How To Chose Ice Fishing Rod

ICE FISHING RODS 101... so you're new to ice fishing and you want to know what kind of rod to get. This has to be one of the most common questions I receive by message.

What are you fishing for??? Is my usual reply. You see just like the open water season these rods are made to meet the requirements for any fish you're after.

The first is weight - heavy, medium, light, ultralight and everywhere in between. Then there is length from short to almost as long as your summer rods.

So how do you choose?

Well consider the behavior and size of the fish. If they're smaller go light, larger go medium or huge go heavy. But for fish like trout, I still like a light or ultralight tip even if they are larger fish. The reason is they sometimes take the lure very light and a soft tip will help you detect bites. This can be the difference between catching fish and not even knowing you're having bites.

Length is impacted by your situation. In a shelter you may have to use shorter rods. Outdoors a longer rod will help you get a better Hookset and make it easier to stay pinned to the fish. A long rod will load up better giving you more ability to keep a constant pressure on the fish. A short rod you'll find it either doubled over or straight with every headshake.

So I think a decent practical rod length is in between 28" to 36". Once they start getting longer than that you'll need special carrying cases. Sure for big lake trout and pike guys are now using 40 to 50 inch rods. If that's your jam then you may want a longer rod as well.

I hope that has and if you want a flat ultralight tip rod with a solid backbone like the 29 inch rod pictured go check out the Alpha 029 rod by @circle_tackle.

#icefishing #icerod #ultralight #fishing #fishingrod #gofishbc #fishingbc #howto #fishingtips #icenation #howtoicefish #trout #troutfishing #brooktrout #rainbowtrout #circletackle #alpha029rod

Advantages of Ice Fishing Tent

ICE FISHING SIGHT FISHING! Now I am personally not a big fan of sitting inside of a tent all day on the ice, but I have to admit that sight fishing is one of the most fun ways to fish. If you don't have a sonar, but have a tent of can look down a hole while laying on the ice you will actually be able to see the fish in shallow clear lakes.

You can learn a lot from watching their behavior and how they relate to your lure and presentation. It's like fishing in an aquarium right below your feet.

So be quiet and Don't move your feet. These sounds are transmitted through the ice and spook the fish sometimes.

If you haven't tried it yet I highly recommend giving in a shot for a very entertaining day.

Mark your hold when you are done so someone doesn't fall in!

#sightfishing #sighthole #darkhouse #darkhousefishing #eskimo #eskimotent #icefishing #icenation #howtoicefish #trout #troutfishing #clearwater #underwater #clearice #ice #icehouse #shanty #iceshanty #iceshack

ICE FISHING WITH SONAR

SONAR!!!! If you ICE FISH or getting into it then my 2nd most important recommendation to you is SONAR! There are hundreds of units to choose from in every shape and size imaginable from the castable @buydeeper Deeper Chirp all the way up to the @garminfishhunt Live Scope Ice Bundle. They vary by brand, price and a few other details, but all do some major things for you.

Number one is discovering depth and bottom contour, so you can map out the SPOT on a SPOT!

Next you can actually see if there are FISH below the ice where you have placed a hole, without being in a tent or on your belly pearing down the hole.

Thirdly and maybe most importantly a flasher SONAR will help you determine the mood of the fish. It allows you to instantaneously adjust the movement of your presentation to attract fish, keep fish in the area and trigger bites. It's basically like playing a video game in real life as you flick that lure and draw that big red mark in for a closer look.

People say, but thats cheating and what's the point? Well all I can say is if you want to revolutionize your ice fishing experience and catch magnitudes more fish than get a Sonar. You will not regret it! (Disclaimer: Unless you always fish in 5 feet of water or less you may not find it as useful)

#sonar #marcum #marcumtechnologies #garmin #livescope #chirp #flasher #iceducer #transducer #gofishbc #icefishing #icenation #howtoicefish #britishcolumbia #lowrance #humminbird #deeper #helix #vexilar #brookie #brookchar #BROOKTROUT #catchandrelease

Who Is Itching to Go Ice Fishing?

Who is itching to get out ICE FISHING!?!? I don't really understand the attraction although I personally really enjoy it. How many people do you know that would consider; sitting outside all day in negative temperatures over an 8 inch hole in the ice waiting for a fish to come by, a fun activity??? Well Me for one, but most other people roll their eyes or wriggle their nose in discomfort when they hear that there are actually people who do this. Even enjoy doing it temperatures that should otherwise cause people to freeze to death.

For those of us in the know it provides a winter escape back to the lakes we frequent in the summer in search of the same fish now locked below the surface. The added intrigue is you now only have an 8 inch +/- window of opportunity into their world. So for new Ice fisherman you really have to understand that HOLE PLACEMENT is EVERYTHING.

So if you're new to the ice world or on a new lake in my opinion your best friend is your auger and not your patience. So if you are not seeing fish start turning that ice into Swiss Cheese! This isn't an Olympic hockey rink after all.    

People ask me how long to spend in each hole searching. Well for me 2 to 5 minutes seems like a lot. Most fish in the area will show themselves quickly if in the area. If no life move along.

Change depths and locations, make sure your drilling pattern puts you on different areas of structure rather than staying along the same break.

If you follow me you'll find a grid pattern of holes or a line from shallow to deep.

That's enough for now... MORE INFO to come in future ice related posts! FOLLOW for UPDATES.

#britishcolumbia #gofishbc #brookie #brookchar #BROOKTROUT #brooktrout #catchandrelease #icefishing #ice #icenation #northlandtackle #flutterspoon #bait #strikemaster #eskimo #iceauger #location #icehole

 

Easter Brook Trout Stocked In British Columbia Lakes All Female Triploids

Brook Char, Eastern Brook Trout, Speckled Trout, Brookie, Squaretail... no matter what you call it there is no denying this is one of the most intricate patterning seen on a freshwater fish. The males have crazy metamorphosis during the fall spawn with intense dark markings. In the stocked waters of British Columbia you will not see these since they are AF3n or All Female Triploids.

The females still have incredible vermiculations, colorful spotting with blue halos and red targets. Yellow sleckling over a dark forest green coloration. The fins have bright white leading edges and the belly can range from white to red, even black.

One very attractive fish and quite fun to sight fish and catch through the ice.

#fishskin #brookie #brookchar #BROOKTROUT #char #britishcolumbia #squaretail #coasters #mudtrout #pattern #speckledtrout

 

Treble Hooks for Ice Fishing Trout are Legal In British Columbia Lakes if Not Otherwise Specified!

To Treble or Not to Treble, that is the question??? Ever since I have been fishing BC I've had people accuse me of breaking the law by using treble hooks. Seems most people have dreamed up the idea that single barbless hooks are mandatory at all times. This is not the regulations though and quite incorrect. If you read the regulations you will see that barbed hooks and trebles are allowed in many of BCs lakes. If fishing a lake and the regulations do not specify otherwise then you can use these type of hooks.

So I just wanted to clarify that since there seems to be some major confusion and flying accusations.

The next is that trebles do more damage. These small trebles actually do quite a small amount of damage compared to a larger typical replacement size of a single hook. Sure there are times that a fish can take a hook deep or get all three hook in upper and lower lip. It may be a bit harder to unbutton, but with forceps still relatively easy. To aid unkooking you can also pinch the treble barbs.

Anyways this is the spoon that was catching me the fish @northlandtackle Buckshot flutter spoon. Tipped with a tiny piece of worm.

#treblehook #singlebarblesshook #barbless #barbed #fishingbc #fishing #fishingregulations #icefishing #northlandtackle #fishingtips

After Dark Ice fishing for Trout

 DON'T PACK IT IN EARLY!  The great thing about short winter days is two prime time fishing periods in relatively close proximity.  Meaning you can hit first light and last light without having to wait too long in between. 

Growing up fishing for walleye I am used to staying out till it is too dark to see your rod tip any longer.  When moving to British Columbia I noticed most guys pack it in during the afternoon right before the bite picks up again.  Usually I'll be the only guy out when the fish start to feed again.  Especially early ice where fish often feed very shallow.  I find the last light bite also brings in the larger fish and some of my biggest trout of the day are taken in the dwindling light.  It's like they go on a feeding frenzy and forget about being cautious when biting a hook.  This may be because they can't see as well.  Whatever it is I'm telling you if you don't mind leaving in the dark then by all means stick it out a bit longer. 

I usually use the help of a jaw jacker or jigging jaw jacker at night.  Put it in a shallow hole 3 to 5 feet where the trout will cruise.  That way I can pack up my gear and still be fishing.  The night I caught these two after dark I had about 6 hits on the jaw jacker and landed three brook trout while packing up. 

I have to say the nightshot mode on these newer phones is crazy.  These pics were taken when I could barely see the fish. 

@jawjackerfishing

@circle_tackle

#nightfishing #brookie #brookchar #BROOKTROUT #trout #troutfishing #icefishing #bigtrout #easternbrooktrout #earlyice #firstice #britishcolumbia #gofishbc #fishingbc