By Nick Simonson

First ice brings with it the fever dream of fast fishing; walleyes and crappies riding high on a late fall feeding binge that doesn’t fade even though the first frozen layer may start obscuring the limited sunlight the region’s lakes do see this time of year.  On the ice, however, it might not be as easy as dropping down a lure and pulling up a favorite fish, but there are four quick things to keep in mind as you prepare to get out onto the ice for the first time this year in search of those great gamefish under your eight-inch hole in the hardwater.

1. Line Up.  It can’t be stressed enough, and it needs to be reiterated every year: change out the fishing line on your ice reels.  With use generally limited to a three- or four-month period each year (we’re not going to talk about last year’s six-month season in some reaches), reels wrapped with monofilament end up with line on them that is more susceptible to memory issues that coil and kink it while stuck in storage. As a result of these kinks and coils, lures spin unnaturally, baits display as a bit off, and ultimately, the strength of the monofilament is reduced due to this phenomenon.  To eliminate all of these issues, utilize a new spool of ice line at the start of the season.

2. Stay Sharp.  Some of the biggest fish of the hardwater season present themselves at first ice.  Later in the winter, bites may become tougher to come by for fish of all sizes.  For both reasons, utilizing sharp hooks is a key component in on-ice success.  That means examining your tackle, rooting out rusted hooks and lures, replacing those that need to be upgraded, and perhaps making modifications between factory hooks, and a preferred, top-tier brand.  Remember, if the tip of the hook when dragged across a thumbnail leaves a white line, it’s sharp enough to be used.

3. Supercharged.  Our reliance on battery powered everything on the ice – sonar, cameras, handwarmers and now, predominantly electric augers as well – means having everything charged and ready to go is a requirement for each trip and the start of the season.  Be certain that batteries are fully charged, utilizing built-in monitors on charging systems, and confirm that they connect appropriately to sonar units and augers as well and that everything runs accordingly.  There’s nothing more disappointing that hitting the ice and finding a sonar or auger isn’t spinning because of a dead or defective battery.  Have a main option on hand and an extra to spare, because as the old saying goes: “if you have two, you’ll have one; if you have one, you’ll have none.”

4. Light It Up.  Finally, many great early ice bites come at dawn and dusk, and setting up in the pre-dawn darkness, and taking off well after the stars have come out after sundown are requirements for great fishing.  Have the lighting necessary to get pop-up and flipover shacks set up, from the journey away from the tailgate to the popping into place of tent poles and flexible hubs. Once everything is ready, a hang-on lighting unit or a strand of LED bulbs with the appropriate power source is important until the day’s light takes hold and windows can be opened for illumination.

While some days at first ice the fish come easy, other days can be a challenge.  Eliminating the issues that often arise from being underprepared is a good way to make sure luck favors your efforts as the season gets underway.  Update line and tackle as needed and have the power and illumination to keep success in sight as the first safe ice sets up and the rest may be as simple as dropping a favorite lure and waiting for a fish to show up below.

Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.

Featured Photo: Anglers should be prepared to make the most of the start of the ice fishing season, with respooled reels, sharp tackle, charged batteries and the light to catch their favorite fish by. Simonson Photo.