6 Tips for Preparing For Your Ice Fishing Trip

In wintertime, there's nothing better than hitting the water for a day of ice fishing. It's a chance to get back to nature, try your hand at catching some fish, and enjoy the winter weather. If you're headed out on a trip soon, here are six tips as you prepare for your next outing.

1. Research

Before you head out on your fishing excursion, you need to do your research. Check the fishing report and conditions for where you're headed and plan accordingly. Ice conditions tend to vary depending on where you live and you want to be sure the ice is safe enough to fish on. If you're trying to nail down fishing spots, talk to some local fishermen about where to go. Take time to track down all your ice fishing equipment too, including your rods, your auger, and your shanty.

3. Get Your Bait and Licenses

Once you've done your research and determined where you're going to go fishing, you'll need to gather the things you need. Be sure to stop into a local bait shop and buy your licenses and bait. There are nearly 28 million American small businesses and stocking up on bait, licenses, and snacks at your local bait shop is a great way to support small businesses.

4. Dress Warmly

Ice fishing can be a fun activity, but it usually means being outside for most of the day, sometimes in the bitter cold. To stay warm, it's best that you dress in layers. Wearing a warm base layer is a good way to start. Then you can wear a pair of snow pants over top and add a winter coat, hat, gloves, and boots. Since the temperature can fluctuate during the day, and by dressing in layers, you can easily peel some off if you get too warm. It's a good idea to stock up on hand and foot warmers you can slide into your coat pockets or into your boots for extra warmth.

5. Stay Safe

For all the fun you can have while ice fishing, it's paramount that you stay safe during your trip. There are more than 30 million injuries in the United States that require medical attention and the last thing you want is to hurt yourself out on the ice with no way to get help. Even if you're careful out the ice, one wrong move and you might find yourself prone on the ice. That's why it's important to check conditions and ice thickness before you head out. Take your time heading out to your spot as well.

If you've got any medical conditions, take those into account before you head out too. For example, if you take blood thinners, wear extra layers to make sure you stay warm enough. If you're older and dealing with symptoms of BPH, find a way where you can get to a bathroom easily enough.

6. Don't Go Out With Expectations

There's no doubt that ice fishing can be a great activity during winter. But just because you go out doesn't mean you're always going to catch fish. In fact, you may go out three or four times in a row and come back empty-handed. The important thing is to have fun and don't get down if you don't catch anything. Part of the fun is the preparations for the trip, setting up your equipment, and spending time on the water. If you do end up with no fish, take note, and come back just as eager to fish the next time you go.

By researching ahead of time, having the right equipment, dressing warm, and staying safe, you can have a great time ice fishing, whether you come home with a haul or not.