Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 8

INTERMEDIATE
GEARING UP
FOR ICE FISHING
by Tyler Frantz
photos by the author
I
ce fishing in Pennsylvania can be
basic or advanced, and anglers can
spend a little or a lot of money on this
wintertime activity. While there are luxuries
that come with high-end gear, it only takes
a modest assortment of essentials to get
started. Consider the following as a simple
guide for breaking into ice fishing without
breaking the bank.
Sled
Most of the gear described in this
article can be carried by hand in a 5-gallon
bucket, pack basket, or shoulder bag, but
it is more convenient to invest in a deepsided
utility sled.
Plastic sleds take a lot of weight off your
shoulders and serve as a clean, organized
home base for all your gear. They slide well
over both snow and ice, making it easy to
find what you need when you need it, and
most models cost less than $100.
Shovel
Put a lightweight snow shovel in your sled
to clear a patch of ice for drilling multiple
holes. A shovel is also a handy tool for
checking for safe ice, which should be a
minimum of 4 inches thick to support
200 pounds.
Ice auger
A manual ice auger can be
purchased for less than $100. Most
8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
models offer adjustable handles that can
be customized to the height of the people
using them and can be reduced in size for
easier transport. Use the ice auger to drill
holes for fishing and to regularly gauge ice
thickness. It's easier and safer than chopping
ice open with a hatchet and costs only a
fraction of an electric or gas-powered auger.
Scoop or ladle
Once you drill your holes, remove the
shavings and keep the ice open for fishing.
An inexpensive, perforated ice scooper
costs a few dollars or use a slotted ladle for
removing slush from the hole. Measure 4
inches from the tip of the spoon up to the
handle and draw a line with permanent
marker as an easy way to double check ice
thickness throughout the day.
Rods
Ice rods are generally shorter and lighter
than other types of fishing rods. Microjigging
ice rods use an open-face bail much
like a standard spinning reel and work well
on larger fish. However, some ice anglers
prefer to keep their depth set and do a handover-hand
line retrieval for panfish, and
that's where Schooley rods thrive. There
fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023

Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 15
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 17
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 21
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover4
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