W
e’re getting closer...the overnight temps have begun dipping into the 20’s and 30’s, the leaves on the trees begin to fall, and there’s even some skim ice starting to form on shorelines. For many of us, it signals the start of this crazy, infectious sickness we call ice fishing! Here are a few friendly tips I start to put in motion while waiting for Mother Nature to bless us with her consistent cold temps leading into the long awaited first ice period! GEAR CHECK: My gear check always starts with my Rise Float Suit from Ice Armour. With today’s advancements in motion float technology, to me, nothing is more important than taking advantage of a suit that offers comfort, warmth, mobility, and safety in the form of superior bouyancy assist technology that just could save your life if you go through the ice. The best part for all of us ice anglers, is the fact that it’s a suit specifically made keeping ice anglers’s needs in mind and the price point is hard to beat. Next on the gear check list would be to make sure my Vexilar is operating correctly. Check all the knobs and settings and make sure your battery is functioning and charging properly. With the new lithium batteries available from Amped Outdoors, battery issues are a thing of the past. I strongly recommend switching to a lithium battery, specifically for it’s light weight and running time power. After you’ve checked all the above, fill up your bathtub or take a run down to the lake in order to make sure your transducer is working. Also some very important items on my check list would be my ice safety kit. My ice safety kit includes the following items: multiple throw ropes, ice picks, float cushion, a first aid kit, several packs of “Hot Hands” for feet, body and hands, along with a small warm blanket or towel. I also include a thermos of hot coffee and a bottle of water. It may seem like overkill...but trust me, there is no such thing as overkill when it comes to ice safety, especially first and last ice. We also have invested in a Nebulus System for our UTV. To find out more info on the Nebulus, check out Nebulusflotation.com. After the important gear above is marked off the checklist, I start reorganizing my Clam Slim Jig boxes and going through 20 >> iceteam.com >> Ice Digital November Issue
