MAINE ICE FISHING PRIMER

Modern technology has gone a long way in making winter angling comfortable and fun.  I have seen many changes in equipment and strategy in the forty years that I have been ice fishing.  Below are some tips that can keep you safe and greatly improve your ice fishing success rate in Maine.

Ice Conditions

Freeze up on northern Maine lakes usually starts in early December, and occurs two to three weeks later on lakes in southern Maine. Small lakes freeze first, with larger lakes freezing later.  This is a result in differences in water depth, wind action and current. Many Maine lakes are usually ready to fish by

opening day (January 1).  Notable exceptions are very large lakes such as Sebago and Moosehead, which might not adequately freeze until the middle of January (or later).  A phone call to a local tackle shop to get a report on ice conditions is always a good idea.

In general, five inches of solid, blue ice is safe enough for a single angler to stand on.  Seven inches is usually the minimum needed to support a group of people. To test the ice, always cut a hole near shore, and several more on the way out onto the lake. Shoals, points of land, and areas near islands can all produce current and much thinner ice. Follow existing paths made by other fishermen if possible.

Clothing

Since most of your body heat is lost through the head, wear a warm polypropylene hat or hood. Hands should be protected

by mitts or gloves with Thinsulate or other synthetic fiber. I wear a pair of wool fingerless gloves under mitts, so that I can

remove the mitts while fighting a fish. Footwear is a matter of choice, between felt packs with leather uppers, and rubber boots with felt liners. If the lake is prone to slush, then opt for the rubber boots, especially in mild, late season conditions, when rain and substantial melting can occur.

For maximum protection, some people wear a floater suit or jacket. Manufactured by Mustang and Buoy- O-Buoy, both provide the warmth of a snowmobile suit and the floatation of a life jacket. They are also semi-watertight and will help keep out cold water should you fall through the ice.

Shelter

Although fishing in the open increases your mobility, an extremely cold day calls for some exterior protection. Renting an ice hut from an operator is a good way to gain an introduction to ice fishing in a comfortable environment. Most huts are heated by propane and offer shirt sleeve weather inside, as well as the ability to make coffee and eat heated meals. There are also a number of portable huts for sale, such as The Clam.  These are light enough to be disassembled and pulled to a new location, or carried in the back of a pickup.

Ice Augers

For beginners, a hand (manual) ice auger is sufficient for most situations. A six inch blade is easier to cut with than an eight inch blade; but it’s definitely easier to get a large fish up an eight inch hole. To start the hole, clear the area of all snow and apply pressure to the top of the auger while turning. When the blades first break through, continue turning for a few seconds to trim the bottom of the hole. Then pull the auger straight up to remove the slush out of the hole.

Ice scoops, which are like large perforated spoons, are then used to finish cleaning out the hole. It’s a good idea to cut a new hole rather than trying to cut through an existing frozen hole. After cutting the hole, don’t leave the auger in the snow since water will freeze on the blades. Cut down three or four inches so the auger can stand up vertically.

Ice Fishing Equipment

There are two types of equipment that are used for ice fishing: either stationary lines, or jigging lines. Tip-ups are the most common type of stationary lines used in Maine.  Commercial tip-ups usually have a small reel to hold the line and a flag mechanism to indicate the presence of a fish. The best type of tipups to purchase are those that allow the reel to sit under the surface of the water (so the line doesn’t freeze). Some tip-ups (manufactured by Windlass) have a metal or plastic vane that catch the wind and jig your minnow. These can be very effective, since they offer increased visibility and action of the bait under water.

Jigging equipment consists of a reel, matched with a short rod. Jig rods are usually 24 to 32 inches in length, and feature a variety of actions from light to medium heavy (depending on what you’re fishing for). Most ice fishermen use line in the range of 6 to 12 pound test. A good quality line is Trilene XL or Cold Weather. Since ice can be abrasive, it makes sense to use line of approximately two pounds greater strength than you would use in warm water conditions. The most popular jigging spoons are Swedish Pimples and Leadfish. These are often tipped with a small piece of cut bait (fish).

Where To Find Fish

On any body of water, experienced anglers look for the magic underwater feature called “structure”.  In general, structure can consist of shoals, underwater humps, stepped dropoffs around islands, saddles and just about any irregularity in the bottom contour of the lake.  The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries, and several commercial vendors, sell hydrographic maps of most lakes that show depth contours.

Kevin Tracewski, (Tracewski Fishing Adventures), info@fishguideme.com, (207) 827-3110

Posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010
Filed under Fishing.