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I'm thinking a lot about ice fishing these days, watching videos, reading, etc. One of the most exciting times in catching a fish under the ice is the moment its head pops up in the hole. That's such a critical moment because there's a good chance that you can lose them trying to get them up out of there. I used lip grippers a lot this year when I started cat fishing and am wondering if they would work well in this situation. How do you land the big ones? Or the regular ones, for that matter. And how do you handle them once they are out on the ice? I'll be photographing them for the contest this year and have always before just quickly returned them or kept them. What's the best CPR procedure?
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This is what works for me- we always fish in a group, if one gets a big fish on, they call for help. The helper just cradles the fish as it comes out of the hole. If solo or too spread out, I like to fight the fish until I can get his head pointed up the hole. Then keep steady pressure and the fishes instinct to fight will swim him up on the ice. They don’t swim backward, so they will normally pop right out. The two things I would never do is allow someone to grab the line, or use grippers. This will give the fish leverage and throw the hook. Once on this ice, I just try to be quick. I normally try to find some soft snow to lay the fish on. For sure don’t let metal touch it. Those bump boards seem to work pretty well.
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If it is a fish that needs to be released, I drag it onto the ice by backing away from the hole once the head is up thru the ice. I then lay the pole down and grab the hook with a pair of hemostats, remove the hook and then guide it towards the hole with my boot and let it dive back into the deep. I try not to handle the fish at all if possible. If I have to handle the fish, I keep it to a minimum. If the hook is swallowed (seldom), I will cut the line close to the mouth and then return it to the water.
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Easiest method and less stress on the fish is to use an ice scoop 2" smaller than the diameter of your hole.
Just slip the (plastic, of course) scoop past the fish and spoon him/her on to the ice.
Unhook the fish quickly and use the scoop to point the fish to it's exit.
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I don't often catch fish big enough to have trouble, but last year I did get my best trout (27") in a 6" hole and I needed help, and luckily a friend was with me to help guide the fishes head up and out the hole, but like Macman said you need to fight them out a little so they don't break off as your trying to get the head started up the hole... This is one reason I'm going to use the 8" auger a little more this year... you never know when you'll find that better fish and even though the 6" drills easier, it can be tough to land a big fish through it... That one last year came out like a cork from a bottle, it was hitting on both sides and had to squish through the hole. Fun times, can't wait to get after them... Later J
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[#0000FF]Obviously there are some variables in how you want to get fish up out of the hole...and how you handle them. What species is the fish and how big? Will you be keeping or releasing it? Will you have help from someone else or are you solo? How nimble and flexible are you?[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]During my many years of ice fishing I have tried a lot of different ways to safely and efficiently get fish out of their element and up into mine. Smaller fish are no problem. You can just lift them out with your rod or by holding the line. Larger fish present two potential problems. First is if they are too big to lift on the line you are using...breaking off. Second is if they are too big to fit through a small hole. Some problems are better than others. A third consideration is how to best bring the fish onto the ice without damage to you or the fish...especially if you plan to release it.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]First of all, regulations prohibit using gaffs or hooks that will damage a fish...except on some mack ponds. So you are limited to using your hands, your buddy's hands or some mechanical gripping device.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]And, if you are fishing alone, trying to subdue and ice a large thrashing fish can be a real circus. This is especially true if...like myself...you are large in girth, overdressed, a bit inflexible and have a hinky back.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I have tried several commercially sold "lip grippers" to help get fish up through the hole once you have their head showing. Most will work...if you can get the fish to yawn while fighting to get free. Sometimes you get lucky and can get a quick grip. Other times you get frustrated, try to haul the fish out by the line and SNAP. If you must use a lip gripper...and want to avoid damaging the fish...get one of the floating plastic grippers and practice using it with one hand...before you need to grab a fish through the ice.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Some fish we bring into the ice hole have teeth...like trout, walleyes, pike and muskies, etc. Don't try to bring them in by "lipping"...unless you want to lose some weight. Either grab them behind the head or use the lip gripper.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]As my range of "stoopability" has declined in my later years, I have experimented with using "reach tools" to help extract fishkind from ice holes. Some of these extended reach and grip tools have good strong clamps and can be used without modification to reach down and grab a fish and pull it out of the hole...without having to bend over. On one model I increased the "grab factor" by running a couple of short screws in from the outside. (see pic) It worked but it was hard on the fish I wanted to release so I didn't use it long.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]The tool I used the last couple of years I still ice fished was made from one of the cheapie 36 inch reach tools sold by Harbor Freight. The gripper end is plastic so I used a heat gun to soften and bend the tips of the grippers to come together...with one slightly overlapping the other in an "overbite". This tool worked well both for lipping and for grabbing around the head or body for a quick lift. It also worked great for going around and picking fish or other stuff up off the ice when getting ready to go.
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[#0000FF]Another option I tried briefly, before getting out of the ice fishing business, was a pair of "crab tongs". I acquired a pair of these while on a 6 month work assignment in New Orleans. They grip well and can handle some good sized fish. Mine are metal, but you can also find them in plastic.[/#0000FF]
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[quote kj]
If it is a fish that needs to be released, I drag it onto the ice by backing away from the hole once the head is up thru the ice.
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Kevin, you either catch small fish or fish with heavy line, or both.[  ]
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Pat, did you use a torch to heat the grips so that you could bend them? I tried using boiling water and they remained rigid.
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[#0000FF]I used a heat gun...carefully applying until bendable. You can also just hold them over a stove burner and rotate it until soft enough.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Those Harbor Freight reach tools are cheap and not very powerful. But if you angle the bends with an "overbite"... or bent slightly backward...they work very well on even heavier fish.
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Kent... I use this method when outside the ice tent. I use 6 lb test, sometimes 4. I keep the drag really loose so i can play them and tire them out. Most fish I catch at Strawberry are Cuts in the 19 to 21 inch size. I have a video on U-tube or Vimeo of my wife using this method last year when she landed (iced) a nice cut that was 21 inches. Seems to work well for us.
https://youtu.be/110iX7ajQmA
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Thank you (and everyone else) for the good ideas.
I try to never land a fish by dragging it out of the water on the end of the line. I've lost too many that way. This year, though, I learned that you can pull any size catfish into the boat if you are using #50 leader. Short of that I just don't want to risk it but I will experiment and see.
TD, why won't this type of lip gripper work?
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[#0000FF]It WILL work and it is a simple one-handed operation. The main downside is that those metal jaws can do some real damage on a flopping fish...especially trout. So, they are okay on fish you plan to keep, but not good for any fish you plan to release.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]The new floating plastic models are now preferred by most anglers who use lip grippers. Again, a one handed operation...but generally a less damaging grip on the fish. However, they are shorter and you have to get closer to the fish than with an extended metal gripper...or a reach tool.
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Good to know. It looked to me that the plastic ones were rougher, more like vise-grips. I'll have to look my old pair up.
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I like to tape up my left thumb with athletic tape so I can just grab the lower jaw and lift them out. Saves on the thumb damage from their teeth. Works for me.
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Hey welcome to BFT... glad to have you with us... J
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[quote kj]If it is a fish that needs to be released, I drag it onto the ice by backing away from the hole once the head is up thru the ice.
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Kevin, I have had great success using your method at Strawberry this year on early ice. It has worked inside or outside of my shelter. I have also had some success with using the modified Harbor Freight grippers that TubeDude has used. Not sure how well dragging them on the ice will work when the ice gets thicker and the water level is not as close to the surface of the ice.
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So many variables to think about. One other thing to be very careful of is when you're icing a fish through a 6" to 10" hole you or someone else is often staring right down the line to a hook in a struggling fishes mouth. If that hook pops loose it may impale you in your face. It's always a good idea to wear sunglasses or stay just off to the side when trying to slide that fish on to the ice. I got a hook past the barb in my hand last year from a hook coming through a hole.
Another thing when dealing with large fish, stay calm and let him fight! It's also important to keep the line in the center of the hole as much as possible. Without holding the line you guide the line with your hand so the fish doesn't saw you off, especially important when using 6 lb test or less. A little tricky when you're alone, but I do it all the time.
If you plan to release your fish, pay attention to the weather and ice conditions. If you're outside and the temps are below about 20 degrees the fins will freeze quickly so you have about 30 seconds or less to get that fish back down the hole. I never leave a fish laying on ice for more than a few seconds unless there is snow or melt water to protect it from freezing. If the wind is blowing cold the fins with freeze rapidly. All this changes somewhat if you're in a tent, but just pay attention to conditions.
I personally never use my boot or any tools to handle or manipulate fish, only to remove hooks. My hands are easier on fish and I take a hand towel to dry off and stay warm.
My 2 cents.
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This is a very underrated tip. I do the same thing if I expect to catch many bass in the spring. Proper athletic tape bonds and conforms to the fingers if you keep it on long enough to let it relax to the body's warmth. Just 2-3 layers give you a better feel than any glove, but lots of protection. After that, it'll stay on through all kinds of abuse; water, abrasion, dirt, heat, etc.
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A big thank you for your keen insight, and to all the others who have shared. I know that I need to experiment and practice on as many large fish as I can, but I'm up to the challenge [ ]. Strawberry, here I come.
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