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Ice Fishing Tips

Catching fish with a spear or line through a hole in the ice is called ice fishing. Ice fishing is an extremely popular sport in countries like US, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Europe and Russia. Naturally, the bulk of those who actually engage in this type of sport in the US are located in states such as states that have ice fishing lakes and bays, such as New England Montana, Alaska, Minnesota and Michigan of course.

Ice fishing is divided into three main categories. The first type of ice fishing is referred to as ?Spear Fishing?, and it consists of the fisherman standing over the hole with a spear attached to a line. Decoys are usually used in order to draw fish near enough to strike. Secondly, you can also use brightly colored lures at the end of a light rod while jigging for fish. Secondly, you can use tip-ups, which is a line attached to a signal flag that tips-up when a fish nibbles, allow for unattended lines and can be hand-drawn so no rod is required.

Safety is a major concern when attempting to ice fish given that both winter temperatures and storms may result in dangerous conditions. The ice itself is another safety issue to consider, as it must be at least 4 inches thick to support the weight of a human and 12 inches for a vehicle. Even in the coldest temperatures, ice is still affects by the current of the water below. Carbon monoxide poisoning is another risk if fishermen utilize fish house heaters while inside for long durations.