A Guide to Ice Fishing Gear in 2024: Rods, Jigs, & Lures

Written By: Captain Kody Michael

Wintertime brings an exciting season for anglers, and ice fishing can be a lot of fun with the right preparation. To ensure a comfortable, safe, and successful trip, you’ll need proper ice fishing gear, including insulating outerwear, ice augers, rods, shelters, ice fishing lures, and tackle tailored to your target species.

Safety gear is crucial. Equip yourself with retractable ice picks, flotation suits, ropes, and ice claws to be prepared in case you accidentally break through thin ice. Regularly check the thickness of the ice and always prioritize understanding how safe the ice should be.

Although it takes some preparation and expense to equip yourself properly, nothing compares to luring hard-fighting fish out of holes drilled in the ice. Follow this guide on must-have ice fishing gear and equipment, and you’ll be ready for an amazing time catching fish on frozen lakes this winter.

Essential Ice Fishing Gear

Clothing

Having the right cold weather clothing is crucial when ice fishing. Key clothing items include:

• Insulated Bibs – Bib pants help keep your core and legs warm and dry. Look for waterproof, windproof bibs with insulation.
• Jackets – A heavy insulated and waterproof ice fishing jacket will protect you from the elements.
• Boots – Insulated boots with good traction are a must to walk safely on icy surfaces.
• Gloves – Insulated and waterproof gloves will keep your hands warm and dry, allowing you to handle gear and fish more easily.

Ice Augers and Other Ice Fishing Equipment

Ice augers are powered or hand turned devices used to drill holes through ice to reach the water below. Useful ice augers and accessories include:

• Ice Augers – Gas powered or battery powered augers can drill multiple holes in thick ice. Hand augers are a cheaper but more labor-intensive option.
• Ice Scoops/Ladles – Scoops remove slush and ice chips from holes to keep them open longer.
• Skimmer Spoon – A skimmer spoon is used to keep the hole clear of floating ice chips.

Ice Sleds

Ice sleds allow you to easily transport all your equipment from place to place on the ice. Key features to look for include:

• Tow Bar – Allows another person or snowmobile to pull the sled.
• Storage Compartments – Provide organized storage for tackle boxes, gear bags, etc.
• Seating – Many ice sleds have built in seating or allow you to mount folding seats.

Ice Fishing Rods and Jigging Set-Ups

Types of Ice Fishing Rods

• Standard Rods – All purpose ice fishing rods in lengths of 24”-48”. Good for various ice fishing techniques.
• Tip-Up Rods – Short 12-18” rods used to deploy tip-ups to catch larger species.
• “Jaw Jacker” Rods – Short rods that self hook fish when they strike using a spring mechanism.

Choosing the Right Jigging Set-Up

Jigging rods use ultra-sensitive tips to detect light bites and strategic jigging actions to trigger reactions from fish.

• Rod Length – Standard 24-30” rods allow jigging in deeper water. Shorter rods (18-24”) are good in shallow areas.
• Power – Light or ultra light power is best for smaller species and finesse jigs. Medium power works for larger fish.
• Reel – Small spinning reels or compact jigging specific reels.
• Line – 2-6 lb. test monofilament or fluorocarbon line. Some use braided line as backing.
• Jigs – Vertical jigging with spoons, plastic baits, or live bait.

Ice Fishing Lures, Jigs, and Terminal Tackle

Must-Have Lures and Jigs

• Spoons – Flutter spoons, buckshot rattlespoons, and Swedish pimples produce sound and flash to trigger reaction bites.
• Plastics – Plastic worms, craws, grubs on ice jig heads are good for finicky biters.
• Live Bait Rigs – Small ice fishing jigs tipped with waxworms, mealworms or minnows can be irresistible.
• Rapala jigging raps – Minnow imitation crankbaits that create an injured baitfish action.

Terminal Tackle Essentials

• Hooks – Carry a variety of hook sizes and styles for rigging plastics and live bait.
• Split Shot – Adds weight for fishing shallow water or finicky biters.
• Snells/Leader – Pre-made snells allow for quickly changing rigs. Fluorocarbon leader helps get more bites.
• Bait Holders – Waxworm hooks, minnow buckets, and plastic bait containers keep live bait healthy.

Ice Fishing Storage and Safety Gear

Tips for Organizing Gear

• Use storage boxes or bags to keep similar items together – jigs in one box, plastics and leaders in another, first aid kit, etc.
• Designate specific sled compartments or buckets for shelter, seating, rods, and electronics.
• Keep an inventory list of all gear and check it before leaving.

Importance of Safety Gear on the Ice

Carrying proper safety gear can be a lifesaver if you accidentally fall through the ice. Must-have safety items include:

• Ice Picks – Attached to a cord and worn around the neck, ice picks allow pulling yourself out if you break through thin ice.
• Flotation Suit – Flotation bibs or suit provides buoyancy if immersed in freezing water.
• Rope – Carry several yards of rope in your sled to toss to someone who falls in to help pull them out.
• Ice Claws – Special claws that dig into the ice allowing you to pull yourself out of the hole.
• Throwable Flotation – A throwable rescue device with rope that can be tossed to a person in the water.

Having proper safety protocols in place like checking ice thickness, not going out alone, and wearing a flotation suit can reduce risk on the ice. But carrying safety gear provides an added measure of protection in case the unforeseen occurs.

Conclusion

Layering up with proper insulating ice fishing clothing, utilizing ice augers and sleds to transport gear, and having the right ice fishing rods and ice fishing jigs can lead to a successful and safe day on the hardwater.

Don’t forget to stock your tackle box with productive ice fishing lures and terminal tackle you need to catch fish. And packing reliable safety gear may make all the difference if you run into trouble on uncertain ice conditions.

Equipping yourself appropriately for ice fishing with all the best ice fishing equipment outlined here will allow any angler to have an amazing day reeling up fish on the ice.

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