First Ice: Great fishing, grave danger
By Bill Whiteside
Everyone knows that first ice can be the best fishing they have all winter. Some of us waiting all summer for hard water and others just putting away their open water equipment are fired up to fish the new ice fishing season. First ice means you haven’t fished since last ice, so you have a lot of things to think about.
You probably used a power auger the last time you were out. Check your hand auger. It might need new blades or sharpening. Make sure your vexilar battery is charged. A spare battery is nice. Guaranteed: your line will be kinked and curled. Change your line or stretch the old line out to get rid of the kinks and curls. You can do this by firmly pulling and sliding the line between your thumb and index finger without breaking it. You should stretch out approximately three times as much as you think you’re going to use. I like to use two-pound-test line for most panfish, three pound for larger crappies. I’ve had good luck with fluorocarbon line such as Vanish or Pline. Also, replenish your bait box, remembering what baits worked well in the past on first ice.
You’re going to be walking out, so don’t forget your sled to carry all your gear. First ice can be very slippery. Ice cleats could save you from broken bones or other injuries. Our fishing buddy slipped and broke his hip on new ice. They took him away on a stretcher. If only he would have had his ice cleats on!
First ice is nice but be careful. Fishing may be hot, but it’s not worth falling through. If you evaluate the ice as questionable, do not go. You’ve heard the old saying “You’re walking on thin ice.” That’s exactly what you’re doing. To check the ice, I take a few slow steps and watch for sinking or cracking, knowing if the ice breaks I can get back to shore.
I also begin to drill or chisel holes. Three inches of good ice is enough to walk on. As I walk out, I keep drilling holes. Sometimes the ice isn’t always consistent. It may be three inches in one spot and only one inch or less in another. So be careful! I strongly recommend wearing a life vest and carrying a rope and screw drivers that can help you escape in the event that your evaluation of safe ice was wrong. Also, there may be other people out on the ice when you first get there. Try to take the same path out that they took.
I hope you have a safe and successful ice fishing season. Good luck and take a kid fishing.