UTAH– As snow begins to fall across the state of Utah, the hunt goes on…the hunt for fish that is!
On January 25, The Division of Wildlife Resources is inviting everyone to try ice fishing, so forget sledding and tag along to try something new.
“The temperatures are dropping. The ice is getting thick. Grab your gear because it’s time to go fishing,” writes DWR in a post.
What is ice fishing?
Ice fishing refers to the act of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water.
According to OutdoorFirst, archeologists have found evidence that ice fishing dates back over 2000 years to native people in what is now the United States and Canada.
Historians believe ice fishing developed in those periods when ice covered the water and survival was essential.
“The people knew the fish were there, but they had to figure out how to get to them,” shares the adventure site.
What do I need for ice fishing?
In order to get started with ice fishing, you’ll need to perform a few simple steps. These include collecting all necessary equipment, filling out your ice fishing tackle box, and making careful plans and preparations.
TodayImOutside, an online adventure guide, gathers a list of items needed for ice fishing.
Equipment needed:
- Ice fishing rod and reel (and/or tip-ups)
- Ice fishing line
- Ice fishing shelter
- Ice fishing sled
- Tacklebox w/ ice fishing lures and bait
- Ice auger
- Heavy-duty winter apparel
- Flasher (fishfinder)
- Ice skimmer
- Gaff hook or net
- Plastic buckets
“While this list may seem a bit overwhelming at first, know that the most basic things you will need are simply an ice fishing rod and reel with the right type of line, a properly-stocked tackle box, heavy-duty winter clothes, and some way to make a hole in the ice. Besides these basics, the other items are simply for convenience and comfort, though many ice fishers won’t want to go on a trip without them,” TodayImOutside shares.
DWR then goes on to emphasize the importance of fishing lines and informs those interested what is best to use.
“Rods and reels should also be matched to their assigned task. Even though you generally match your gear to a species, you actually match it more to the bait you intend to use rather than the species you plan to catch,” DWR spokesman Kent Sorenson shares.”For example, you can land a 10-pound fish on a noodle rod, but you can’t effectively work a 3/8-ounce lure with it.”
Officials say as you learn about the characteristics of various types of fishing line, you’ll find they all have strengths and weaknesses.
“We all have slight preferences that can be determined only through experience. I like monofilament line, other anglers like braids, and some strictly use fluorocarbon. Rarely is one type of line best for all conditions,” Sorenson adds.