Tyler Omoth - Ice Fishing for Kids

Many people enjoy eating crappies because these fish have a flaky, white meat.In Louisiana, the Cajun term for crappie is sac-a-lait. This term means sack ofmilk, and it refers to the fishs white meat.

Fish have been a key part of peoples diets for thousands of years. For people wholived where lakes and rivers would freeze in the winter, ice fishing was a necessity.Early American Indians chopped holes in the ice over shallow areas. They used spearsto nab the fish below. In ancient times, some people used fish hooks made of animalbone. They attached these hooks to line made of animal hair. They put bait on a hookand dropped the hook into the water through a hole in the ice. Then they waited forfish to bite.

Modern ice fishing has come a long way since then. Although fishing during the winterisnt a necessity for most people, ice fishing is a popular sport. Ice augers , icefishing shelters, heaters, and other gear have made it easier for anglers to spenda day on the ice.

auger a tool that uses a screw mechanism to drill holes
angler a person who fishes

For a fun-filled day of ice fishing, you need to be prepared. There are many toolsthat can help you catch fish and stay safe. From shelters to lures, choosing theright gear will help you make the most of your ice fishing trip.

Just because you are fishing on ice doesnt mean you have to be cold. There is awide variety of ice fishing shelters available. Before choosing one, do some researchto decide which style will work best for you.

At one time, if you wanted a shelter on the ice you had to build it yourself. Peoplemade shelters from scraps of metal or wood. Today some anglers still choose to buildtheir own shelters. These homemade ice houses can be simple and small. But some peoplebuild large, fancy shelters because they spend a lot of time on the ice. These sheltersare like a home away from home.

Homemade ice shelters made from wood or metal tend to be strong and warm. They providegood protection in strong winds. But they are often heavy and hard to move. Theyalso take up a lot of storage space in the off-season.

Today many ice fishers buy portable ice shelters. These shelters are usually lightweightand fold up. Some portable shelters are little more than shelter from the wind. Othersare insulated for added warmth. But all of these shelters are easy to move and store.

portable easily carried or moved
insulated covered with a material that stops heatfrom escaping

No matter what kind of shelter you choose, keep in mind your space needs. How manypeople will need to fit in your shelter? What items do you plan to keep in your shelter?Heaters, seats, and a light are items many fishers include in their shelters.

Ice fishing rods are often much shorter than rods used for other types of fishing.Other fishing rods are usually at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) long. The extra lengthhelps anglers when they are casting far out into a lake or river. Ice fishing rodscan be short since most ice anglers sit close to the hole. Ice fishing rods are usuallybetween 16 and 32 inches (41 and 81 cm) long.

When choosing a rod, pick one that is comfortable for you. Make sure the rod is sensitiveenough to let you know when a fish bites. The type of fish you like to catch makesa difference too. You need a medium or medium-heavy rod for large game fish, suchas northern pike. For panfish, such as perch or crappie, a light or ultralight rodwill help you feel gentle nibbles.

Every rod needs a reel, and for ice fishing its pretty simple. Just about any reelthat fits comfortably on your rod will work. Most ice anglers use lightweight spinningreels .

motorized ice auger

Ice makes it easy for anglers to walk to the middle of a body of water where fishare plentiful. But it also creates a barrier between the angler and the fish. Iceaugers are large tools that drill holes in the ice. There are two main types of augers,manual and motorized. Manual ice augers require the user to crank a handle to turnthe drill. These augers are lightweight but make getting through thick ice more difficult.Motorized augers use gas or electric engines to power the drill. They are heavierto carry than manual augers, but they make drilling a hole much easier.

spinning reel a reel that is mounted underneath a rod instead of on top and is moresensitive to fish strikes than other rod and reel combinations

fish finder

Fish finders are tools that let you see how many fish are in the water below you.Fish finders also tell you how deep the fish are located. These tools can save youfrom hours of fishing in a spot that has no fish. They come in many models and atmany different prices. For beginners, a basic model will help you find plenty offish.