03-19-2006, 06:43 PM
[cool][#0000ff]Hey Nate, welcome aboard...both to BFT and to ice fishing. I suggest that you spend some time looking in the Strawberry part of the archives. Lots of good info there about the best lures and methods of fishing. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=87;"][#000000][size 1]Strawberry, Scolfield, Starvation Reports Archive Board[/size][/#000000][/url][/#0000ff][#000000][size 1] [/size][/#000000]
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[#0000ff]I suspect that if Strawberry on Wednesday is going to be your first ice fishing experience, and you have only a hand auger, that you are not going to have a very good outing. The ice is almost too thick for even a good power auger right now, and the fish are tough for even some of the more experienced strawberry regulars. Unless you know some good GPS spots, and have a good assortment of proven Strawberry lures and baits, you may get nothing more than a lot of exercise. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I might suggest that you wait until you can tag along with someone experienced on Strawberry, to get a better feel for that water. In the meantime, Jordanelle is still good ice and there are always perch and usually some rainbows to keep you busy. It is a lot more accomodating to new ice anglers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You will need one of the short rods only if you plan to fish inside an ice shanty. If you fish outside, then your favorite rod will work. However, you might want to see about getting a strike indicator (spring bobber) for the end of your rod, because sometimes the fish under ice bite very lightly and you might have trouble seeing the bites on your regular rod if you are not used to them.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You can use a lot of different kinds of lures, from little jigs to spoons. There are many different kinds of "ice flies" and jigs made especially for ice fishing. Most of these are designed to be used with a bit of bait on the hook. Waxworms are favorites for "tipping", as are mealworms, nightcrawlers and pieces of minnow or cut bait.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you go to any Sportsmans Warehouse, they have a complete section set up with all of the special ice goodies you might want to look at for getting outfitted. The good news is that plenty of fish are taken by just baiting up a hook, with a split shot a foot above it and sending it down.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]When you really get serious, you will want to get a good sonar, a power auger an ice sled and maybe a shelter too. Once you get the ice fishing bug it will eat up a lot of your budget.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff] [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?forum=87;"][#000000][size 1]Strawberry, Scolfield, Starvation Reports Archive Board[/size][/#000000][/url][/#0000ff][#000000][size 1] [/size][/#000000]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I suspect that if Strawberry on Wednesday is going to be your first ice fishing experience, and you have only a hand auger, that you are not going to have a very good outing. The ice is almost too thick for even a good power auger right now, and the fish are tough for even some of the more experienced strawberry regulars. Unless you know some good GPS spots, and have a good assortment of proven Strawberry lures and baits, you may get nothing more than a lot of exercise. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I might suggest that you wait until you can tag along with someone experienced on Strawberry, to get a better feel for that water. In the meantime, Jordanelle is still good ice and there are always perch and usually some rainbows to keep you busy. It is a lot more accomodating to new ice anglers.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You will need one of the short rods only if you plan to fish inside an ice shanty. If you fish outside, then your favorite rod will work. However, you might want to see about getting a strike indicator (spring bobber) for the end of your rod, because sometimes the fish under ice bite very lightly and you might have trouble seeing the bites on your regular rod if you are not used to them.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You can use a lot of different kinds of lures, from little jigs to spoons. There are many different kinds of "ice flies" and jigs made especially for ice fishing. Most of these are designed to be used with a bit of bait on the hook. Waxworms are favorites for "tipping", as are mealworms, nightcrawlers and pieces of minnow or cut bait.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If you go to any Sportsmans Warehouse, they have a complete section set up with all of the special ice goodies you might want to look at for getting outfitted. The good news is that plenty of fish are taken by just baiting up a hook, with a split shot a foot above it and sending it down.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]When you really get serious, you will want to get a good sonar, a power auger an ice sled and maybe a shelter too. Once you get the ice fishing bug it will eat up a lot of your budget.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Good luck.[/#0000ff]
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