Introduction
So you have decided to learn how to ice fish!
With this step-by-step guideline you will be
out on the ice and reeling in fish before you
know it. This booklet will guide you through
every necessary step of ice fishing with
thorough instructions and figures.
Reading this booklet will begin to show you
how to properly prepare for your ice fishing
experience, tie on your jig, bait your hook,
and set the hook and reel the fish in.
These steps should not only improve your
probability for success, but also make your
ice fishing fun and exciting.
Works Cited
“General Ice Thickness Guidelines,”
<http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.
html> (accessed 11 November 2010).
Ibrahim, Mohamed “Ice Fishing Black Clip Art,”
<http://www.clker.com/clipart-map-symbols-ice-
fishing-black.html> (accessed 4 November 2010).
“Ice Fishing Walleye,” <
http://www.icefishingworld.com/walleye.html>
(accessed 8 November 2010).
Simonson, Nick “Ice Fishing Safety,” 9 November 2009, <
http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/
ice_fishing_safety.php> (accessed 8 November
2010).
2. Purchasing License 12. Now What?

Check the DNR’s website for the state that
you will be fishing in. On their website you
will find a list of prices for various types of
licenses. If you only plan on fishing once, a
one or three day license would work fine.
Types include:
24 hour
72 hour
One week
Season
Once you have removed the hook from the
fish’s mouth, you must decide what to do
with it. Use the regulations book that you
received with your license to see if you can
keep the fish. This will also help with
identifying the species of fish. Remember
that long cold walk out there? Time to pack
up and do it all again.
Epilogue 1. Collecting Gear

Buy or borrow the following items:

So now that you have read and understand
the simple steps to ice fishing you are ready Ice fishing poles
to begin your ice fishing experience. Jigs
Bait (see step 8)
Now go out put the steps into practice and
Warm clothes
experience the joys of ice fishing first hand!
Auger (gas or hand powered)
Enjoy and good luck! Portable ice house (optional)
Figures for Jigs 1.
Fig. 1: Tie two regular knots on the line,
leaving a 2.5 – 3 in. loop.
Fig. 2: Pinch the loop and slide the tip of the
loop through the eyelet of the jig.
10. Setting the Hook
Once you can see your pole tip bend, wait
until a good firm tug and the set the hook.
Set the hook by quickly and firmly flicking
your wrists in an upward direction. This
will lodge the hook in the fish’s mouth
ensuring that the fish stays on the hook
longer.
11. Reeling the Fish In
Keep pressure on the line and reel in. If the
fish pulls back hard just let it fight and stop
reeling, but keep the line taut. Avoid letting
the fish go to the bottom of the lake because
they may wrap themselves around weeds in
order to dislodge the hook. Keep reeling
until you can successfully take the fish from
the water and through the ice hole.
3. Setting Up the Poles
You will want to put new line on the pole,
especially if you haven’t used it for awhile.
There are two different options for line, they
are monofilament and braided.
Monofilament line is essentially a single
nylon thread. While braided is different
fibers woven together.
Either one is fine; it is mainly based on
personal preference. Since the water is cold
the fish are slower and will fight less so 4 lb.
to 6 lb. test line should work. After you have
put the new line on; tie on a jig. This action
is explained on the next two pages.
6. Checking the Ice Thickness
 Now that all the preparation is done, carry
all of your gear out to the spot you have
The ice must be at least 4 in. thick to be safe
selected. Once you reach the spot, drill a
to walk on and at least 6 in. thick to be safe
hole for each person that is fishing or for
for a portable ice house. The first thing to do
each pole being used. You can refer to the
as indicated on Minnesota’s DNR website is
state DNR website for the maximum number
to talk to winter resorts, other fishermen,
of poles per person.
and bait shops and ask about ice thickness.
If the temperature has been consistently Drilling a hole 10-20 seconds with a gas
below freezing and the ice is known to be at powered auger or 5-10 minutes with a hand
least 4 in. thick; then go out and test every powered auger.
150 ft. or wherever the ice looks different.

8. Baiting the Hook

7. Setting Up the Site
There are two ways shown on the next page
on how to hook a minnow.
The first way is to hook the minnow through
the mouth and up behind the head (Fig. 5).
Avoid hooking the minnow through the
brain because this will kill the minnow.
The second way is to hook the minnow
through the midsection below the dorsal fin
(top fin) avoiding the vital organs because
this will kill the minnow (Fig. 6, 7).
5. Selecting the Lake
When fishing for walleye look at the depth
charts of the lakes that you plan on fishing.
Look for dramatic changes in depth.
These changes in depth are indicated by the
lines on the depth chart. So you want to be
looking for lines labeled from 10-16 ft.
An example of a lake depth chart is below:
Image retrieved from http://www.bonylakewi.org/images/BonyLakeBase.gif
4. Selecting the Bait
The two live bait options for walleye fishing So now that you have read and understand
are minnows and leeches. We will only the simple steps to ice fishing you are ready
discuss the use of minnows for sake of to begin your ice fishing experience.
simplicity. You can buy minnows at a bait
Now go out put the steps into practice and
shop or at select lakes area convenience
experience the joys of ice fishing first hand!
stores.
Enjoy and good luck!
And example of a minnow and a leech are
below:

Image retrieved from

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/13900/13918/minnow_13918.htm

Image retrieved from

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/22100/22198/leech_22198.htm

9. Setting the Line Depth

Figures for Baiting the Hook

After selecting a lake and finding the right Fig. 3: Swing the jig through the portion of
spot in 10-16 ft. of water. Drop your baited the loop you just slid the jig over.
hook down to the bottom of the lake and
reel up about 1-3 ft. This is the ideal
location for catching walleye.

Fig. 4: Pull the line with one hand and the jig
with the other hand, sliding the double knot
snug onto the jig eyelet.

Figures for Jigs 2.

 Tanner Olson
Marshall Viland
Peter Weber
Lucas Gunkelman

Retrieved from www.coloring-pages-kids.com

Beginner’s Guide
To Ice Fishing