once you get hooked you'll end up spending just as much money on ice fishing equipment as you have on open water if not more. It's an addiction that can't be broken. It's hard to explain but your closer to the fish. You are on a bucket looking down a hole at your feet and a fish looking up at you through the same hole. Plus the fish taste better through the ice.

For about a $100 you can get every thing to start than if you like it you'll keep add more stuff and more stuff. Than you get to drag all your stuff across the ice. In a couple of years you'll find that some stuff you need and some you don't. Plus every Christmas you can place an order with Santa.

Go to Lowe's and get a sled that is used for mixing cement for $12. don't take your kids sled!
A bucket, to sit on.
Some jigging poles with 2 or 4lb line.
Some ice fishing jigs, Jammin jigs .com.
An auger ,6 inch.
An ice scoop.
And some maggots.
warm clothing.
And a thermos. That's everything you'll need to start.

Than comes the shanty, depth finder, and heaters, tip ups, speciality poles and lures.




I think fishing through the ice makes you a better open water fisherman.