Everything for your first trip out on the ice: how to check the ice, what to pack, what perch and panfish bite on — and how to stay warm through five hours on the lake.
Pack with the checklistGeneral guidelines for clear blue ice. White, cloudy, or snow-covered ice is roughly half as strong, so add a wide margin.
Test the ice with a spud bar every few steps. Avoid inlets and outlets, reeds, open water, and spots fed by springs. Wear ice picks and carry a throw rope, even when fishing with friends.
The essentials for a comfortable day on the ice.
A 6 in (150 mm) auger handles perch and panfish. Keep the blade guard on so the edges stay sharp.
Two or three short ice rods with spring bobbers: one for jigs, one for spoons, and a spare.
Small tungsten jigs, jigging spoons, and swimming jigs. Waxworms and spikes work all winter.
A seat, tackle storage, and a windbreak in one. A shoulder strap makes it easier to carry.
Thermal base layer, fleece, and a windproof float suit. Boots rated to −40 °F.
Spud bar, ice picks around your neck, a 50 ft throw rope, and a charged phone in a waterproof case.
The most common catches through the ice.
| Fish | Where to look | Lure | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow perch | Drop-offs and edges, 6–20 ft | Jigging spoon, small jig | First and last ice |
| Bluegill and crappie | Flats near weed beds | Tiny jig with waxworm | Morning, midwinter |
| Lake trout | Deep basins and points | Tube jig, large spoon | Midday |
| Northern pike | Weed edges, timber | Tip-up with live bait | First ice |
| Walleye | Rock humps, deep holes | Rattle bait, swimming jig | Dusk and dawn |
Check off what’s already in the truck so nothing gets left behind.