Ice Fishing for Beginners: What I Wish I Knew Before I Started

by Rex Meikle

I was once you. I grew up in a family where ice fishing wasn’t something either of my parents did. Still, it was something I was deeply interested in. At first, I had a romantic idea of what ice fishing would be like. Fun. Charming. Simple. Almost too easy. But after my first few unsuccessful outings as a kid, reality set in.

I remember thinking how impossible it felt to drill one tiny hole in a massive body of water and expect to pull a fish out of it. I struggled, outing after outing, to find any success. It was frustrating. But looking back, learning the hard way taught me more than I realized at the time.

I’m writing this article to hopefully save you some of the time, money, and heartache that I experienced as a young, clueless ice fisherman.

Ice Fishing Gear Basics: What Actually Matters

When it comes to gear in any outdoor pursuit, it’s important to remember that it’s the job of marketers to convince you that you need everything before you ever step outside. Ice fishing is no different.

The truth is, you don’t need everything. What you bring ice fishing really breaks down into two categories: clothing and equipment.

Clothing matters more than anything else.

Start with your feet and your head. Keeping your feet warm and dry is essential, and so is keeping your head covered. You lose a significant amount of heat through your head, especially when it’s exposed. A warm beanie goes a long way. If you need one, we sell awesome Fishermen Beanies.

For socks, wool is non-negotiable. Wool is breathable, a great insulator, and works well at wicking moisture away from your skin. I personally wear Darn Tough or Smartwool socks. Avoid cotton or blended athletic socks, like standard Nike Crew Socks. Socks like this absorb moisture easily and will make your feet wet. Wet feet get cold easily and are nearly impossible to warm back up.

For boots, they need to be waterproof and insulated. I recommend at least 1000 grams of insulation. Make sure they’re big enough to leave room for your thick wool socks, and maybe even a toe warmer pack.

From there, layering is key. But layering must be intentional!

Your base layer needs to wick moisture away from your skin. A performance long sleeve (we sell great ones), or merino wool base layers work well. The same goes for leggings- a performance polyester or wool-blended moisture-wicking material is essential. 

Above that, you want a mid-layer that holds heat, like a Heavyweight Hoodie or a wool sweater. For your legs, thick Heavyweight Sweatpants work well as a mid-layer.

Your outer shell needs to block wind. A jacket with wind-blocking properties, and ideally Gore-Tex with down insulation, is worth the investment. Trust me. I went years with the cheap stuff and would never go back. For your legs, waterproof or water-resistant bibs that block wind are essential. Make sure they’re comfortable with layers underneath. Try them on fully layered and sit down before committing. You’re not going to be fishing long if you’re getting pinched where no one wants to get pinched.

As for equipment, the list can be endless. If you’re just starting out, I strongly recommend spending more on proper clothing than on gear.

The basics you actually need are:

• Spud bar (the longer the better)
• Hand auger (must be sharp)
• Ice skimmer (buy a quality one)
• Depth-finding weight
• Long curved forceps
• Tip-up (buy a quality one)
• Jigging rod (medium weight, so you can fish many different species)
• Basic ice fishing tackle kit (more on this below)
• Padded seat
• Sled to pull your gear

That’s enough to get started.

Ice Safety: Respect the Elements

When it comes to ice safety, the consequences of underestimating the elements can be severe. Even fatal.

One factor beginners often overlook is wind. I’m sure you’ve heard of windchill. This is when the wind pulls heat from your body, resulting in the temperature feeling much colder than it already is. On large bodies of water like the Bay of Green Bay, WI, wind from certain directions can break off entire sheets of ice. If you happen to be fishing within that area, you can become stranded faster than you’d expect. Because of this, you must always know the wind direction, wind speed, and how your position on the ice relates to shorelines and pressure cracks.

Moisture is another major concern. As a beginner, I recommend walking onto the ice and pulling a sled instead of driving a vehicle. But when walking, you cannot afford to sweat. If you sweat, your clothes will become wet. Once you stop and sit still, you’ll get cold very quickly. To prevent getting sweaty, don’t be afraid to shed layers while walking or doing anything strenuous. I was told by a mentor of mine to always walk in a little cold. 

Always carry a spud bar that’s at least as tall as you are. Use it to test the ice a few feet in front of you as you walk. If the spud bar punches through or breaks the ice easily, back out cautiously. Weak ice isn’t always obvious. It can form near docks, moving water, currents, or underground springs. Many times, you'll find weak spots that show no warnings. Check your local second hand store or FB market place to find a used one for cheaper. 

The scariest silent danger in ice fishing is carbon monoxide poisoning. This is why I don’t recommend shelters or propane heaters for beginner ice fishermen. Burning fuel (from heaters or stoves) inside a pop-up or permanent shelter without proper ventilation is extremely dangerous. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes dizziness, confusion, and nausea, often leading people to fall asleep rather than escape or better ventilate their space. While stuck in this altered state, oxygen levels continue to plummet, and ultimately, asphyxiation takes place. Many fatalities happen this way.

Lastly, always tell someone where you’re going, when you plan to leave, and when you expect to be home. If plans change, update them. Making a plan and sharing it with someone trusted is a habit you need to form early as an outdoorsman. 

Bait & Lure Choice: Keep It Simple, Cover Ground

When it comes to bait and lure choice, I’ve learned that having options matters more than having a “perfect” setup. Ice fishing is not a one-size-fits-all game, and conditions can change quickly depending on light, pressure, depth, and fish behavior.

For that reason, I strongly recommend using both live bait and artificial lures. 

Live bait is simple and effective. I like running a medium-sized shiner minnow on a tip-up. If the area isn’t very weedy, I’ll set the minnow one to two feet off the bottom. Use your depth finding weight to find bottom and know how much line to let out in order to position your shiner correctly. If the weeds are thick, I’ll raise the bait so it rides about a foot above the top of the weeds. This keeps it visible to cruising predators like northern pike, walleye, and larger perch without getting tangled. It's a good idea to run a size 3 split shot weight about 6 inches above your shiner. Also, I would always recommend octopus hooks when using live bait as they have a knack of finding their way securely into the corner of a fish's mouth. This setup allows your bait to sit naturally in the water while fish move through the area. It’s passive fishing, but extremely effective.

At the same time, I like to actively jig nearby. I usually set up at least 20 yards away from my tip-up so I’m not creating unnecessary pressure around the live bait.

For jigging, I’ve had success with rattle baits, gliding minnow-style lures, and spoons. Rattle baits are great for calling fish in from a distance, especially in deeper water or when fish are spread out. Gliding baits shine when fish are curious but hesitant, as their wide, sweeping action can trigger reaction strikes. Spoons are a classic for a reason. They’re versatile, easy to use, and work well across species.

A good approach is to start by jigging aggressively to attract attention, then slow things down if fish show up to investigate your lure. Sometimes fish want movement. Other times, they want subtlety. If you have a sand or sediment bottom, crashing your lure into the bottom periodically to create a cloud can attract fish, too.

Having a few different lure styles allows you to adjust without overthinking it. If you can, fish in clean shallow water where you can see the bottom and visually learn what works and what doesn't.

You don’t need a massive tackle box. A small selection of proven lures, paired with live bait, gives you flexibility and keeps things manageable. The goal isn’t to own everything, it’s to learn how fish react under the ice and adapt from there.

Fish Where The Fish Are

I’ve mentioned this before in some of my hunting articles, but it applies just as much to ice fishing. You need to fish where the fish actually are. As a beginner, you might not know where that is yet, and that’s completely normal. You don't catch fish by fishing where there aren't any fish. 

If you’re new to a body of water and have a little room in your budget, hiring a local guide for your first outing can be one of the best investments you make. Guides know the water, understand seasonal movement, and often provide the gear you’ll need. They can answer questions, demonstrate techniques that work locally, and shorten the learning curve in a big way.

If a guide isn’t an option, mentorship is the next best thing. A family friend, coworker, classmate, or anyone you know who has been consistently successful at ice fishing is usually happy to help you get started.

If you’re determined to figure it out on your own, do some research before heading out. Watch videos specific to your area, study maps, look for landmarks that hint at structure, and stop into your local bait and tackle shop to ask questions. Fish move throughout the winter based on food availability, water temperature, and fishing pressure. If you’re chasing a specific species, learn where they spend their winters and what they eat.

Lastly, my favorite sneaky fish finding technique is to locate previously used ice holes with telltale signs of success. A really good spot will have fish scales, blood, and not many discarded minnows. A bad spot will have no blood, no scales, and one or two discarded minnows. I can't tell you how many times I've found a good hole, broken up the ice with my spud bar, and almost immediately found success fishing the spot. 

Beginner takeaway: Spend more time learning where fish live than worrying about what lure to tie on.

Final Thoughts

Ice fishing can feel intimidating at first. I know it did for me. But once you understand the basics, dress properly, respect the ice, and keep your approach simple, it becomes one of the most enjoyable ways to spend time outdoors in the winter.

If you’re just getting started, don’t overthink it. Learn as you go. Stay safe. And remember, every experienced ice angler was once standing over their hole, wondering if a fish would ever show up.

If you’ve got questions, I’m always happy to help.

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