Fishing On Ice: The World Of Ice Fishing
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Ice is the practice of catching fish using lines, hooks, or spears through an opening on the ice on the surface of a frozen body of water. Ice anglers usually sit on a chair or a stool over the frozen lake, or they may stay inside a heated cabin situated over the ice.

Some of the countries that enjoy ice are Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Canada, Germany, and Russia. The people from Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, New England, and Michigan in the United States also enjoy ice over large lakes frozen during the long winter. One of biggest contests that feature ice was held February 16, 2008 in Forest Lake, Minnesota.

Fishermen usually only have winter wear as their protective gear against the cold. For expeditions that may run for a longer period of time, simple structures can be mounted. Seasoned fishers often shun the use of large, heated structures and shelters.

For those who do require shelter, they can use an ice hut, also called an ice shanty, ice shack, bobhouse, or fish house. These are usually dragged into the middle of the lake by a trailer or a snowmobile, truck, or ATV. There are two types of shelters: portable and permanent. Portable houses are usually constructed from heavy material that is water-tight. Permanent shelters are usually constructed from metal or wood and can have wheels to serve for easy transportation.

Ice is typically a social activity in North America. Sometimes, ice is done while indulging in alcohol. A number of resorts offer fish houses that can be rented for a day, as well as vehicles made to drive on less ice.

In Finland, this pastime is often carried out in solitude or isolation, to better contemplate on one’s life. Fish houses are not very popular in Finland. However, drysuits that are sealed and insulated are used by emergency rescue teams.

In North America, great sites often have houses so numerous that there appears to be a thriving city on the reefs.

Only very special gear can be used in ice fishing. The first requirement is an ice saw or chisel to cut through the ice. Power augurs may be used to cut a rectangular or circular hole in the ice. A strainer will then be used to clear the slush left from creating the hole, and also to remove ice that is forming again.

Less intensive or unattended require only a small rod with lures or jigs that have bright colors. Baits are usually fat heads, waxworms, or crappie minnows. Typically, a flag is attached to a line that tips up when something is biting on the bait. They require no reel. Spear fishing, on the other hand, is often used for for lake sturgeons. A large hole is made on the ice and the fisher may deploy fish decoys. The fisher stands over the whole, waiting for the fish while holding a large spear with a line attached.

There are many dangers to ice fishing, among them having soft ice as a foundation and inadvertently falling into the freezing lake and carbon monoxide poisoning from fish, as well as frostbite.

Magnabait.com ( www.magnabait.com ) is the home of the Magnabait, which is the latest in technology. Unlike some of the best lures, Magnabait works by repeating several different signals to attract fish, such as bass ( www.magnabait.com/No-Bull-Test.html ), without scaring them away. It then magnifies its effect by combining the signals. These signals capture fish’ attention and helps fishers catch fish faster and more efficiently.