At the same time, some fishermen prefer only the summer fishing season, and only a small part of them fish all year round, including in winter. Many people are afraid of weather conditions and the fear of being on ice. But if you take winter fishing seriously, the catch can be no less than in spring, summer or autumn. In addition, being on ice will not be so dangerous.
What should a novice fisherman take with him on a fishing trip?
Winter fishing is a very serious activity that requires a careful approach to the organization process. It requires the following equipment:
- In winter, you should make sure you have thermal underwear and warm clothes, as well as warm shoes and a warm hat.
- Make or purchase gear for winter fishing in the store. As a rule, it is enough to make or purchase a winter fishing rod.
- We should not forget that you will have to hit holes, therefore, tools such as a stump and an ice ax are simply necessary. It would be better if you also got an ice drill.
- Without bait and groundbait, no fish have been caught lately. Therefore, you need to think about what kind of bait and groundbait you will need to take with you.
- Every winter fishing enthusiast should have a fishing box where fish and fishing accessories are stored.
- To make fishing comfortable, you need a folding chair. Many anglers use a fishing box for this, building a soft seat on the lid.
- Fish should not be thrown onto ice, especially in severe frost: it will simply freeze to it. As a rule, anglers immediately throw the fish into the box.
- To quickly clear the hole of small ice chips, you will need a scoop with holes.
- An echo sounder will not hurt, with the help of which it is easy to find fish sites, especially large ones.
- In winter, the fish must be fed. For this, it is advisable to have a feeder.
- When catching large fish, you simply cannot do without a tool such as a hook.
- To store bloodworms (the main bait in winter), you must have a special container.
- To make fishing comfortable, you need to take care of protection from wind or precipitation. A tent will help solve this problem.
- The tent should be equipped with a camping mat, which will reduce fatigue from prolonged sitting.
- As a rule, fishermen often think about their safety and take various devices with them in case they fall through the ice. Therefore, you need to think or get advice on what is better and more effective.
- If there is deep snow, it is quite difficult to move around the reservoir. Therefore, it is better to use a fishing sled or snowmobile.
- You also cannot do without a backpack or duffel bag, since you must always take with you a spare set of warm underwear and clothes in case the main set gets wet.
- It is very important to provide yourself with a warm drink in the cold, and only a thermos can help here. By the way, you can also take a warm lunch in a thermos if you plan to go fishing for a long time.
- You will need items such as rope and candles.
Romantic lunch over the holes: what should be included in the diet for winter fishing
Even a few hours of winter fishing means a couple of snacks. We will form a set from what, with minimal volume and weight, will warm and satiate you most quickly. You can, of course, grab a couple of thermoses with the first, second and compote - but it’s hard to carry a full lunch, so we’ll try to make do with little.
Gnaw
Nothing better than “chewable” energy bars has yet been invented. You need to keep a pile of these in the refrigerator so that when you get ready to go fishing, you can grab as many as you need and throw them in your pocket. Eating lard is great. No - 200 - 300 grams of goulash or homemade pate, for example, from duck, will do.
Number two on the gnawing list is nuts and dried fruits. It is a source of quick energy and proteins. Add a bag of these to the bars. If you have it, take a tiny jar of honey.
Gurgle
You should immediately forget about coffee, even with cream, ginger, honey. Coffee and frost absolutely do not go together. Coffee is a diuretic, and in the cold the body loses moisture almost as intensely as in the heat - you should not contribute to dehydration.
Energy drinks are also not useful when fishing: the invigorating effect is short-term, and you will want to drink even more than after coffee. It’s better to forget about alcohol - the effect of false warming after even a hundred grams of cognac can do a disservice. Alcohol is better after fishing than during.
It's better to replace coffee with tea. You can use water, but it’s better if, in addition to “ash-two-o,” vitamins, fats, proteins and carbohydrates are also bubbling in the thermos. Both pu-erh and mate will do; you can brew Kalmyk (aka Mongolian, aka Buryat) tea yourself:
- pour green tea (large leaf) with cold water;
- bring to a boil;
- throw in spices - salt, sugar, pepper, nutmeg;
- pour in milk;
- bring to a boil again;
- pour into a thermos.
The bar is the cornerstone of a fisherman's snack
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Cloth
Naturally, clothing is considered the main element of winter fishing. If clothes do not warm up properly, the fisherman risks freezing and getting sick. Hypothermia is always not advisable.
What clothes should be:
- If you wear clothes, then only heat-saving ones.
- An equally important factor is moisture resistance.
- You should also pay attention to its wind resistance.
- There should not be a lot of clothing, otherwise it will be difficult to move around the pond.
With the advent of thermal underwear on the market, which retains heat very well, there is no longer any need for excessive use. In other words, there is no point in putting extra layers of clothing on your body. This approach allows you to stay outside for a long time at sub-zero temperatures.
At the same time, we should not forget that winter fishing involves a lot of movement around the reservoir, including punching a large number of holes. This leads to increased sweating. In this regard, it is necessary to wear multi-layer thermal underwear that can wick away excess sweat. At the same time, it should be remembered that thermal underwear is always worn on a naked body, otherwise it will not work correctly.
The outerwear set should include warm trousers and a jacket, and felt boots should be worn on the feet. We should not forget about the headdress.
Having this type of clothing will allow you to fish all day in very low temperatures, in the presence of wind or precipitation.
List of equipment for winter fishing from PIK-99
Cloth:
- Thermal underwear - thin (moisture-wicking) and warming;
- Thermal socks - warm and quick-drying;
- Light vests - additional insulation;
- Winter suits and overalls are very, very warm;
- Hats, balaclavas, caps made of weightless soft fleece;
- Waterproof mittens and gloves.
Shoes:
- Gaiters for protection from snow.
Accessories for winter fishing:
- Tents for winter fishing;
- Screwdrivers with welded and sliding handle;
- Scoops (shabalki);
- Warmers for clothes and hands, catalytic;
- Burners - for heating and cooking;
- A gas heater cannot cook food, but it heats more efficiently than a burner;
- Tent lanterns, head and hand-held;
- Reflective streamers;
- Trekking poles;
- Compass;
- Thick foam mats - for both winter and summer.
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Availability of basic equipment
Basic equipment will allow you to conduct fishing at the proper level. Otherwise, fishing may not take place at all or may turn out to be very difficult, which will certainly lead to negative emotions. What is the main equipment?
Ice pick
This is a tool that you simply cannot do without when fishing and it is better not to go out on the ice at all. As a rule, with the help of this simple device, fishermen check the thickness of the ice. This is especially important if the body of water is unfamiliar.
Old holes covered with snow pose a great danger to anglers. With the help of a pick, such places can be easily identified. This tool comes in different sizes and weights. This makes it possible to select the pick individually.
You can make a similar tool for a fisherman yourself.
Ice drill
This tool greatly facilitates fishing, especially if the ice is thick enough. There are a huge number of models on the market, both domestic and foreign manufacturers. As a rule, most fishermen prefer imported samples. They have the best quality knives and more.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to make an ice auger at home, although it can be assembled from spare parts.
Fishing box
A fishing box is a universal device that can replace several elements. Basically, fishermen use it as a container for storing caught fish, for storing fishing gear and bait. In addition, he can hide several sandwiches. And sitting on it near the hole with a fishing rod in your hands is just as possible. The main requirements for this product are:
- Strength.
- Ease.
A winter fishing enthusiast can always be recognized by his fishing box.
Scoop
Also a necessary device. It’s not very comfortable to pick out crushed ice from a hole with your bare hands, especially in the cold, and even in windy weather. And here a scoop, made like a kitchen colander, will be an indispensable thing. You can make a scoop yourself by using a kitchen scoop, or you can buy one. You should choose from lightweight designs and those with a wooden handle. If the bailer accidentally falls into the water, it will always remain afloat.
Hook
A very useful thing when catching large fish. Without it, it is unlikely that it will be possible to fish it out of the hole, especially if the individual is larger in size. It’s not difficult to make such a device yourself; all you need is a piece of wire on which to place a wooden handle.
Feeder
Fish can be at any depth. To feed it and collect it at one point, in the area of the hole, a feeder of any design will be useful. It is enough to tie a fishing line or rope of the required thickness and length to it.
WHAT YOU NEED FOR WINTER FISHING. Tips for beginners. Answers to subscribers' questions
Ice fishing chair or box
The opinions of amateur fishermen are divided: some believe that it is more convenient to fish while sitting on a box, while others believe that it is more convenient to fish on a special chair or even an armchair
Fishing box
Ice fishing box
Pros of a fishing box:
- — the box is durable, resistant to external influences and shocks. Even plastic fishing boxes are reliable protection for all the fishing equipment they contain.
- — in the box you can place everything that a fisherman needs on ice (except for an ice drill): tackle, bait, a scoop, food for lunch and a thermos with tea, and, if you’re lucky, even a catch, so the fisherman moves from place to place without any problems “relocates” with all his property only by grabbing an ice auger in his hand.
- — in the box you can provide separate places for all the fishing gear and, most importantly, separately put and securely fix fishing rods, which will always be in good condition, will not get mixed up, and will not catch on anything with hooks.
- – the box is an excellent protection for the hole from the wind, which is very important especially when fishing with a jig.
- — the box can easily be turned into an impromptu table for eating directly on the ice. You can even put the traditional 100 grams “under the ear” on it.
- — the box can be “put on skis” and transported through snow and ice “on a trailer.” There are boxes that are specially sold with miniature runner skis included.
- — the box is convenient from a hygienic point of view. It can be easily cleaned and washed after using it to transport fish.
Disadvantages of a fishing box:
- - large dimensions. There’s no getting around it: the fishing box is quite bulky. It’s simply impossible to do otherwise, since it’s uncomfortable to sit on a small box, and very little will fit into it. So it turns out that the box takes up a lot of space and when transporting it to the fishing spot, and at home, you also need to allocate a corner somewhere for storing it.
- — the box is not convenient to carry. Agree that it is not very convenient to carry any box, even with rounded edges, on a belt on your side. And a box filled with a good catch will generally pull off all the shoulders. (see the advantages - the possibility of installing runners somewhat mitigates this disadvantage, but you can’t drag it with you everywhere).
- — sitting on the box is not very comfortable, even if the lid has a soft seat. There is no backrest to lean on and rest your back after sitting in one position for many hours.
Fishing chair
Advantages of fishing chair:
- — the chair is light, small-sized and, when folded, takes up very little space, which is important both during transportation and storage.
- the chair can be conveniently carried behind your back if it has special straps for this, or by placing it in a backpack.
- — it is comfortable to sit on a chair, and especially on a chair with a back and armrests, and the fisherman’s back does not become numb at the end of fishing, as happens from sitting on a box. There is an opportunity to lean back, change position, and relax.
- - if a chair has a special bag attached to its back, then it is also a convenient container for all fishing equipment, which is very convenient when moving from place to place.
Disadvantages of a fishing chair:
- - insufficient strength and reliability of many structures
- — there is no protection of the hole from the wind (with the exception of chairs with fabric bags on the back, which, however, also do not cover the hole very well)
- — to transport the chair, as well as all fishing equipment, you need a spacious backpack or bag.
.
Even with a spoon, most of the fishing time is spent from a sitting position, and there is such an expression - “sit on the fish” (means that you managed to find a fishing point where the bite never stops). The chances of finding something suitable for sitting on the ice or shore are negligible. And for fishing from the knee, you need knee pads, which you, of course, don’t have either. Squatting is not an option. Forgot what to sit on?
Tackle
For winter fishing you will need:
- A winter fishing rod with a 0.2 mm fishing line, the length of which (the fishing line) is about 20 meters.
- Small pellets, as cargo.
- It is very important to match the color of the hook to the color of the bait.
- To fish for bloodworms, you should take hooks No. 2, No. 3, No. 5 made of thin metal, since the body of the bloodworm has a thin body.
- The bloodworms are stored in a special container (bloodworm), which is not difficult to make yourself.
- For fishing with worms, hooks No. 3 and No. 4 are used.
- It is better to take several fishing rods with different equipment if different types of fish can bite.
- It is advisable to have spare hooks, fishing line, etc. with you.
Tent and box
If you plan to go fishing for a long time, it is better to take a tent with you, it is advisable to equip it with a camp heating stove.
Another important thing is a fishing box, which is convenient:
- sit while fishing;
- store fishing equipment and catch.
Fishing without alcohol
Many fishermen take strong drinks with them, in the form of vodka or moonshine. Their main motivation lies in the warming effect of these alcoholic drinks. In fact, the effect can be completely opposite, and sometimes even sad.
Large doses of alcohol lead to the fact that the angler may fall asleep in the cold, and this is a serious risk of freezing. In addition, a drunk fisherman loses his reaction, which leads to ineffective fishing. It should also be remembered that not all fishermen returned home alive after such fishing.
The minimum you need for fishing
If you plan to travel for no more than half a day, then you can take a minimum amount of supplies, especially if there is no transport. For example:
- Warm clothes.
- Winter fishing rod.
- Groundbait and groundbait.
- Container for storing fish.
- Drill and scoop.
- A hook and a comfortable chair.
In other words, just dress warmly and take a fishing box with accessories.
Additional equipment
In addition to the tools and materials described above, the fisherman can take with him some other products that, although they will not make fishing more successful, can at the same time increase the comfort of a person’s stay on the ice.
This group of equipment includes a chemical heating pad (can even be found in the form of shoe inserts), fishing glasses for a better view of the water in the ice hole (on a bright sunny day, the glare appearing on the surface strains the eyes) and a device for sharpening used hooks on the spot.
Of course, the list of necessary things for a novice fisherman is quite long, but do not forget that spending time near a pond in summer cannot be compared with the situation in winter, so in order not to risk your health, you should listen to the advice of experienced fishermen, dress warmly and prepare in advance the most suitable ones for the season tackle and other equipment.
Additional accessories
Those accessories that will be listed below are optional, but they can create additional comfort, which is so lacking in winter fishing. It should be remembered that transportation of some of them requires transport.
Heater
Naturally, the heater will only be useful if you have a tent. These are mainly gas structures, although there are products that run on other types of fuel.
As a rule, they do not differ in the principle of operation, but they differ in operating time. There are models designed for three hours of operation, and there are models that can heat the tent for all 5 hours. As a rule, gas models include a cylinder and a heater or stove.
Tent
If the fisherman has transport, he will definitely take a tent with him. In specialized retail outlets it is possible to purchase a tent for every taste. Here a lot depends on financial capabilities.
Tents are divided into 3 main types:
- Frame.
- Dome.
- Automatic.
The most reliable are frame structures, but the most practical are automatic ones, which take up a minimum of precious time for installation and dismantling. As for dome models, this is more of a budget option.
Basically, tents of light colors are chosen, since they provide the most light. The most important thing is that the tent can protect from frost, wind, and snow.
Echo sounder
We can say that these days an echo sounder is not an additional, but the main equipment of any fisherman. With its help, a minimum of time is spent searching for fish sites. You can drill 10 holes, or you can just drill one. As you can see, the expenditure of physical strength is disproportionately different. In addition, there is a lot of time left for fishing itself, but not for searching for fish. This is especially true in winter due to the short days.
Tent and accessories: a fisherman’s winter house should be warm and cozy
We have detailed information about tents for winter fishing - from it you will learn how to choose a tent that will be comfortable for you alone, spacious even for a large group and warm in the most severe frost. But besides the tent you will need a lot of equipment.
Screw -ons are ice pegs with threads for screwing in. Factory screws made of stainless steel are hollow, with threads and a sharpened crown - they do not need to be driven in with a hammer, scaring away the fish, and they can withstand even strong winds.
Screw-in - a special peg for ice
Homemade screwdrivers also have their place:
- from nails - once hammered in, they cannot be pulled out;
- made from self-tapping screws - not designed for strong winds;
- made of rod - they rust.
Reflective cords are not required, but desirable: visible even in the light of the moon. Replacing standard tent guy cords with them reduces the risk of tripping over them.
Trekking poles - they make it easier to walk with a load. They weigh a few hundred grams. On ice, it is better to take sticks with sharp tips - they will dig into the ice and hold on tighter.
Ice pick - in times of shortage, replaced the ice auger. There are plenty of the latter, but this is not a reason to give up the ice pick: it can be used for holes and as a trekking pole or alpenstock: to climb the side of a hill, climb over your torso, or feel the ice in front of you.
Ice pick. She's an alpenstock. It is also an alternative to an ice auger. Can save you if you fall through the ice
Hot water bottle and burner. Just a heating pad or just a burner is not enough for a warm night on the ice. Therefore, we take both. To warm the body, you will need a catalytic heating pad: it is placed in mittens, shoes, and wrapped in jackets and sweaters to warm them. It runs on gasoline, but no combustion occurs: the fuel is processed in a catalyst - it’s safe.
You cannot warm up a tent with a heating pad, so take a heater with the heating pad. Kovea gas heaters perform well in the cold: they have piezo ignition (you don’t have to bother with matches) and have a convenient cylinder mount.
Lighting devices will be needed both for the tent and on the route. A lamp is suitable for lighting the tent, and a headlamp for the route.
Tent lighting can also be organized using a hand-held or headlamp - there would be something to hang it on. Usually there is a loop or rigid suspension in the tent for this purpose. The power of any good flashlight is enough to illuminate even a large four-person tent.
There are problems with flashlights, even the best ones: not all have focus adjustment, not everyone can “adjust” the angle of light dispersion. And even if it is possible, the width of the light beam may not be enough to uniformly illuminate the entire tent. Therefore, you will have to take two lanterns for winter fishing:
- lamp with pendant for tent;
- headlamp for situations when you leave her.
It is better if the lamp is electric - then you will not have to carry an additional cylinder with you (except for the one needed for the heater or burner).
In a headlamp, one powerful LED and the function of smooth focusing of light are enough: from a thin bright beam that “hits” several tens of meters to a diffuse one. If you want more, choose a flashlight with a red light function: it can clearly see what is around you, and your night vision will not be lost - you will still be able to see well in the dark if the flashlight suddenly turns off. Red light is also convenient for group outings on the ice: it does not blind neighbors.
The lower the temperature, the faster the batteries burn out. This cannot be avoided, even if you take a good, expensive flashlight. The only way to extend the life of batteries is to buy them in a store, not the market. When you grab batteries from a kiosk, you take them after they have been in the cold more than once. Even an inexpensive battery from a store will be better than an expensive one from the nearest market. However, we have found the results of a detailed battery test for you: you can guide your choice. And one more recommendation - always take a spare set and keep it warm: not in your backpack, but in your inside pocket.
The lumens of the flashlight are not too important: the snow already reflects the scattered light of the stars and the moon. Much more important is the quality of the lens, which is responsible for the dispersion of light, and the number of LEDs.
Shabalka is a tool for clearing holes of ice and snow. Another name is a scoop. This is a copy of the Soviet slotted spoon, which is convenient for removing pasta from the pan. Without it, cleaning the holes is inconvenient. And there is no need to try to replace the device with a slotted spoon borrowed from the kitchen: now they are made from a thin metal mesh that will not withstand working with crushed ice.
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Security measures
It is important to know the do's and don'ts during the winter fishing season. For example:
- It is not recommended to go out on thin ice. Statistics show that this is very life-threatening.
- You should always take an ice pick with you and move around the pond only with it.
- If you are not sure about the thickness of the ice, then you can move around the reservoir if you move your backpack or box on one shoulder. If something happens, you can easily free your hands and get rid of excess weight.
- If the ice begins to crack, you cannot run on it. You should lie down on the ice and crawl along it.
- If there is snow cover on the reservoir, you should be especially careful, as it can hide dangerous areas. And here the pick will be useful.
- It is strictly not recommended to move around the pond while intoxicated.
Tips from experienced ice fishing enthusiasts
When going to a winter pond, it is better to adhere to some rules. For example:
- At the moment you can buy a camera for winter fishing. According to some fishermen, this is a very useful thing. It will help you find out exactly where the fish are. It's like an echo sounder, but here you can see with your own eyes what kind of fish is in the area of the hole.
- Automatic tents have proven themselves well in conditions where you often move from hole to hole. If such a problem is not foreseen, then it is better to take a frame tent as it is more reliable.
- You should always take several fishing rods with you to catch different types of fish.
- When purchasing a tent, you should give preference to a design with windows. It is easy to ventilate, and there is always enough illumination and you don’t have to think about how to provide yourself with normal light.
A set of winter fishing gear for the novice winter fisherman.
Stay healthy: first aid kit for winter fishing
The first aid kit is often forgotten. Well, what can happen on ice, right? Here's what you might need:
- To protect the skin from frost - ready-made protective ointments (Atoderm, Apizatron, Kapsin, Morozko children's cream). They replace self-prepared ointments like goose fat with glycerin or duck fat with Vaseline;
- If the protective cream does not help - Panthenol, Actovegin, if frostbite is serious - Iruksol. After applying the cream, cover the affected area of skin with a bandage, just do not wrap it tightly: it is important that blood flows to the damaged areas of the skin;
- For treating cuts and punctures - BF glue;
- To treat a burn - snow or ice in a plastic bag, a bandage (applied loosely so as not to damage the skin).
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