Best products from r/IceFishing

Gonna go a different route from the other guys. This isn't the exact one I have, but I'd look at Humminbird's Kayak line of fish finders instead of their ICE line or larger boat stuff.

The HELIX 5 looks like a good option at a good price: https://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-410210-1-Helix-Chirp-Finder/dp/B01M2VLBQF - or the NON-GPS Version + the Navionics App (15$ish, IIRC?) on your phone: https://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-410210-1-Helix-Chirp-Finder/dp/B01MCWIC5H?th=1

Just about any sonar you get nowadays will have a digital 'flasher' dial as one of the screen options and I've found it works just as well as a FL8/VX-1. On top of that, you can actually use it in open water because it has a normal 'sonar' just like you'd see on an open water boat.

Truth be told, I've ended up using the open water sonar more often than the flasher dial anyway. It gives you a little bit of 'history' so you can see what types of movements you were doing when you finally triggered that fish to raise up off the bottom and inspect your bait. Typically the open water sonar has a vertical column along the right side of the screen that acts exactly like a flasher would, so I just use that so I get both the flasher aspect as well as the history aspect.

You'll need to get some sort of a 'conversion kit' to make the flasher work properly for ice fishing, but that kit usually includes a carrying bag, mounting platform, etc, just like you'd get with an FL8 or similar, and shouldn't cost more than ~100$.

lures- there's 3 common types of lures. small jigs usually made specifically for ice fishing, my favorite is the black ant. larger stuff like spoons and jigging raps, my favorite is the Swedish pimple. and then live bait rigs, I prefer a tiny treble hook and piece of split shot with a minnow hooked through the back or lips.

technique- for small jigs a real subtle presentation is usually best. barley getting the jig to move and giving it a fast twitching action then pause every couple of seconds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2uizxMKVmE. large lures use the same action plus an aggressive jig of 2-6 inches to attract fish from a distance. pounding the bottom, letting the lure hit the bottom of the lake a few times while jigging is common. for live bait you usually want the bait within a foot of the bottom of lake. usually using a bobber just let the minnow do it's thing, maybe lift it a foot and let it back down every 5 minutes to get the minnow moving again.

details- I would say 90 percent of the time I'm trying to keep the lure as close to the bottom (within 1 foot) as possible. very slowly raising the lure 1-2 inches while jigging and then pausing for a few seconds can get them to bite.

If you have a decent 18V drill with a 1/2 inch chuck you can get the clam drill plate that works with any cheap hand auger. The only drawback for me is that I can only drill about 6-7 holes on one battery charge. I'd imagine you could do more with lithium batteries. Overall, though, I've fished both hand augers and gas augers and the clam conversion drill/hand auger is the best.

http://www.amazon.com/Cordless-Drill-Auger-Complete-Conversion/dp/B00FL8B9QK

The reviews are pretty brutal. Yes, you need a decent drill. Yes, it can be a pain to take the drill (and chuck) on and off the plate if you want to use it. But if you have a drill already and don't plan on using it during the winter much, then its the best option imo.

Edit: Here's just the plate: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Clam-Outdoors-Auger-Drill-Conversion-Plate/1656345.uts?productVariantId=3549372&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=38-19205773-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=GoogleProductAds&WT.z_mc_id1=03733130&rid=20#BVRRWidgetID

Some kind of sled to haul your stuff and to haul fish back. It's so much nicer to pull the sled them be carrying everything. When you break through a layer of slush you don't have to worry about spilling all your gear.

Also a nice little jig box. this one is my go to and man is it nice just to throw it in your pocket and not worry about it opening up while hole hoping.

OHHH and the free Navionics app for your phone. It's free and you can put pins on your hot spots.

The concept is good for tip-ups. I don't have experience with your isulator, but have used NEPs with great success.

Lighting was my best move on my two man. I picked up these on Amazon.

Led Strip Lights, 16.4ft LED Flexible Strip Lights, 150 Units 5050 RGB LED Light Strip Kit with 44Key Remote Controller and Power Supply,Non-Waterproof 12V DC, for Home Kitchen Bedroom Car https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y1VR15N/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IOlXDb40PZ8FZ

I added an adaptor to my Vexlar rig and power them with that. I have an additional battery I can bring to keep it lit while roaming outside (or when it turns into a warming hut/playhouse for the fam).

A decent toe bar and track kit are essential if you're doing any serious sledding or use an atv. I pull mine around with my '92 Honda 300 4 wheeler.

Grew up on Mille Lacs and am familiar with the big lakes. Too populated down there though. I married a girl from Hartford and was in Fon du Lac last weekend for a wedding too. Small world.

Happy fishing!

I have a 6" Eskimo auger. It works great, just keep the blades sharp and covered if not in use. My Eskimo auger is attached to a DeWalt heavy-duty brush-less drill. I can drill countless holes through twelve inches plus of ice in about ten seconds. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCD985B-20-Volt-Lithium-2-Inch/dp/B007ML7EVI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1541702599&sr=8-9&keywords=dewalt+hammer+drill+20v+brushless

Most guys use a Milwaukee Fuel drill, but I like having the compatibility with other DeWalt tools. Look on Craigslist for a used ice auger and have the blades sharpened or replaced. Bought mine for $20 and I happen to live down the street from one of the two places that sharpens auger blades in Michigan (Angler's Pointe). If you need auger blades sharpened in the future you may mail them to me and I'll mail them back once sharpened. Costs $5-10. Message me if your interested.

How much do you want to spend?
Does he have a depth finder or sonar? These are on the lower end price wise for marcums.
My dad and i each got eachother 2 of these last X-mas. had a good laugh.

Something I haven't seen anyone else mention yet but I use every time I go out is a lake map app (I use Navionics) on my phone. Having the ability to pick and choose spots you like vs just winging it should help you catch more fish once you start picking up on fish movement/behavior. Also being able to drop pins on the map within the app so that you can track where you've been or where you've caught fish.

If I remember right I pay $10 a year for it and it is 100% worth it. Word of advice though, get a case that has a tether so if you drop your phone it won't drop down the hole. Something like this should work

Try amazon, you can get good pull over cleats for very cheap. I have these and they're awesome https://www.amazon.com/SPGOOD-Crampons-Stainless-Mountaineering-Spikes-Black/dp/B07XXQDY3C/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=ice+cleats&qid=1574304780&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVzZTUEEwV0c4T0hKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzg2NzIyMTdFOEhXWEI2N1VRTSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUwMDg1MTdGRk1PQVRLN05GVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DII7CTI/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1510011528&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=streamlight

Great quality lights. They have a clip to hang from the supports on the ceiling. You can unscrew the bottom portion for a more direct down-facing beam. It really lights up my clam pop up. It works equally well for in the tent, hanging from a canopy, etc.

Oh haha... you can typically find adaptors that fit the battery of your platform that have a 12v barrel jack. I just cut the leads from my vex and added a male barrel jack that fits.

The specific one I use is a non branded eBay find. Just search something like “20v (18v Milwaukee) to 12v dewalt battery adapter.

Something like this

LANMU Battery Adapter for Dewalt 18V/20V Lithium Ion Battery,TS100 Soldering Iron,USB Charger for Dewalt,Power Source,Power Supply for Dewalt DCB090 DCB091 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DZZLH7Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DAYsDbMD32P0S

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GJ3O0J8/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1510015304&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=wentop+led+strip+lights&dpPl=1&dpID=51Z1u%2BUfRxL&ref=plSrch

These are the lights I used in my Eskimo Wide 1 inferno. I wired up a power box with 4 switches and put a strip on each pole. They are nice and bright when they are all on but the switches allow me to turn them on individually.

I have a Frabil Ambush dlx thermal. I like the dual side exit doors and the extra height from it. The seats are comfy, too. The way it's shaped makes the front couple of feet more usable than flipovers with doors in the front. I do wish the poles were a little more beefy but I haven't bent or broke any yet.

I have it on a camera mount that I can put pretty much anywhere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MWNYGUS/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481815407&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

Mono leaders are the key, for using tip ups. These are the ones I use on my beaver dam tip ups. Just add your favorite hook rig, I only used large treble hooks with 5” shiners.

Tooth Shield Premium Fluorocarbon Musky Leader 5 Pack 80lb 12" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0775SVCTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XupyCb06KNFMH

umm it's 99 on amazon and fuffilled by reeds outdoor which is a solid company.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B07KRMYMHL/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1574098482&sr=1-7

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not sure the quality differance.