Illinois Outdoors - With Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors

 Northern Illinois had a bad year for ice fishing. Hopefully this year will be different. Many, many anglers look forward to a few good days of ice fishing. Since a great number of us didn’t even dust off our ice rods last year, let’s mention a few things to prepare for an outing or two should that opportunity come.

To start, let's check the line of the reels. If it wasn't put on fresh for last year, it would be a good idea to put on new line before our first outing. Two to four pound test is the best. During cold weather, any line that is heavier than this will just be too stiff and too visible. A lot of line will not be necessary. Putting on line from a fresh spool of 100 yards of 2-pound test will do the job. Small spinning reels for ice fishing will not hold that much anyway. Just make sure that even if you’re using old line as a backing on the spool; make sure you put on at least 50 yards. This will give you enough to retie several times or pull off a yard or two when the line starts to weaken from being knicked or twisted.

It wouldn’t hurt to clean up the reel either. Some properly placed oil or grease will ensure proper operation. And after the reel is put back together again, check the drag. Make sure that it is set right.

Make sure that all of the guides on the rod are clean and in good shape. If any are broken, get them replaced. If they are all metal and bent, put them back in the proper position if you can or have them replaced as well. Make sure that the reel seats properly onto the reel too!

Check out that little jig, spoon, and hook box that’s sitting in the bottom of your ice bucket while in the comfort a your warm family room. Make sure that you have enough tackle to switch around if necessary. You definitely should sharpen up the hooks of those spoons or jigs that you will be using. Fish bites are very light in ice fishing and most ice rod are very limber. Since hook sets are sometimes difficult work on the now. A very sharp point permits you the set the hook with ease.

Now as long as you're checking out the contents of the ice bucket, make sure that the creepers for your boots are still there. Creepers are those metal spikes that attach to the bottom of your boots so you don’t slip on the ice. Some are made with leather straps, some with rubber ones. Make sure that they are serviceable; check them out. Test the straps to ensure that they have not become subject to dry rot. Replace them if you need to because creepers are worth their weight in gold on those days when there is no snow on the ice.

Some other items that should still be in the bottom of the bucket includes the old 59-cent depth finder. That’s the 1-ounce lead weight that’s molded onto a spring clip. It’s used to attach to your jig or spoon and lowered to the bottom to check out the depth you will be fishing. Even if you have a $250.00 electronic color flasher, the 59-cent depth finder will still have its place in your bucket. It will help you mark the position of your line so you can fish at specific depths. A good flasher will read that 59-cent depth finder being lowered to the bottom. Once it reached the point where the fish are, just mark the depth and you're in business.

Before moving on, here’s a little tip on controlled depth. Use a slip bobber knot to mark the specific depth you want to fish. No bobber is needed, just adjust the knot so that it touches the surface of the water when your lure reaches the specific depth that you want to fish. If you mark fish with your flasher at a 12-foot depth in 20 feet of water, set the knot at 12 feet. When the knot hits the water, close the bail on the reel and you know you're in the fish zone. As fish move up or down, stay on them by adjusting the knot.

Check on a lot of the other obvious items before the ice comes too. Make sure that the blades on you auger are sharp. If you have a gas powered auger, make sure that you have fresh gas in the tank and that it is starts with ease. Put up the ice tent in the back yard for a trial run, just to make sure that everything is in order. If you're going to use a Coleman lantern, get it started up ahead of time so that you don't have to fumble with it while on the ice. Pick up a few extra mantles too while your at the bait shop picking up a new lure or two. And finally, check the power of the battery for your flasher.

To make things easy to find, spray some red paint on your ice scoop, put some unique markings on your auger and if you have a plain white ice bucket, put something on it so that there is no confusion when you fish among dozens of other ice anglers.

Finally, ice fishing safety is an important factor. Always fish with a friend. Never walk close to one another. If you walk upon an area with thin ice and fall through and the other can help out. If your partner falls through the ice, don't rush to his side to help out. Most likely you can fall through too. Have a rope in the bucket to toss to the angler in the water. Ice spikes on a lanyard can be purchased or home made and should be worn by all ice anglers. The spikes on a long lanyard worn around the neck makes them accessible and useful to grab the ice and pull yourself out. Wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) under the winter coat is always a good idea. Should you ever fall though the ice, don't panic. Initially, you will bob up to the surface. Calmly grasp the surface ice and once you float to the top, try to slither out like a seal would do. Again, the ice spikes will help you a lot here. Act quickly, so that you don't become waterlogged, but not in a panic.

Check out the bait shops, local papers, internet, and fishing radio shows for up to date ice conditions. Make sure that the ice is strong enough before going out for the first time. Dress warmly and be prepared. This could be the year we've all been waiting for. If the ice does not come, consider a trip up north. Ice fishing is great fun so let's cross our fingers that we can enjoy it this year.

Article written by Don Dziedzina of Illinois Outdoors

 

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