not so much as making sure i have the goods to have a "safe" ice day. I am weak and go ice fishing in nice weather. no stormy days on the ice for me. besides fishing tackle, auger, sled, rope, chair, and bait....what are some items I should put together for a kind of "kit" that will be carried in the sled? i am thinking safety and some things that may just really be "handy" not essential for ice fishing. the essentials are the rod and bait and auger. what would come in handy if i needed it as far as tools other than what i would have in my tackle box. i am a walker on the ice, so no sled or anything like that. let me know.
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If you can afford it - dump the sled and get an small ice house. Pull all of your gear out on the ice house ($$ well spent).
Get a spoon to scoop ice out of your hole - essential.
Again - if you can afford get a fish finder ($$ well spent).
For early in the season - ice cleats for your boots - safety.
Also a warm pair of boots are nice to have - essential.
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a small gas deep fryer for a nice perch snack on ice!
you say you don't have a sled? get one! jet sleds are only around 20.00 and make walking much nicer! and a buckit to carey all them fish your going to catch back.. [sly]
allways take a friend with to! makes them long walks easyer. becaus misery love's company [sly]
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[cool][#0000ff]Two additions. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]1. A rod holder...to keep your rod up off the ice while you are waiting for action but don't want to hold the rod. Can be simple.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]2. A stout white plastic ice bucket. They come with padded lids to serve as seats, but if you don't have one of those lids you can just turn the bucket over and sit on the bottom. The bucket will carry all your small items out on the ice, and while moving to a different spot. It also helps to carry the fish back to the car. Oh yeah, it makes a good rod holder too. Just balance the rod across the top of the bucket.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One other suggestion is to keep your bait in insulated containers. I use little soup Thermos bottles to keep tender waxworms and crawlers in. Once they are frozen your investment is gone.[/#0000ff]
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I started carrying a "jump rope" with me. It is a peice of rope with 2 retractible ice picks on either end. They may very well save your life if you get into a pickle. Also, some gause and a roll of some good tape for the always present danger of hitting the auger blade.[crazy]
A basic first aid kit and sun block are good ideas also.
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I second the sun block and bucket. Second degree burns from a great day at Strawberry a couple of years back. The jet sleds make everything nicer to pull out but I used the good old five gallon bucket for years. Holds everything on the way out and you can sit on it as a chair while your there. Love the simple sled much better though.
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[black][size 4]Bring your lunch and something to drink.[/size][/black]
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I take some chemical hand warmers on every trip.
The best thing that you can do for your feet, is to get a pair of heavy smart wool socks!!!
A 50' rope is also a good thing to have. You may need it for you or someone else, you never know!
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Never forget the polarized sunglasses. Tha reflection off of the snow and ice, without sunglasses, can be extremely painful if not worse.
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Good one Kent. I almost forgot that one myself.[cool]
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I like to carry a plastic tarp. It is nice to be able to have it to sit my gear on and keep it out of the slush and snow, and also to keep the snow out of the gear if it happens to snow. In a pinch, it can also be used to wrap around an angler to keep the wind and moisture off of them.
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I alway throw in a couple of old hand towels to dry off my hands after playing with fish. The faster I can dry them off the warmer they stay. I also take spare auger blades and wrenches for the auger and tent bolts. If fishing gets slow I tighten everything up and miss bites[crazy] Compact binoculars to check out the countryside more missed bites. Small heater is nice too.
Chester
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Extra bolts for your auger blades with the right size tool. A basic leatherman is nice, but the exact tool (i.e. allen wrench) is so much better. Spare sharp blades are nice to have handy also in case you just can't find those fish in the first hole. Easier you punch through the ice the less you will sweat. And sweat even with a little wind can be a danger out on the ice.
And as already mentioned, a first aid kit with plenty of bandages. I don't cut myself, but my friends are not always as lucky.[unsure]
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The other suggestions are great, but with all that crap you will definitely need a snowmobile to pull it all out there. Plus it makes running back to the truck for something you left very fast and easy!
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rope cleats and coffee.
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More than one rod/reel so you can be ready to change to another set up without having to rig up in the cold.
Water - you can dehydrate quickly, even in winter
Foot warmers and extra wool/insulated sox
Chap Stick or similar lip balm
Camera, BFT sticker and measuring tape
Current proclamation and license - DUH![laugh]
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Extra clothes and blankets in the truck. Cell phone to take pictures and call for help if needed.
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Get it Sled make things so much easier... I got great tip from this board last year. At the time I didn't have $$$ to put down on a jetsled so I went Home Depot or was it Lowes any ways look in there cement dept they have these huge plastic cement mixing troughs that are similar to a jetsled drill 2 holes in the front tie on some nylon rope and you practically have a jetsled for less than 20 bucks !!! Also pick up a couple 5 gallon buckets for gear flip them over and they make good seats and if you drill a couple of groves in the top lip they can be used as rod holders.
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Depends where you are fishing, but I carry a small gas grill out on the ice. We love to throw on some fresh fish for lunch.
Windriver
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