The things you will need to keep your hands and feet dry and warm and stay safe while ice fishing

Ice fishing might have the largest range of differences between the most basic and the most professional aspects. You can get into ice fishing for slightly next to nothing. The only thing you must not go cheap on is the safety aspect.

The avid ice fisherman with an unlimited budget can go whole hog with shelters, heaters, underwater cameras, sonar units, gas-powered augers, high-end rods and reels and other very pricey tools of the trade.

On the other end of the spectrum is the guy with a $5 rod and a five-gallon bucket to sit on.

One ice fisherman may be a little warmer and one may catch more fish, but they both will have a lot of fun.

I think the most important piece of ice fishing equipment is footwear. If your feet get wet or cold, trust me, your ice fishing outing is over. Make sure that your boots are waterproof and insulated. Make sure they are large enough to accommodate your feet covered by a couple of pairs of warm socks. I like spraying my ice fishing boots with a product called “Camp Dry” to ensure they remain waterproof.

Just as important as warmth is traction. Boots with big rubber treads may be great for walking on snow but ice is a different story. You can still fall on your keister, even with the knobbiest of treads on your soles. You need to have a set of cleats or creepers attached to your soles. No cleats — no ice fishing. That should be automatic. A pair of creepers costs about $15 and is well worth the price.

Now for safety equipment. You’ll need a spud bar, for sure. A spud is a long rod with a weighted end. You pound on the ice in front of you before you walk on it to make sure that it is solid. If the spud breaks the ice, slowly back away.

Carrying a long length of rope is a wise thing, as well. Also carry a short length of cord that has spikes attached to the end. Keep this around your neck. This is for use in case you fall through the ice. You’ll use the spikes to stick into the ice and give you something to hold onto.

You should layer your clothing just like you layer your socks. Light layer upon light layer keeps you warmer than just wearing one heavy garment. When you ice fish, you will often find yourself scurrying about much more than you would imagine. Believe it or not, you can work up a sweat on the ice and you’ll be happy if you are able to strip off a layer or two.

Once your hands get wet, I think your day is over. Cold hands aren’t just uncomfortable, they can cause serious damage. Once wet, you can’t dry your hands well enough again. A tip I swear by is to wear a pair of lightweight medical gloves under your regular gloves. Don’t take them off for any reason. Latex gloves are flexible enough to keep on while you tie knots, so there is no reason to remove them.

A balaclava is a great piece of apparel and it is certainly a fun word to say. It takes the place of a scarf and covers your face keeping, it warm.

You may think I am losing my mind, but a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must when out on the ice. The light of the sun reflecting off of the ice can blind you totally, so make sure you have a good pair on hand for ice fishing.

Next week we’ll talk about actually getting out on the ice.

• Daily Herald Outdoors columnist Steve Sarley can be reached at sarfishing@yahoo.com.