12-16-2016, 04:13 PM
Meet up with a hard deck guy and fish for something you normally wouldn't get to target, and/or fish rivers. Ice fishing is cheap, cheaper if you already fish and especially cheap if you run an ultralight spinning rig. First and foremost: get some picks to wear and learn ice safety even if you're only going on 10"+ ice. Ice is safer than boating as long as you follow the rules.
Then just get a light ice rod and stick an ultralight spinning reel on it. You can fish with normal 4-6 lb test, or take your usually spinning line off and put 50 yards or so of ice line on to avoid abrasion and ice-up. Get one pack of green ratfinkees and one pack of pink or orange, some waxworms, and maybe a 3 dollar plastic skimmer (careful though, I broke mine and decided to get one of those big tough steel ones with a chisel.) After the ice season starts you can easily go to the lakes with good safe ice and find holes to kick open and fish. Maybe $30-$40 and you're in business.
[signature]
Then just get a light ice rod and stick an ultralight spinning reel on it. You can fish with normal 4-6 lb test, or take your usually spinning line off and put 50 yards or so of ice line on to avoid abrasion and ice-up. Get one pack of green ratfinkees and one pack of pink or orange, some waxworms, and maybe a 3 dollar plastic skimmer (careful though, I broke mine and decided to get one of those big tough steel ones with a chisel.) After the ice season starts you can easily go to the lakes with good safe ice and find holes to kick open and fish. Maybe $30-$40 and you're in business.
[signature]