| Since the dawn of mankind fishing and | | | | the lake regions, however in their limited |
| catching the largest and most fish has always | | | | areas they move around a lot more. An ice |
| been on most men's mind. So it is with ice | | | | fisherman pegged down to only hole in the |
| fishing in the Northern U.S. states and | | | | ice, in one specific location is at a major |
| Canada. In an effort to catch "that big one" | | | | disadvantage. Modern technologies and |
| as well "more fish" new technologies and | | | | materials, adapted from the space race are |
| techniques have advanced and evolved. Many of | | | | being used and applied for the successful ice |
| these techniques and tactics are thought | | | | fisherman. First of all, small one man |
| fresh, copied and some say even "stolen" from | | | | portable ices fishing huts or shelters have |
| the ice fisherman's fall/spring / summer | | | | been developed. Incredibly light, easy to |
| "open water" fishing cousins and some even | | | | carry and setup these small, portable one man |
| say "competitors". To begin with and to note | | | | fishing huts allow the successful ice |
| with caution - the first rule of ice fishing | | | | fisherman to quickly and promptly move his |
| is to return home intact with your catch, or | | | | camp - for greater ice fishing success. How |
| sometimes lack of catch. Safety is more than | | | | does the ice fisherman know where to move his |
| paramount. Always remember that even though | | | | gear? After all a change is not always as |
| you feel safe on the ice - that in one flash | | | | good as a rest. Again modern technology comes |
| you can be in the most dangerous, deadly | | | | into play. Sonar fish fishing equipment has |
| frozen environment on earth. Ice cold water | | | | been specifically targeted with the ice |
| is the most deadly water on earth to all | | | | fisherman in mind. Older "flasher "type sonar |
| human beings on earth and ice fisherman. It | | | | fishing gear is best for this purpose. |
| never hurts to play it safe. Remember first | | | | Instead of the newer, more expensive LCD |
| of all that "first ice" is "dangerous ice". | | | | graphing gear, flashers give an immediate, |
| Ice can be inconsistent during the first | | | | real time fix on the fish and their movement |
| phases of freezing. Even though the ice looks | | | | and motions. Fish can be more than promptly |
| safe - it may not be in certain icy patches. | | | | spotted, their locations gauged the ice |
| Best to wait till the ice is good and solid. | | | | fishing holes can then be quickly and |
| It is always best for safety for ice | | | | promptly dug in the correct places with real |
| fisherman to fish in groups - rather than | | | | time, rather than more dated and less |
| alone. However spread out the weight of your | | | | accurate and timely information. As well |
| fishing party and gear. As a rough guide ice | | | | there are additional benefits to the ice |
| fisherman should keep 50 feet apart on the | | | | fishing specific fish sonar locaters. The |
| fishing ice. As for general ice thicknesses | | | | winter ice fisherman is a better position to |
| for safety concerns they are as a rough guide | | | | both judge the location, motion as well as |
| - 4 inches of ice thickness is base minimum. | | | | feeding and general habits of the fish that |
| If fishing with support vehicles - ATV's or | | | | being tracked. Generally with ice fishing |
| snowmobiles then 5 inches of ice thickness is | | | | predator fish strike upwards to grab the |
| the base minimum ice thickness recommended | | | | bait. The flasher sonar's tip off the |
| for safe and sound ice fishing. The advances | | | | fisherman as to exact depth of the fish in |
| in ice fishing technologies in 2007 seem to | | | | question so that the fisherman's bait can be |
| focus on the concepts that ice fishing is a | | | | placed correctly above the fish. Standard |
| different sport and a "different kettle of | | | | practice now is those Ice fishermen generally |
| fish" than its summer sport and needs to be | | | | drill several fishing holes. The ice fishing |
| adapted for that. Summer fishing seems to be | | | | sonar kit can easily be moved from spot to |
| more of a stay put in the boat or on shore | | | | spot to get a quick fix of where the fish are |
| type of fishing. The feeding and resting | | | | and are not. Successful catches rather than |
| habits of fish seem to be located in certain | | | | empty catches are now the norm. Lastly the |
| spots and holes. Whether this is for | | | | Ice fishing specific sonar "flasher " fishing |
| temperature, water flow and geography and | | | | gear are not only less expensive than the |
| nutrient flow is a good question. Even though | | | | newer "LCD" sonar fishing types but also more |
| it is most cold in the dead of winter, you | | | | trouble free and easier to operate in the |
| might think the fish the ice fisherman is | | | | frigid cold weather. LCD screens generally |
| hunting in the dead of winter simply lie | | | | work on heat principles so that the very cold |
| dormant on the lake or river bottom. This is | | | | weather is not an issue with the "flasher" |
| not so. The fish act entirely differently | | | | types. At the end of the day - the successful |
| during the cold winter ice periods. Ice fish | | | | ice fisherman can boat of two things- good |
| seem to be more mobile than fish during the | | | | companionship and a healthy rewarding catch |
| warmer time periods. They move around more. | | | | of fish for the event. |
| True their overall travels may be less over | | | | |