Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Seems to me that there is decent interest in ice fishing this year by some of our members New and Previous so I figured that this might be a helpful and informative thread for them. Questions? Tips? Post em' up!!!!
First. I would read some of the previous posts regarding ice safety!!!!
Ice fishing is a great but not worth risking your life for!!!!

That being said I would like to give a Tip to help save you a few bucks on ice fishing equipment that was passed on to me by a fellow member and I thought it was a great tip!!!

When you transport your equipment onto the ice you need something to carry it with correct? Ice fishing requires some basic stuff and your not carrying it all by hand LOL!!!! Jetsleds are used by most hard core ice guys and are quality made products which should last many years if not abused but on the flip side they are quite pricey.
My tip is to go to a home improvement store and buy a large concrete tub, the kind you mix it in. Along with some rope and some washers. Drill two holes and insert the rope thru the side and then the washer and then tie a knot to hold it in place. There you have it a Generic Jetsled that one can make for less than 15.00!!!!
Adorn it with NJF stickers and your ready to roll!!!
Jetsleds usually run anywhere between 60 and 200 hundred bucks depending on the size and color with this tip you could make quite a few for that price!!!!

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Yes! I took his advice and followed suit. Budget sled for like $15 that holds my auger, tip ups, chair, backpack, cooler ,5 gallon bucket and more! It can also be modified to add a level with milk crate for even more storage if needed. Bungee everything down and roll on out!

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Yo don't be givin all my ideas up!!!!! Any one have any sled Mods to share also or any other tips such as..... Baits/ rigs/techniques/Locations of "A" lake to fish???
Let's hear em!!!!!

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Hahaha! It's a tip, isn't it?

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

No need to go crazy with gear like Dale stated. Start with yak tracks, bait bucket, and a 5 gallon bucket. In that bucket you can fit a jigging rod and 2 or 3 tip ups. Chances are you'll be out with guys that have augers and shelters. You can easily start out for less than $100.00 in gear. After the addiction sets in then you can go nuts.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Good tip Seth. ANOTHER CHEAPY!!!! Ice creepers, buy a small section of chain similar to the kind that comes on swing sets and a pair of shoe laces or thin rope also. You probably have some laying around the house. Cut a 6 inch section and fold it in half then place under your boot just in front of the heel and then fasten to your boot with the shoestring or rope. Cheap and effective!!!
Until you decide you want to do it all the time and then buy some nice creepers!

Also a good tip for you expereinced guys in case you break a creeper in a pinch!!! Keep it in your truck or glove box!!!

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

I would recommend getting a pair of ice picks just in case the unthinkable happens and you go through the ice. <$10 is definitely worth your life

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Also check out the NJ Ice Shanty Board for information

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php#c17

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

"never assume "would be my tip to 1st timers.this gose with the ice thickness,gear,bait and what ever else you are bringing.double check that you have all that you will need,it takes 2 minutes and could not only make your trip a good one but could save your life.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

I made a ice fishing sled using a pair of old skis, a little plywood and a milk crate. ( Seen at the beginning of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vac0G1TOovE )

It served me well over the years, but had one flaw. It was narrow and if the snow on the ice was deep, one ski would fall into my footprints the sled would tip over. It was only an issue in deep snow. Anyway I bought a Jet Sled Jr. It was only around $30 and gave my old sled to someone on IceShanty. If I were ever to make another one I'd make it wider which would solve the tipping issue in deep snow.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

cabelas makes an ice sled that is about half the price of a jet sled when you can find it in the bargain cave. I have two and have used them for ice fishing a duck hunting for a few years now. Definitely recommend it when they go on sale.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

also know the laws...a big one that came up on Ice Shanty was having your address on your tip-ups...some guys have gotten tickets for not having addresses on them...easiest way is to put a mailing return label with some clear tape..


Copied from page 25
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2...hcode14-15.pdf

7:25-6.14 Ice fishing
(a) Except as provided in N.J.A.C. 7:25-6.3, ice fishing shall be permitted whenever ice is present.

(b) A person, while fishing through the ice, may use not more than five devices for the taking of
fish. Devices may consist of any combination of ice supported tip-ups, fishing rods, or hand lines.
Each device may have only one single line attached.

1. Ice supported tip-ups or hand lines may have only one single pointed hook attached;

2. The line from a fishing rod may have attached either one single pointed hook; or an artificial
lure with not more than three single hooks and one burr of three hooks. On artificial
lures, single hooks may not measure more than 1/2 inch from point to shaft, and hooks on
burrs may not exceed ½ inch from point to point.

(c) Natural and artificial bait may be used with any ice fishing device.

(d) All devices that are not hand-held must be clearly marked with the name and address of the
user and shall not be left unattended.

(e) All established creel, season, and size limits apply.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

A little something I wrote last year for novices

Getting Started With Ice Fishing

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Jeez don't get me started on ghetto rigging stuff to save money... I used to take an old kids sled and bungee a big Rubbermaid storage bin to it as a sled.

And I still just modify my boat ff to be my flasher with a milk crate as a base plus storage and a float made of foam insallation as my sounder. I got a jet sled jr which is pretty cheap this year from my wife for Xmas, it's the biggest that fits in my trunk anyway.

I splurged on an electric power auger so I could get into more holes instead of being dead tired from drilling by mid day. Unfortunately tons more holes and more areas covered has not equalled more fish for me yet!

Also if you want to get real cheap you can make a tip up by just wrapping some string around a pvc pipe. Stick something on it so you will see if it spins and that's it... Don't laugh, I did it and it worked! Those and a regular Rod with the top half pulled off to jig is how I started my first ice season haha

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Thanks Guys, for the input but it doesn't have to only be about sleds it could be anything related to ice fishing.

What else??? Any questions ??? C'mon now!!!! None!!!!

A sharpie works really good on a wooden tip up to put your info on.

What kind of Tip Ups does everyone use..... Plus + Minuses
Looking to upgrade since I am still using my old sticks that are a least 30+yrs old! They still work fine but some are starting to get a little worn out!!!

The reason I decided to start this thread was for the gang here, I know there's other sites but none like OURS!!!!! NJF IS DE BEST!!!!!:D:D:D:D:D

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

What kind of tips could you give me for ice fishing a new lake for the first time? Do you use some type of map to find shallow/deep water or do you just go around drilling holes in random spots?

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

Most of the lakes I ice fish I already know pretty well from open water fishing. I still may need to drill a few holes to find the precise location of a dropoff, but it's not random because I already know the general area.

A lake that is new to me it becomes more of a random process if I dont have a map, but not completely. I'll look at the shoreline and surrounding terrain for queues.

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

I use the basic wooden cross type tip up. It works as well as the more expensive and complicated ones I've seen. I plan to move to ice rods on tip downs and similar devices eventually because the idea of playing a fish on a rod appeals more to me than pulling them in by hand. It will be a slow process because a rod, reel and tip down aint cheap. I'll probably buy one setup a year until I have 5

Re: Ice Fishing Tips for First Timers.........
 

With no map or previous experience on the lake drill holes going out from the shore in a line and if you get a fish or nibble in a certain depth put more holes in that area. Just be methodical about it. It can be a slow lame process on a brand new lake. Much easier to hit places that you've hit with a depth finder in a boat.