ice fishing newbie

[birddog one]

This Kansas boy needs some help! With the winter we had last year I'm thinkin' I need an "icehouse" What should I buy and where from? (it needs to be a two person and would like it to be fully enclosed as thin skinned as us southern boys are). Any other Ice fishing help would be greatly appreciated i.e. lures, baits, rods, reel, lines electronics or methods
thanks ya'll :D

[gotcrappie]

Ice fishing is very addictive. I would start out small and then upgrade each season. You can start out simply with a five gallon bucket for a seat, Strikemaster Lazer Auger (5" or 6"), sled, and some of the Schooley rods. Alot of guys around here use their turkey blinds and a small heater for a shelter. As far as shelters, the pop-ups are nice, roomy, and on the cheaper side. The downside is that they are not as mobile if you like to be more mobile. I purchased a pop up tent, but wish I would have went with the sled shelters. The sled shelters keep your gear inside and its easy to pull your sled to the next hot spot. A flasher and/or fish finder can be invaluable out on the ice. It will increase your catches for sure. For ice gear here are a few outfitters:

Red Rock Store: Ice Fishing

Reeds Sporting Goods: Reeds Sporting Goods: Winter Ice Fishing

FishUSA: FishUSA.com - Fishing Tackle at America's Tackle Shop

For Jigs: Ice Fishing Lures, Ice Fishing, Ice Fishing Tackle, Ice Fishing Jigs, Ice Fishing Spins at Custom Jigs and Spins and Fishing and Ice fishing jigs for walleye, bass, panfish, crappie, perch, trout, panfish, bluegill, and sunfish

For live bait: Night Crawlers, Leeches, Maggots from Vados Bait Express and

[dwaw]

artic carharts, 2-3hp auger, vexilar fl8 or better flasher, some kind of sled for your gear, wax worms or maggots,good fillet knife and appetite. enjoy

[birddog one]

thanks guys that should get me started

[Bob # 1]

You are going to need one of these too

[slabseeker]

A very good reply at that. A single style sled style tent such as the Frabill Commandor would be a perfect choice. Don't forget a Mister Heater and backup propane. I love my 2 foot Frabill UL rod with a spring bobber tip. Wax worms and jig. A Vexilar 8 or 12 will help tremendously, without a flasher is like a walk through the park blindfolded. Have a great time. Learning how is half the fun.

[Lowellhturner]

Welcome to the addictive winter wonder land that is ice fishing, much GOOD advice already given. Will chime in; learn before hand of ANY cover, breaks, creek channels, submerged SPRINGS***, ect, on the bodies of water you plan on fishing. And forgive the safety lecture, but here it is; UNTILL you KNOW the ice is 6+" don`t recommend going out far from shore/ docks,ect. ALWAYS carry a 50` rope and buy and WEAR "cat`s claws"; they are life insurance and no trouble if you don`t need them; if you DO NEED them and don`t HAVE them with you....; also SPRINGS are tremendously productive in winter due to their heavily oxygenated 56 degree discharges, but the warmer water CAN thin the ice VERY DANGEROUSLY!!! Use EXTREME care approaching 1 with a partner tied off and the "cat`s claws". Lastly, NEVER approach a "heave" (ridge) in the ice unless you KNOW it has been there for 72+ hours and has had time to refreeze. Even then, personally try to just avoid them altogether. Will confess fell through 1 time, luckily wasn`t alone, and ACCIDENTLY had a rope long enough near enough to save me. Without those, would be quietly pushing up daisies rather than chicken pecking at this key board. Hope you have good luck on "hard water", PLEASE get and have handy your "life insurance items", lets you be much more confident you can get out there and bring them back alive (or frozen)!!

[rico]

Check out the Shappell Rover 2.0.

[parklandgroupohio]

I'm also new to ice fishing. Try searching online. Or maybe there are available items such as lures etc on eBay.

[CTom]

I'm also new to ice fishing. Try searching online. Or maybe there are available items such as lures etc on eBay.

I'd stay away from ebay and craigslist for most anything in the line of basic tackle, lures and even locators [flasher].

For portable shelters, go to either Clam's website or Frabil.com. These two companies are the industry leaders.

For flasher information and the latest technology try either Vexilar.com or Marcum.com....again the leaders in the industry.

If you are going to go the route of a power auger, look up Strikemaster.com or Jiffy.com....you got it, industry front runners.

Tackle is everywhere, but if you want the best deals, the best selections, and sure fire effectiveness try these sources, in the order given:
Thornesbros.com
Cabelas.com
Reeds.com

Consider tackle from these makers:
For line; try Berkeley Vanish Ice Line, 2 pound for sunnies and crappies, 6 for walleyes.
Jigs, lures: JbLures.com, CustomJigs and Spins, Lindy Tackle, Northland Tackle...just to name a few.
For rods: ThorneBros, Frabil, St.Croix.
For reels: Tica, Shimano, Pflueger

You'll open up a whole new world just by googling each of the names I've offered here. Do some shopping and ask questions.

A portable propane heater is a must where I am at and I do not fiddle around with 1 pound bottle type heaters. My sunflower heater sets atop a 20 pound cylinder and is indoors with me. 5 and 11 pound cylinders work well too where space is an issue.

Something to think about with your shelter purchase....

Those shelters with the shallow tray type base that have a "hub" or a frame that folds down atop the base are much lighter and are great on ice with little or no snow. They are generally tall enough to stand in and can have some gear carrying potential if items are not overly heavy or have sharp edges.

If you can get deep snow accumulations on the ice where you are at, the "tub" style base that comes with the Flip-over shacks make pulling or towing way easier. These shacks are considerably heavier than those with the tray style base. These shacks can be found to hold up to six persond or a few as one. Depending on the model and maker, a 6 foot person can stand in many of these. The one huge benefit aside from towing ease in the deeper snow is the amount of gear a person can stow in one while enroute.

I'll offer this tid-bit too. Be sure to pick up a small shovel. Whewn the portable is standing, you'll want to seal it by shoveling snow against the entire outside of the base [that not found insde of the shelter] and all of the apron on the tenting. When its windy and you are alone and get out of the house to take a leak you'll thank me for this. And when you are finished drilling the holes, simple run that shovel over the hole to clear away most of the chippings, then clean the holes.