What you need — and don’t need — to go ice fishing

We talked about safety and warmth when ice fishing. Today, let’s actually look at the fishing part of the equation.

The absolute best thing that you can have if you are planning on going ice fishing is a friend with a power auger. It’s a tough job to drill all the holes you are going to need. If all you have is a manual hand auger, you will probably cut corners and drill the minimum amount of holes. Believe me, the amount of holes you drill is in direct proportion to the amount of fish you catch.

If you don’t have a friend with a gas auger. Buying your own isn’t a bad idea at all. A gas augur will set you back $400, easy. A manual hand auger should ring up at just under $100.

Electric augers are the latest rage. You don’t have to accidentally spill gas on the ice, and I have heard that the electric units are so much better today that they are as powerful as gas. Some people will try to tell you that you can attach a blade to your hand-held electric drill and use it, but I don’t think that works. An electric ice auger is going to run you a good $200 or so.

Ice auger blades need to be sharpened every year. It’s probably too late to think of it right now, but remember to have your blades done when the ice disappears for next year. It’s a much harder chore when your blades are dull.

An ice fishing shelter is nice and one equipped with a propane heater is even better, but do you need one? Unless you plan on staying out for endless hours or are going to go out in subzero temps, the answer is no. A shelter is not a necessity. If you drill enough holes, you’ll be moving around enough that you will keep warm enough without one.

They sell all different kinds of ice fishing chairs, but don’t be ashamed if all you have to sit on is the old, faithful five-gallon bucket. The bucket is the most versatile of ice fishing equipment. You can use it to haul your gear. You can turn it upside down and sit on it while you fish.

Hopefully, you’ll use it at the end of your outing to haul home the bounty of a successful trip. Pick one up at Menard’s or Home Depot. Here’s a tip — your local bakery is tossing them out by the hundreds. They’re usually happy to get rid of them.

Cameras are a true luxury. They aren’t necessary. Flasher-style depth finders are much more important, but again, not totally necessary. Be prepared to make more holes because you will be guessing about how deep the water is. That is a good reason to only ice fish on waterways that you have fished on during open water season. You’ll at least have some kind of clue as to depths and structure of the waterway when it is ice covered.

Rods and reels run the gamut from simple $5 sticks with plastic reels to high-modulus graphite rods with multi-ball bearing reels. Start out on the inexpensive end to see whether or not you like the sport. I’d rather have multiple cheap rods than just one expensive one. You need multiple rods because your stiff, frozen hands won’t be able to tie on any new tiny hooks or jigs if you break one off.

For baits, try bringing some of the tiniest ice fishing jigs that the tackle store has in stock. You can use pieces of plastic to stick onto the ends of the jigs, but I am a firm believer in using spikes or waxies for surefire ice fishing success. Where to fish, you ask? The beauty of ice fishing is that you can just look at where others are fishing and then get close to them, within reason, of course. Ice fishermen will let you get much closer to their spots than would open water fishermen.

Those are the basics. Now, get going and head out for an ice fishing adventure. There is nothing tastier than some delectable bluegill, perch and crappie fillets of fish taken from icy water.

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