The TFN Ice-Fishing Primer

Ice-fishing is one of the most overlooked and underestimated methods of catching fish, predominantly practiced in the northern hemisphere. Many anglers hang up their tackle when it gets cold and don't return to the water until spring, often complaining of extreme cabin fever.

In fact, ice-fishing is not only a great way to spend some time in the outdoors during the winter, it's also a very effective method of catching fish if practiced properly.

THE SEASON:

The first and most obvious requirement for this method of fishing is ice. Those waters that freeze in the northern half of the world generally do so any time from October through December, the further north, the earlier. Once frozen, they normally stay in that condition until March through May and even into June, the further north, the later.

Once the ice is a SOLID 3-4 inches thick, it is safe to venture forth on foot. 5-6 SOLID inches will support snowmobiles and ATVs, while you'll have to wait until is 8 inches or more before attempting to drive your car on it. We emphasize the word SOLID because ice can have air pockets, pockets of snow, and even slush that reduce it's tensile strength.

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