Southcentral Regional Report

Even though it was over two decades ago, it seems like just yesterday when I went ice fishing for the first time. It all started with four middle school friends on an Anchorage lake with a spade shovel and a dull hatchet trying to dig a hole through 20 inches of ice. I did not grow up ice fishing with my family so what knowledge I had was through library books and outdoor magazines. Gear was limited to what was on hand or what could be borrow. Obviously, we had no idea what we were doing. We were eager to try ice fishing but that day “the ice and cold won”. A lot has changed since that first trip, my knowledge about ice fishing has grown and my gear choices have improved. Now I enjoy ice fishing and enjoy taking my three youngsters out ice fishing with me.

When I was getting started ice fishing, I had already been bit by the lure of fishing—I just needed to figure out the art of ice fishing. It would have been helpful if I had a mentor or some knowledge about basic ice fishing gear. One of the most essential pieces of gear for ice fishing is an ice auger. The old spud bar or a hatchet will do the trick for digging a hole in the ice, for those who are patient and in shape, or if you can find somebody else’s old holes. However, often by the time a hole is opened up one has worked up a sweat and gets cold soon after. One trick I have found to an enjoyable ice fishing trip is to stay warm, so my advice is to invest in an auger. Buying an auger is an investment and over the years I have tried out my share of augers. My advice is to find something you are comfortable with operating and will meet your fishing style. Maybe you are not even sure yet if you have an ice fishing style. Fishing style will depend on how many holes you want to drill, the size of the holes, and possibly even what species of fish you are chasing. Power propelled augers that run properly are great, especially if you are chasing bigger fish and need a larger ice fishing hole. Not sure if a powered auger is what you need yet? Then maybe a hand auger is a more manageable option to start with. There are some great hand augers on the market which cut ice almost as fast as their fuel powered counterparts. I have found that I have less trouble with hand augers in the cold. Whether you are using a powered auger or hand auger, sharp blades will make your life easier. Bottom line: both styles will get you through the ice.

The next piece of essential gear to get started is the ice fishing rod. There are many opinions about the right rod and reel for ice fishing but really it comes down to what type of fish you are fishing for and personal preference. Not sure if you are ready to buy a dedicated ice fishing rod? Nothing says you must use a dedicated rod and reel to go try ice fishing. When I was a poor college student, money was tight, so I frequently found myself ice fishing with a lightweight trout spinning rod. Warning: with the longer rod I found that water freezes to your line faster. The point is, to try ice fishing you do not need a dedicated ice fishing rod and reel. If you decide to pick up an ice fishing rod you will typically find they are relatively inexpensive and make it easier to stand closer to the hole your fishing. Ice fishing rods can run from $8 to over $150. I have found that ice fishing is great for kids since no casting is required. When I was introducing my kids to ice fishing, I started them out with a simple jig stick that had no reel. They were simple, cheap, and I could set them up at a preferred depth and walk away. I have seen these made out of a dowl rod and two nails or I have seen some constructed out of cardboard. As my kids got older and more coordinated, I got each of them a short ice fishing pole that was medium stiffness with a spinning reel. When I am fishing larger lakes and bigger fish, I will often use a stiffer ice fishing rod with an open faced bait casting style reel. I have not had good luck ice fishing with the closed faced spincast style reel; the ice tends to build up inside the reel. When I am purchasing or building an ice fishing rod I make sure that the rod is the stiff enough to set the hook, but not so stiff that I cannot feel the fish when it is biting. You should also make sure that the guides are large enough to keep ice free.

Whether you use the gear you have or choose to buy new gear, you cannot catch a fish if you don’t wet a line. Prior to heading out ice fishing do some basic research. Decide where you would like to go fishing. What type of fish are you targeting or maybe you don’t have a preference? Review the sport fishing regulations and visit the Alaska Department Fish and Game webpage to check out a couple of additional online tools (such as the Alaska Lake Database and fishing information) which will help find an ice fishing destination. I would also take advantage of information sharing networks. One great way to learn about ice fishing and necessary gear is to go with someone else. Another network of information is online forums or sporting good shops.

For beginners, I would recommend fishing any of the stocked lakes in the Anchorage area. Try to set yourself up for success by testing your equipment in the cold prior to arriving at the lake. Dress for the weather and bring food and warm drinks if you are planning on being on the ice for an extended amount of time. Make sure you have a valid fishing license with you and understand the sport fishing regulations for the body of water you are fishing. ADF&G has a team of staff that can help you with regulation questions. Also choose your battle: don’t try ice fishing for the first time on the coldest, windiest, and darkest day of January. Try to go early on in the winter once ice is safe, or in the spring when the weather is starting to warm up but there is still plenty of ice. Safe ice is ice that you feel comfortable on. For me that is usually around 4 or more inches of good, solid clear ice. You can find ice thickness for many Anchorage lakes on the municipality website. However, despite reports you should also approach a lake or new section of lake with caution. Ice can be dynamic and vary in thickness across a lake. I check next to the shore and then progress carefully further out the lake. Once you have determined the ice is safe, then find your fishing location. If it is a new lake for you, look for signs of other people fishing. I like to fish “structure” on a lake—in other words, near an island, a point, or a drop off. Where you fish in the water column will often depend on the time of year and the fish you are targeting. In many shallower lakes the oxygen in the water will get depleted throughout the winter. In the beginning of the winter you may be able to find fish throughout the water column, while at the end of winter fish may be searching for oxygen rich water that is often higher in the water column.

Next is the fishing setup or fishing rig. Setting up your fishing rig varies greatly depending on where in the water column you are fishing and what species of fish you are targeting. Often on a new lake I will try to diversify my ice fishing profile by using two rods set up differently. Yes, by regulation in Alaska you can actively ice fish with two closely attended rods. I will set up each rod differently in its own hole but still close enough where I can watch both. If allowed for that body of water, I will set up one rod with some bait, usually salmon roe or shrimp. I will usually suspend the bait 6 to 8 inches above the bottom of the lake. I have heard this technique referred to as “dead sticking”. When I hear of dead sticking, to me means letting the rod sit on the ice with tip suspended a couple of inched above the hole and the hook setup sits on or near the bottom. You want to try to keep your tip out of the water otherwise you will end up with a tip full of ice. On the other ice fishing rod I tie on a more active lure or terminal tackle that will attract the fish or target fish that are more actively feeding on moving prey. The size, color, and type of lure depends on personal preference and the type of fish you are targeting. In local lakes many of the stocked fish are eating insects and stickleback. Like most fishermen, I have a box of ice fishing lures and jigs, many of which are the same that I use during the open water season.

Hopefully, this will help encourage you to get out and try ice fishing.

Jay Baumer is the Area Management Biologist for Anchorage, Prince William Sound, North Gulf Coast