Snow arrived early this past fall — mid-November — and not only did it stay, but several inches more seems to arrive about every seven to 10 days. Open areas have about two feet of the white stuff piled up as I discovered attempting to navigate the 60 yards to my barn last week. Several teeth-chattering nights with the mercury plummeting from -10 to -20 degrees have interspaced the storms. It’s going to be a long winter!
While snowmobilers, skiers, and snowshoeing enthusiasts are having a great time, it’s tough going for rabbit hunters, varmint gunners and ice fishermen. Despite the thick blanket of snow, frigid nights have lain a safe layer of ice on most Aroostook lakes and ponds. I wouldn’t be too quick to drive my truck out on larger lakes yet, but travel on foot or in most cases by snowsled should be safe.
The big question is, are you ready to drill ice and drop lines? First off, it’s now 2014 and you need a new license. There’s good news on that front, even if it’s a night or weekend and the town office is closed, you can still buy your license online. Within 15 minutes a sportsman can fill in info, purchase and print a license off the computer and be headed out the door.
Do you know where your ice fishing gear is, and is it all operational? If you’re still using a muscle-powered auger, be sure to sharpen the blade to ease drilling. Gas-powered augers should be sharpened as well, and spark plugs changed, throttle adjusted and moving parts greased or oiled. If it still refuses to run smoothly seek expert help from the nearest small engine repair shop. Wrestling a finicky, dull power auger through heavy slush and ice is no joy on a cold morning.
If you carry an ice chisel, put an edge on it now, while you’re inside and warm. I carry a lightweight shovel to move snow and clear a spot on the ice before drilling, if you don’t perhaps you should. Check your ice scoops to be sure they are intact and functional. More than once I’ve seen cold fingers lose a scoop down a hole, so I carry two on every outing.
Locate your bait bucket and minnow net. If you don’t have a net or plastic scoop, pick one up at the local sporting goods store. On sub-zero days, dipping your hands into the bait bucket dozens of times and then exposing them to freezing air isn’t being tough, it’s being foolhardy. While you’re at the fishing shop, stock up on hooks, non-toxic sinkers and extra line. Look over the plastic sleds too. A high-sided plastic toboggan will pull gear easier across snow than a sportsman can backpack and lug it.
Look over each tip-up and make sure the reels and drags work smoothly and the tension is set properly. Check every flag release mechanism and adjust when necessary. Replace any flag that is in disrepair. I tend to use larger size flags when attaching new ones and prefer orange or black to red material. A touch of silicone or graphite powder on the moving parts of traps will work better in the cold temperatures and freezing water than any oil or grease product.
Pull each line out and check for wear, nicks or weaknesses from ice edges or fish teeth, and replace when necessary. I stretch each line to remove memory curls from being on the reel for several months. This helps the line and bait hang straight, especially monofilament. On some of my deep water tip-ups, I use red fingernail polish or a permanent felt tip marker to make an easily seen mark every 10 feet. If fish are hitting at a specific depth I want to be able to return my bait to that exact level quickly and easily.
A good-sized sturdy pack basket or one or two plastic five-gallon buckets work well for transporting tip ups and gear. Equipment stays together and is dry and easy to locate. A bucket can even be used as a seat if desired. I always add a few chemical handwarmers, a small thermos of hot water and some tea, cocoa, hot cider or soup mixes in packets. A set of long-nose pliers or forceps can be very useful for removing hooks from fish or fingers as well as field adjustments on traps and other gear.
Compiling and checking over ice fishing gear takes less than an hour in the warm comfort of home, while making repairs on the ice will be tougher, colder and definitely more frustrating. The only thing more agonizing is losing a trophy fish due to faulty gear, or spending time fixing equipment when you could be fishing. Winter fishing is at hand — it’s time to get prepared for that first outing.
