Ice Fishing

Utah Fishing Reports & Discussion Utah Fishing General
1

So the wife and I would like to try our hand at ice fishing. This year seems to be a good year for it so I am going to start getting some things together.

What is a good “starter kit” that you guys would recommend? I am looking into a little hut, auger, radio, chairs. I already have a propane heater (one like this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Dyna-Glo-15k-25k-BTU-Propane-Convection-Heater-RMC-LPC25DG/202223055 ) that should work?? I know safety equipment is a must (flotation, rope, picks, first aid).

Any advice would be welcome. Also, what are some good reservoirs that will be good for ice fishing in Utah? I am from Nevada and generally only fish Quail Creek and Sand Hollow.

Thank in advance.

2

Hey welcome to Utah. Where are you located so we can suggest a few places close to you? What do you want to catch?

For gear you need a couple of ice poles. I use 2-4 lb trilene XL mono. You will need some small jigs in glow and chartreuse and white, ice flies will work too. A 5 gallon bucket to put it all in and a nice sled to carry it all.

3

Coming from Vegas. Will be hitting up Eagle Valley and Cave Lake but want to try some UT spots as well.

4

Ok down south you will want to look high. Fish lake and otter creek are great spotsduring the winter. Possibly panguitch as well. Fish lake has perch, splake, lake trout, and bows in it. Otter creek has trout and bass in it.

Tip your jig with a wax worm. The fish can’t resist it.

There are others. Hopefully someone from down that way will chime in. You may want to post this question on the main Utah board where more members will see it.

5

With Ice combos being pretty cheap pick up a decent little ultralight or Light ice rod and reel combo as well as a Medium. This will cover light biting perch and crappie to most of the trout you will catch up at fishlake. If you have a sonar unit on a boat, kayak, or float tube you can make a few temp mods to use it through the ice. I started and still use a hand auger (someday I will upgrade). Like mentioned before a nice jet sled makes things easy to tote across the lake. Several good shelters for when it is super cold but it is not a must have if you are just wetting your toes so to speak. Good luck and enjoy.

6

Hey Toby, I’m going to move you post to the Main Utah Board, you will get more comments there.

7

Here’s my recommendations for a good starting setup. I’m not affiliated with any of these companies, I just like the gear. I’m sure others will have differing opinions and you are certainly free to do as you please.

Clothing: Well insulated overalls (water/wind proof recommended), well insulated water/wind proof coat, fleece tops and bottoms, wool socks, polypropolene underwear, water proof boots rated to at least -40, Goretex/Thinsulate gloves, fingerless gloves, stocking cap, sunglasses. You might consider cleats for your boots.

Auger: 6" Strikemaster lazer ($80-90) for typical fish under 20"

Accessories: Metal ice scoop, safety picks that go around your neck, 5 gal bucket, camp chair, ice sled.

Rod/Reel: Berkley lightning ice rods UL to ML ($15 each), Mitchel Avocet reel UL ($20), Eagle Claw in-line reel ($25 - 30). Just don’t get South Bend or HT reels. You want good metal spools, not plastic, with good drag!

Line: 4 to 6 lb. mono Trilene ice or Northland Bionic

Lures: Custom Jigs N Spins, Lindy and Northland Tackle all have great stuff. I recommend getting some small spoons, 1/16 to 1/8 oz, like Northland Rattlin Buckshot or the Lindy Rattlin Flyer in greens, perch, pinks. Custom Jigs “Demons,” “Rockers” and “2-eye” in green, pink, black, chartreuse. Custom Jigs “Ratso,” “Shrimpo” and “Rat Finke” in similar colors. Maniac Custom Lures offers some good plastics like Cuttr bugs. Get some tube jigs 1.5" to 2.5" in white, browns, pinks. Lots of competing companies with similar alternatives.

Bait: Night crawlers, wax worms, maggots (eurolarvae), Berkley Gulp products, salmon eggs, Powerbait.

You can find lots of this stuff on fishusa.com, sportsmanswarehouse.com, websites for Northland Tackle, Lindy and Custom Jigs N Spins.

There is a never ending list of stuff you can purchase but this will get you started well. Feel free to ask any questions about above stuff or whatever. Ice fishing is great if you have good gear.

8

I think everyone is pretty much covering the same stuff.

The rods and lures will vary from person to person. I love to tip with wax worms during ice season.

If you really want to enjoy ice fishing and for it to be fun and easy this is what I recommend.

These underwater maps are excellent for helping find structure and getting to a good place.Welcome to Fish-n-Map Co. - Producers of freshwater and saltwater fishing maps for structure fishing

A gas auger - It makes it really easy and quick to move locations and get back to fishing

A nice pop up tent - The eskimos work great but if you can afford something more insulated go for it.

Electronics - either a basic clamp on sonar like this Robot or human?

or a flasher if you want to spend more. Electronics make a huge difference. They will help you catch more fish and let you know if you need to try a different spot

And an ice sled to pull it all. Decent chairs as well. That will maximize your ice fishing experience with the least amount of effort

9

All that gear is nice, but the absolute minimum you need to try ice fishing is: an auger. Without one, you are reduced to begging for help or trying to find a previously drilled but abandoned hole.

If you fish, you already have rods and small lures. You probably have a 5-gallon bucket that serves as a tackle box and fish basket. A scrap of wood makes the bucket a seat.

Yes, you can use a regular rod. Just sit a bit farther from the hole. Pick up some wax worms, tie on a small jig, and give the sport a try.

10

Rocky is right. To start out all you need is an auger, and a good hand auger will work just fine.

My first three years I used a hand me down hand auger, no electronics, no tent, my regular rods and reels, and still landed many nice fish and had a great time.

11

All I have is a sled, a bucket, hand auger, a chair, and a fishing buddy FF and I catch fish with out all the gizmos and high dollar items.