Make Your Life Easier With An Ice Fishing Sled

While there is typically not a lot of equipment and tackle involved in ice fishing, it is still challenging to try to carry it all onto the lake in just one trip, even with a backpack and tackle box. The answer to your problems is likely in the form of an ice fishing sled that is designed to allow you to pull all your supplies in one easy trip from the vehicle to the lake.

There are a variety of options available for an ice fishing sled, and depending on the needs that you have the various features will be more or less important. There are several ice fishing sled options for people that have lots to move as well as those that just need an easy way to carry their ice auger and equipment. There is even a soft bottom ice fishing sled that rolls up into a easy to carry cylindrical case that can easily be stored in the back seat or trunk of a small car.

Ice fishing sleds may be flat bottomed, using the whole surface area of the sled in contact with the ice, or they may be more traditional runner type sleds. Basically most choices when it comes to choosing an ice fishing sled has to do with the personal preferences of the angler. When considering an ice fishing sled it is important to consider overall size, storage area within the sled as well as how much equipment will need to be moved on the sled.

Some sleds may be customized to have built in storage compartments, either flexible or soft sided bins and containers or solid, heavier storage bins. The more flexible soft sided bins may allow additional storage of odd shaped equipment. In addition the sled should be large enough to allow the bigger pieces of equipment such as the ice auger or tent or shelter. Tackle boxes, bait boxes and even camping stoves can easily be stored on the ice fishing sled for easy transport onto the ice.

By knowing what equipment you wish to transport, as well as considering how you can move the sled itself in your vehicle you will be able to choose the right model to match your needs and requirements. Keeping the bottom of the ice fishing sled or the runners free from scratches and damage, keeping wax on the runners as required as well as keeping snow and moisture off the runners and sled bottom will all help in keeping your ice fishing sled in the best possible condition for years for service.

Portable Ice Fishing Shelters

Undoubtedly the biggest advantage to the many different models and styles of ice fishing shelters on the market today is their ease of collapsing, setting up and moving. In deciding on what type and which options are available with the various types of ice fishing shelters it is important to keep in mind the type of fish you will be after, how long a period of time you wish to fish, and what conditions you can reasonably expect to encounter on the ice.

Many winter fishermen make decisions on ice fishing shelters on one or two factors, but often this can lead to a poor match between what you really need and what you end up with. Some of the questions you need to ask when purchasing one of the many types of portable ice fishing shelters include:

1. How much money is in the budget?

Portable ice fishing shelters can range in price from under a hundred dollar to several hundred. Typically the biggest factor is the type of material that the shelter is made of and the additional features that are included.

2. How long do you typically fish at one time?

If you only play to fish for an hour or two, it is less important to be concerned with long-term heat retention and all the additional comforts. Since most portable ice fishing shelters are designed to act as a wind break and heat trapping system, the less time you are out on the ice the less critical this feature will be. Many simple three sided or drop front shelters are great for those that only need a couple of hours protection and these will be less costly that more complete shelters.

3. How many people with need to use the shelter?

Ice fishing shelters are typically made to comfortably seat one, two or four people, but larger ice fishing shelters are available. Typically the larger the shelter the more they will cost, plus the heavier they will be to pack and move from place to place. Larger shelters will also be harder to heat and to keep warm for extended periods of time. Cramped ice fishing shelters can be both uncomfortable and will make landing and keeping fish difficult.

4. What type of fish are you after?

Some species of fish such as pike will move around the lake very rapidly as they follow the bait fish. Highly mobile and portable shelters such as flip-over tents or three sided shelters are very easy to take down and put up, even in very windy conditions.

In addition it is important to keep in mind that the ice fishing shelters you choose from are durable enough to match the conditions where you fish. On lakes and areas where winter wind is a concern, canvas and very lightweight materials will not strong enough to withstand the cold winds, so choosing a heavier weight canvas and sturdier frame will be a more practical choice.

Get Out Of The Weather With An Ice Fishing Shelter

Get Out Of The Weather With An Ice Fishing Shelter

An ice fishing shelter is a usually more or less of a necessity if you plan to spend long periods of time out on the open ice. Not only does the ice fishing shelter protect anglers from the bitter winter winds but it also prevents sun glare and keeps even small amounts of heat within the shelter, allowing greater comfort but also keeping ice fishing holes from icing over as quickly.

The ice fishing shelter is meant to be portable and easily moved, which is far different than an ice fishing house which is a permanent structure built or pulled onto the ice for the full fishing season. Many ice fishing enthusiasts uses both an ice fishing shelter for mobility in following the fish, as well as a permanent ice fishing house for those really cold days out on the lake.

There are many different types of ice fishing shelters available on the market today. Since they are designed to be easily collapsed and moved they are often tent like in structure, very lightweight, and have the ability to be compacted into easy to drag or carry packages. There are several different styles, and the basic construction of each of these ice fishing shelters is described below:

ATV mounted with the increasing number of ATVs or all terrain vehicles being used for easy movement across the lake and between the parking area and the ice, an ATV mounted ice fishing shelter just makes sense. Typically the ATV mounted shelter is typically designed to either extend from the storage bags mounted on the ATV or to be pulled or lifted onto the ATV using lifts or dollies mounted to the ATV itself.

Flip-over a flip over or flip up ice fishing shelter has a semi-rigid bottom, slightly resembling a tub. This provides the sled like base for easy moving plus also provides a floor when the shelter is up. The tub also allows for storing and easy transportation of tackle, extra gear and the ice auger. The sides and canvas is simple flipped up or over to construct the sides and the roof at the desired location. Take down and storage is simple, just collapse the frame into the tub and fold down the canvas and you are ready to move again. Some of the flip-over styles are designed for up to four anglers and feature space for portable heaters and even vinyl or clear plastic windows for natural light.

Folding the traditional tent style ice fishing shelter, the folding style is very lightweight and easy to move. Since they are so lightweight they may not be extremely practical in high winds or very cold conditions. Typically they are smaller and are not designed for standing up in, but there are some larger versions available.

Homemade often homemade shelters are just as effective if not more effective than some of the commercially available products. Most homemade shelters are designed along the lines of the flip-over or flip up style, but some are also fully collapsible tent like structures. There are many different plans available on the internet for low cost ice fishing shelters that can be easily made at home.

Building Your Own Ice Fishing Shanty

There are a huge number of models and styles of available for pre-made options for an ice fishing shanty. Most of these designs are portable and can be fully or partially collapsed for easy moving off and onto the ice surface. Some of the pre-fabricated ice fishing shanty designs also have their own skids or sled runners to make moving the building as simple as possible, while some may be actual trailers. An ice fishing shanty is different than an ice fishing house which is a permanent structure that is typically built on the lake and left in place for the winter.

If you want to be a bit more adventurous or try designing a custom ice fishing shanty it isn't hard to do on your own. Most home designed and made ice fishing shanty buildings can be made for under $100.00, especially if you already have some of the basic carpentry supplies around the house or shop. A prefabricated ice fishing shanty can cost significantly more than this with additional features all adding to the price of the final product.

There are many websites that offer basic plans for simple to construct portable and permanent ice fishing shanties. Typically the ice fishing shanty will include a door, windows and interior lighting, a wood stove or alternate source heater, fold down benches or permanent benches and storage area for extra gear and tackle.

Ice fishing shanties may be large enough to stand in and comfortable move around in for one or two people, and even for larger groups. It is important to keep in mind that the larger shanty styles will take more to heat as well as will possibly need additional people to move it around. In larger shelters it is also important to consider the position of the heater in regards to where the benches or ice fishing area will be. A heater is generally best positioned on the end, evenly positioned between where anglers will sit to fish. This serves two purposes in that the heat is evenly distributed and the heat is also effective in preventing ice build up over the holes.

Finally, a wood and canvas ice fishing shanty is not as durable as solid construction, but is much easier to transport and move around on the ice than an ice fishing house. They can be just as warm and comfortable inside, although in extremely windy conditions the canvas or tarp may have a tendency to rip or tear if it becomes loose, so be sure to bring additional tacks or staples to complete any necessary repairs.

Getting The Right Ice Fishing Rod

Choosing the correct ice fishing rod is important as you dont want to have to deal with problems with equipment when you are out on the lake. Spending some time getting a rod that will meet all your needs is a good idea since they are undoubtedly one of the most important factors in being able to bring in the big fish.

Ice fishing rods, since they are not required for casting, dont need to be as flexibly and certainly not as strong as typical summer fishing rods, but they do need to be sturdy and strong to support the drag of the fish on the end of the line. Remember that there will be more of a vertical drag on the end of the ice fishing rod that there will be in traditional fishing, and the last thing that you should have to worry about is the rod breaking or the end snapping off.

Typically most ice fishing enthusiasts prefer a twenty-eight inch ice fishing rod that has medium action and is considered to be a jigging rod. This rod will be perfect for walleye, whitefish and most types of trout. A lighter action is excellent for smaller species such as perch, and a heavier action will be ideal for the larger species of pike and even some of the heavy lake trout.

Another important consideration for an ice fishing rod is the action along the blank. A slow action rod is very stiff with little flexibility or bend, and typically will not allow enough sensation for the angler to feel the fish nibbling at the lure or bait. Remember that fish tend to strike much less and nibble more at bait and lures during the winter, so it is key to be able to feel the action on the end of the line. Rods than have too much flexibility will be ineffective in bringing the fish towards the surface.

Ice fishing rods for jigging or using artificial bait are often fast action or ultra-fast action rods that allow the angler to feel the fish on the line and set the hook. Graphite rods offer a strong enough backbone to reel in the fish without bending too much or breaking. It is important to keep in mind that graphite does become more fragile and brittle in really cold temperatures so many ice anglers choose to use a fiberglass ice fishing rod and sacrifice a bit on sensitivity to get increased durability in their equipment.

Ice Fishing In The Northern States

For many fishermen the winter doesnt mean a stop in the fishing action, rather it is just the perfect environment to enjoy the winter weather and the challenge of ice fishing on the many frozen lakes and waterways. Ice fishing offers several advantages to summer fishing although many people dont realize all the benefits in choosing off-season fishing.

Winter Wonderland

Ice fishing can be done in the open on a sunny or clear day or with the use of an ice fishing tent, house or shanty, many which are very portable and easy to construct out on the ice. One of the benefits to using a shanty or ice fishing tent is that a portable heater can be used to keep the temperature inside comfortable, even on very cold days. On a clear winter day when the wind is calm there is nothing quite as relaxing as finding a nice, clear, open piece of ice, drilling a hole and setting up your chair to sit back, enjoy the scenery and catch some fish.

Since ice fishing tends to be less popular than traditional summer fishing there is usually less competition for the best places to fish on the lake as well as a better chance of getting your limit. The simplest method for fishing out on the lake is line fishing, which uses a jigging rod and reel and a set of lures or bait rather than a casting or fly type set-up. Since ice fishing is less equipment intensive than some of the other types of fishing it is a great family activity and safe for kids. There is also a special kind of reel and rod holder known as a tip-up. This handy device both keeps your line in the water as well as has a flag at the end so that it is easy to see the fish hitting on the lure at the bottom of the line. Most tip-ups have various setting for either nibbles or strong biters, providing easy warning for winter anglers wearing thick gloves that may tend to decrease the vibrations normally felt on the line in warm weather fishing. Winter fishing requires greater line depth as fish move away from the colder surface waters down to the deep areas of the lake where smaller fish and food are more likely to gather.

Finally ice fishing tends to be a more social event than traditional fishing, with ice fishermen often gathering in one area, sharing tents and shanties or even setting up impromptu ice fishing competitions. There are some areas that host ice fishing tournament which make for a great day of outdoor winter fun.