Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Pauleye · 12-01-2010, 11:08 AM

First of PM me if you need more specific help and I'll be glad to help. I ice fishing a lot. At a minimum I recommend 4 to 6 Polar tip ups. These are simple, black plastic framed tip-ups. Small and lightwieght so you can fit all of them in 1, 5 gallon bucket. Fill the spools with around 35 pound test dacron line (color does not matter). Add a tiny Spro swivel and fluoro leader (about 4'-6'). If your regs allow then fish with a small treble hook (size 8 or 6 for bass) instead of a single. Strike the fish as soon as you get to the tip-up. Put a split shot about 1' above the hook.

Get a small plano box and put the extra terminal tackle plus a few swedish pimples and Northland ice fishing jigs. Buy 2 jigging rod set-ups. Get good one becasue the difference in price will be small. I jig with fly fishing tippet as a leader to 6 or 8 lb braid.

MOST IMPORTANT- Buy a high quality hand drill like the Nils Master or Strikemaster Laser. This will make the laborious task of drilling much easier and you'll actually not mind drilling more holes when the ones you already drilled are not producing. Again the cost difference between one of these and the value models is not much. A great anology is having a snowblower vs shovelling.

I can recommend CT places that can help you get geared up.

Next year buy a Vexilar and a whole new ice fishing world will open up.

12-01-2010, 11:08 AM	#3
Pauleye Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Hartford County Posts: 28	Ice Gear First of PM me if you need more specific help and I'll be glad to help. I ice fishing a lot. At a minimum I recommend 4 to 6 Polar tip ups. These are simple, black plastic framed tip-ups. Small and lightwieght so you can fit all of them in 1, 5 gallon bucket. Fill the spools with around 35 pound test dacron line (color does not matter). Add a tiny Spro swivel and fluoro leader (about 4'-6'). If your regs allow then fish with a small treble hook (size 8 or 6 for bass) instead of a single. Strike the fish as soon as you get to the tip-up. Put a split shot about 1' above the hook. Get a small plano box and put the extra terminal tackle plus a few swedish pimples and Northland ice fishing jigs. Buy 2 jigging rod set-ups. Get good one becasue the difference in price will be small. I jig with fly fishing tippet as a leader to 6 or 8 lb braid. MOST IMPORTANT- Buy a high quality hand drill like the Nils Master or Strikemaster Laser. This will make the laborious task of drilling much easier and you'll actually not mind drilling more holes when the ones you already drilled are not producing. Again the cost difference between one of these and the value models is not much. A great anology is having a snowblower vs shovelling. I can recommend CT places that can help you get geared up. Next year buy a Vexilar and a whole new ice fishing world will open up.