Ice fishing is Winter activity that the whole family can enjoy. The cost is minimal to get fixed up and with just a little bit of knowledge, a Greenhorn can be expected to catch some fish their first trip or so out on the ice.

But what’s required to begin ice fishing? One has so many choices in fishing gear available today, First Timer can easily lay out hundreds of their hard earned money on ice fishing equipment and never get what they really need.

So I’ve put together this list of the basic ice fishing tackle that a person will need to get started. The real kicker is that for less than what a Family of for can eat out at a steak house these days, you should be able to get all the fishing tackle that a person will need to get out there drilling holes in the ice for those tasty fish.

Before anything else, you will need an auger meant for ice fishing to bore holes in the ice. If it was me, I’d get a 5 or 6 inch ice auger for panfish like Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. For bigger fish like Walleye, Pike or Channel Catfish, then For Beginners, I’d want a 8 or 10 inch auger. You can get the power augers or the manual augers. You need to keep in mind that the manual augers are less expensive but require more effort to drill a hole. You will also need a scoop to dip the ice chips out of the hole you’re fishing.

Tip ups and rods. Most ice fishermen drill a bunch of holes over bottom structure and use tip ups to increase their chances of catching their limit of fish. Others prefer to ice fish with an ice fishing rod. If it was me,I’d get a few tip ups along with a good rod so you can see which one catches the most fish in your area.

The line you use for fishing should be designed for ice fishing. The ice cold water can make fishing line brittle. That is why you will want to be certain and purchase fishing line specifically designed for ice fishing. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. Ice fishing line is the most important part of your ice fishing gear.

The best ice fishermen will tell you to get some jigs and lures for ice fishing. Tiny jigs are a good choice for panfish like Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. Also tear drop jigs and tiny spoons will come in handy when the panfish get finicky. As for bait, panfish love mealworms and spikes while larger fish such as Walleye prefer Worms or baitfish like smelt. Ask around at your local sporting goods store to see what’s they recommend a Beginner use their first time out on the ice.

Make certain to buy something to sit on. Most seasoned ice fishermen use an ordinary 5 gallon bucket. A select few will even bring lawn chairs out on the ice, but a 5 gallon bucket will also help you haul your gear to and from the lake.

This is all you need to get started. Be sure to buy a fishing license and read up on the regulations for your area. Being ticketed for breaking a law can ruin any trip. You’re cleared to go fishing and have some fun. Don’t forget the most important fishing tip, be safe and follow all the safety rules for going out on the ice.