| The rough, unruly winters are that time | | | | lures, tackles and fishing bait (s). May |
| of the year in the US calendar when | | | | be they don't ice fish because they are |
| white is everywhere underfoot. Never | | | | scared of walking on a frozen lake and |
| mind the chilling winds, as soon as | | | | of falling through into the icy water. |
| there is some glazing of ice on the | | | | However, this fear of angler (s) can be |
| rivers, outdoorsmen and avid angler (s) | | | | alleviated with an equipment called the |
| make like holy men and walk on water in | | | | spud bar. Basically an iron rod with a |
| search of hot fishing action, popularly | | | | chisel tip used to check the safety of |
| known as "ice fishing". A simple sport | | | | the ice, it is an essential piece of |
| where you just drill a hole and catch | | | | equipment of ice fishing anglers in |
| fish, there is more to it than simple | | | | various areas in northern Illinois and |
| outdoor entertainment. Yes, not many | | | | southern Wisconsin. Not much ice |
| angler (s) are supposed to know that | | | | fishermen in the US own this equipment, |
| somewhere between the hole drilling and | | | | though. But in spite of the fear factor, |
| the fish catching, millions of dollars | | | | there actually are some avid anglers who |
| is spent on equipment. It is an | | | | get real crazy about ice fishing on |
| astonishing fact that every year, there | | | | river backwaters, the Great Lakes, and |
| are quite a number of wealthy | | | | on early and late ice (when it is the |
| individuals and industries who are quite | | | | most dangerous). Can you believe, there |
| instrumental in supporting the ice | | | | are those who have fallen through over a |
| fishing product economy, with some of | | | | dozen times, driven snowmobiles and ATVs |
| them willing to shell out for every new | | | | off into the abyss, and all this for an |
| gadget that hits the ice market. | | | | eight-inch bluegill or an eighteen inch |
| The purpose of such investment in the | | | | trout fish? |
| ice fishing market is to promote the | | | | Nowadays the various fishing industries |
| cause of ice fishing among the angling | | | | has come up with great lures and fishing |
| community. Coupled with it is the lure | | | | bait equipment that are just ideal for |
| of camaraderie, which binds an angler to | | | | Ice Fishing as well as open water summer |
| another in the ice fishing sport. | | | | fishing. There are several high quality |
| Whether you are huddled together on four | | | | ice fishing lures that expert ice |
| inches of ice on a frozen lake in | | | | fishermen desired. Ratso, Shrimpo, |
| Illinois with your lures, fishing bait, | | | | Finesse Plastics, Ant and Rat Finkee |
| or a group of permanent shacks is parked | | | | all have been used with great success by |
| on two feet of ice in northern | | | | anglers all year round. |
| Minnesota, the fishing takes a back seat | | | | Some of the most used fishing bait (s) |
| to the total outdoors experience. If you | | | | that angler (s) use for ice fishing are |
| are somewhat a foodie, all you do is | | | | as follows: |
| step on any frozen lake any time of day | | | | -Wax Worms, Preserved Natural Baits: |
| and get into a group of ice fishermen | | | | These are genuine cream-color wax worms |
| and you will smell chili, stew, | | | | naturally preserved to retain their |
| spaghetti, soup, beanie weenies, coffee | | | | original consistency, scent and |
| or hot chocolate on someone's burner. | | | | fish-catching power. |
| Remember the old adage: "food tastes | | | | -Shiner Minnows (Large): Natural, wild |
| better on the ice than in the kitchen". | | | | minnows preserved to retain their |
| That said, it must be also admitted that | | | | life-like appearance. |
| the most favorite ice fishing targets | | | | -White Fly Flicks, Specialty Pork: The |
| are to be enjoyed with the family. If | | | | tiniest pork rind made, used to catch |
| you are equipped with proper fishing | | | | panfish, trout, salmon, bass, shad, |
| lures, fishing tackle, fishing bait and | | | | pompano, small channel bass. |
| other fishing equipment for ice fishing, | | | | -Grass Shrimp, Preserved Natural: |
| there is nothing like the thrill of | | | | Miniature, whole grass shrimp naturally |
| pulling a trophy northern pike or a | | | | preserved to maintain life-like scent |
| trophy-sized trout fish through the ice. | | | | and appearance. |
| With a proper game plan and the right | | | | -Real Maggots: Preserved Natural: |
| equipment (including your choice of | | | | Genuine multi-colored maggots naturally |
| lures and fishing bait), you can set | | | | preserved, with tender inside and tough |
| yourself up to put some beautiful fish | | | | outer skin. |
| up on the ice. | | | | With all these fishing bait (s) and |
| With all the pluses ice fishing has | | | | lures, an angler can create a game plan |
| going for it, there is still a multitude | | | | to give him the highest opportunity |
| of anglers who have never ventured out | | | | possible to catch the monsters on the |
| for ice fishing with their fishing | | | | waters. |