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