| Ice fishing is a fun way to spend the winter, | | | | The main thing is to put your hook right on the lake |
| especially up in the frozen northern states and | | | | floor, and leave it there. Don't move it too much, just |
| Canada. Ice fishing for catfish is an especially big | | | | let it sit, and when he bites, the fight begins! |
| challenge for a hearty cat-fisherman. Those cats are | | | | Good Catfish Ice Fishing Gear |
| still there, way down under the ice, and they still | | | | Because we're dealing with the depths here, it's |
| need to eat! Most ice fishers find that when they | | | | always good to have a rod with an extra sensitive |
| score, they score big. You have a good chance of | | | | tip. It will be really tough to tell when you've got a |
| catching a huge blue cat who's hanging around at the | | | | bite, especially for first time ice fishers. You also |
| bottom waiting for the ice to thaw. | | | | want a rod that has some serious backbone. You're |
| There are several challenges to ice fishing for cats. | | | | liable to catch a big one, and he's not going to want |
| First off, catfish are less active in the winter time. | | | | to come out of that hole in the ice! |
| This means you really have to find out where they | | | | You'll also need things to keep warm. Don't try to be |
| are, and get your bait right in front of them. This is | | | | a tough guy. Get some hand warmers, a nice bucket |
| one reason why many ice fishers like to go for | | | | to sit on, a good heavy coat, and keep in mind that |
| catfish in farmed ponds. In the winter time, you have | | | | you're going to be spending some time out in the |
| to know exactly the deepest spot in the lake, and | | | | cold. Also take an ice auger, ice picks and a sled if |
| with a man-made pond stocked with cats, it's easy | | | | you are going way out on the lake. The ice auger is |
| to find out. | | | | needed to cut through the ice. Ice picks come in |
| For a regular lake, you'll need to probably take some | | | | handy for a variety of things, and the sled can be |
| samples unless you know the lake inside and out. | | | | used to haul stuff out onto the lake and back. |
| With ice fishing, it's not as simple as just picking up | | | | If you really want to go all out, invest in an ice |
| and moving to another spot if they aren't biting. You | | | | shelter. You can get your own ice fishing house, |
| need to know that it's a good spot before you start | | | | complete with a propane heating stove, that you can |
| fishing. One way to do this is to drill a few holes and | | | | flip up and take back down when you're finished. The |
| use a depth finder to find the deepest spot. The | | | | disadvantage of an ice shelter is that it's tough to |
| very bottom is where the big cats will be lurking. | | | | move around, and it can be a pain if you want to try |
| For bait, you can always go with whatever you use | | | | a different spot. On the other hand, it can keep you |
| during the warmer seasons. During the winter, catfish | | | | toasty warm and maybe keep you out on the ice |
| are mostly eating grub worms, so if you really want | | | | longer. Tell your wife it's for your own safety, and |
| to increase your chances of catching a fat cat, go | | | | I'm sure she'll go along with it! |
| with something like that. | | | | |