as you go.

good shoping and good ice 2008*09 season.

joco

[bruce]

you can start cheap, but when the bug bites you will be spending money.got broken rods?stick the end in a broom handle tape a reel on,theres a rod.early in season when ice is thin chop holes with axe or find yesterdays holes.beware tho if u get lucky u will be converted and your bank account will suffer.

[Fishing 24/7]

i hear (fish-finder) makes the best tip-ups in the outaouais region at a fair price pm (FISH-FINDER)

he will hook you up!

[Leechman]

TrollingThunder,
My Dad made me my first tipups when I started ice fishing years ago simply because the ones that (C)anadian (T)ire had on sale were too expensive. He made a good job out of it and trust me, caught a lot of fish on those..... They were my lucky charm on ice

Now since then, started to make my own and man not expensive at all....
You don't need to spend much if you make them yourself...... Alls you need is 1"x2"x4' of pine to make one.

For me, being from the QC side have to multiply that by 5..... cause here were allowed 5 lines on hard water..... @ $1. and some change a piece it's real cheap.

Now having said that, you will probably want to upgrade in a few years as you become more familliar and trust me can invest into expensive toys of all kinds..... which to me don't really need them as long as you're having fun.... but hey, that's just me.

Here some pics of my latest creation and you'll not find them in any hardware store or CT's around the globe







I've made different ones for some of the guys that I go fishing with and think that they accomplish the same goal..... Catch fish and really proud of it.

If you search this site, I've made a step by step tutorial on how to make those. Hope this helps

P.S. Kev thanks man! I'm flatered

[Rico24]

Here's the link,

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewt ... hlight=tip

Im thinking of making some.

[Leechman]

Here's the link,
http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewt ... hlight=tip
Im thinking of making some.

Thanks Rico..... thats the one and good luck if you plan on making your own
FF

[coolspiderdude]

several years back I bought a small 3 man dome tent at a garage sale for $5, 3 holes cut into the bottom and voila Ice shelter, it's light, comfy, cuts the wind etc. I have one actual ice fishing rod, but rarely use it, mostly home made one's as described or a straight spool of line and you just hand line it.it amazes me that in 3rd world countries they land 20 lb Groupers by hand and we need all this gear to catch a 1 lb perch A friends dad who ice fishes alot has a sonar and he says it's the only way to ice fish as is a regular fish finder will not work..but I don't know what his opinion is based on and it take a degree to read the sonars. The reality for me is that ice fishing is mostly about ice drinking, build a fire, set a bunch o lines and hang out with the boyz..maybe check your line once in a while, besides who wants to catch ice?

[joco]

there some model i did in that tread.

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewt ... s&start=15


but the lates is not in there.

electronic tip up..wen it goes down.it beep..... .

so no more sleeping true the bite.

joco

[joco]

here is the eletronic tip up i did.

its great.

some saw it in action at 2007 carp show.....

http://www.fish-hawk.net/hawktalk/viewt ... hlight=tip

joco