PRESSURE TACTICS
Too many ice anglers on your favourite lake? You can still quickly find and catch more fish than the rest of the crowd. Here’s how
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Proper winter apparel is key to staying comfortable and in the game andTACTIC #7: BUNDLE UP
This may surprise you, but dressing for the occasion makes for a successful ice angler. I couldn’t care less what brand you buy, but wear thick, rubber-soled, waterproof boots with removable liners rated for at least -40ºC. You simply can’t ice fish properly when your feet are freezing, so proper boots are essential, as are waterproof gloves, thermal underwear, a wool sweater, and a waterproof jacket and bibs.
I’ve ice fished in such bitter cold that I once thawed out my fingers in a cup of steaming hot coffee (trust me, it hurts like hell). I’ve also ice fished in absolutely brutal conditions with my hood up and back to the wind, but had to loosen my jacket because I was too warm. So, I know how critical it is to dress properly. In fact, I would tell you to spend more on good boots, gloves, base layers and outerwear than on a better rod, reel and lures.
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Here’s one last secret I’ve never shared before: I always wear two layers of quality thermal long underwear. That includes a light- or moderate-weight base layer followed by the warmest-possible insulated top and bottoms. I then cover the two layers with a hoodie followed by a thick, wool turtleneck sweater and my outerwear. As a result, I can stay toasty warm in frigid weather and keep fishing when others can’t—the final piece of the puzzle for staying ahead of the crowd, and taking your ice-fishing game to the next level.
BONUS TIP: BOOT LOGIC
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One chief reason your feet get cold on the ice is that they sweat in your boots on the drive out to the lake, then freeze up once you leave your vehicle. To avoid that, I always wear a pair of light shoes while I drive to the lake, then put on dry socks and my dry, heavy boots once I arrive. And to ensure you have dry boots, it’s essential to remove the liners once you return home, and let them dry out overnight. If you keep the liners inside your boots, they’ll remain damp and your feet will freeze when you head back out in the morning.