Author Archives: Chris Jacobson

About Chris Jacobson

Chris Jacobson is the Fishing department manager at Smith & Edwards. He takes one for the team by heading out to Willard Bay at least once a month in the summer to bring you the best & freshest Willard Bay fishing report. Have questions about Fishing? Call the store at 801-731-1120 and ask Sporting Goods, we'll be happy to help you get the gear you need.

Fishing Report: Bucket Mouth Fishing in Southeast Idaho

July 21, 2017 - posted by Chris Jacobson

Travis’s Idaho Fishing Spots

Southeast Idaho offers plenty of opportunity to chase these fun-to-catch fish. There are several reservoirs around Malad and Preston that hold good numbers of largemouth bass. If you live in Box Elder, Cache, or even Weber counties, they aren’t that far away.

For those of you in Franklin and Oneida counties, they are practically right in your back yard!

Stop by Smith & Edwards to get what you need for a successful fishing trip – and check out our Fishing Department online, too. Our guys like Travis can give you expert advice on these great fishing spots!

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Our New Huk Fishing Shirts Help you Fish Longer

April 7, 2017 - posted by Chris Jacobson

That’s pronounced “Hook” Gear. I know, it doesn’t really seem to be spelled that way… but that is how you pronounce it! I promise!

Clothing is not usually the top of my checklist when I am getting ready for a fishing trip! In fact, most of the time my wife gives me a funny look and asks, “Are you really going out looking like that?”

To which my normal response was something along the lines of “Well, the fish don’t care what I look like!”

It’s an argument that I would never win, honestly!

However, that all changed when I had our clothing buyer, Craig, show me the new Huk Gear line.

The first thing I loved about the line was all the awesome colors that they come in. They have partnered with Kryptek and offer their camo patterns in most of the great colors. My favorite is the blue Pontus camo, but their new white & gray Raid camo is a close second!

The technology in Huk Gear shirts is awesome! Top on the list for me is the breathability and the wicking away of sweat and moisture. That means that I can stay cool longer and fish more!

I don’t have to worry about fish guts ruining my Huk shirt. These shirts are anti-microbial, have stain release technology, and keep me protected from the sun. All of this adds up to what all of us as fisherman want: to be able to fish longer and not succumb the elements.

We just got in ladies’ and mens’ tees and tank tops. You won’t regret buying these shirts. I love wearing mine around even when I am not fishing. They are just comfy to wear and they don’t look half bad, either!

Click here to see our Men’s Huk Gear fishing shirts. Plus, click here for our ladies’ Huk Gear – or just come in our store by Willard Bay!

Thanks Cambria, Maddie, & Kelsey from our Clothing department and Curtis from our Sporting Goods department for helping me show off this great gear.

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Chris’s Ice Fishing Picks for 2017: What’s New, & What’s Back!

December 29, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

Hey guys, so I don’t know if you have notice but it’s getting really cold outside lately! That means a lot of our favorite fishing holes are covered in ice. [Click here for my top 5 tips to get ready for Ice Fishing!]

I have even heard of some of my favorite spots back where I grew up in northern Utah having 12in of ice, and that was before the most recent cold snap. I am not one that likes very thin ice so having about 5-6 inches of ice gets me excited to get out a try some fishing!

To help combat the ice and the cold, I have put together some of my favorite new ice fishing items that I am excited to get out and try. By new, I mean either newly-released this year or a brand that we just started carrying in the store. Check it out:

Chris’s Auger of Choice

Let’s start in augers. It seems like to me that the new rage in augers is either electric or propane instead of gas. There is a lot of reasons they have become more popular. They are quieter, lighter, and don’t have the stinky exhaust that the gas augers do.

My pick for an electric auger is the ION 8 inch electric auger. Two of the coolest things about this auger is that it has a reverse option and that it only weighs 22 pounds!

This is one of the lightest augers that I have seen! No more packing or dragging that heavy auger across the ice!

Probably one of the biggest questions I had, and others have had, was: Won’t the battery die in the cold really fast?

The answer to that is, NO! The lithium ion battery will cut through 1,000 inches of ice! I don’t know about you but I don’t cut that much ice in a trip. This auger will do everything that you need it to.

Ice Fishing Shelters

As far as shelters go, we carry Clam and Eskimo brands and they both have great things about each one! It really is hard to pick one or the other. This much I can tell you, they both are selling really well right now and a shelter is almost always something you need to take when you go ice fishing! Our best seller is probably the Clam Six Pack 1660 right now!

Back by Popular Demand: Swedish Pimples

We used to carry Swedish Pimple lures, and interest died down. Now people want them back, and so I’ve added them to our ice department!

There are 2 ways I see people using the Swedish Pimples.

One way is just as a lure on its own, putting the bait on the Swedish Pimple hook.

A different way, which seems more effective, is to use the Swedish pimple to attract the fish in. Then, run a line down from the Swedish pimple to a Ratfinkee or a Ratso, and the fish will smell the bait on that.

Try it out for yourself and let me know what works!

Ice Fishing Rod Brands to Watch

I have two fishing rod companies that I think are doing great things! The first one is a local company that many of you have heard of. Christenson Lake Shore Tackle of Manila, Utah has come out with some new ice fishing rods that are tailored to the local Utah fishing market. One of which is a 40″ Lake trout rod. They also come in some cool colors, too!

The next company is 13 Fishing. They were one of the biggest new booths at ICAST last July and they have rods for almost everything. They have ice rods, casting rods, and spinning rods. All of which we will be carrying but their ice rods have done really well and look really good! Check them out and see for yourself!

These are just a few of the new things that I am excited about. There is so many new things out there that it is almost impossible to list them all!

I would love to hear the brands or equipment that you just can’t go fishing without!

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You asked for them: Havalon Knives are here!

August 10, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

Introducing Havalon Knives, some of the sharpest, lightest blades available.

Click here to see Chris demonstrate them!

They are also one of the hottest hunting knife brands out there right now, and customers have been asking us for them for over a year. We got them in in 2016 and you can find them on our Web Store now, too!

Havalon, a smaller branch of Havel’s Inc. is bringing super lightweight, surgically sharp blades to hunters, trappers, and taxidermists with their innovative designs and functions. Normally the use of “surgically” doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a buzzword.

However, here it’s the real deal where Havel’s Inc is an actual medical supplier. They have been putting scalpels in surgeons’ hands for years.

We Recommend: Piranta & Baracuta

These knives vary in design to suit a variety of needs. While they make others, the Piranta and Baracuta might be their most popular lines.

The Piranta is a no-nonsense folding knife that has a replaceable blade. Using a replaceable blade just means you never have to worry about a dull knife again.

Carry around a couple of spare blades with you just to be safe, and then in the midst of field dressing, should the blade need to be perfectly sharp again, just pop a new one on.

The Baracuta series is fundamentally the same knife, and Havalon has invested in a beefier handle and longer blades. Both styles give you color options and most importantly, blade options.

The beauty of these knives is you can change out the type of blade edge you’re working with on the fly. Havalon gives you bone saws, fillet, scalpel, and non-puncture options.

My hunting customers LOVE this option.

Fileting fish with the Havalon Piranta

Whether you need a new pocketknife or a good hunting knife that won’t let you down out in the field, take a look at Havalon at Smith & Edwards. Click here to shop our huge Hunting Knives department.

Watch how to change a Havalon Blade:

Written by Spenser England with Chris Jacobson

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Northern Utah Fishing Report – June 2016

May 28, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

I have two words for my fishing trips so far this year. RAIN OUT!

Man, that weather hasn’t been cooperating! It seems like every day I have time off, it rains or at least looks like it’s going to!

Now, I am not complaining. We need the water. Every drop is needed to fill our reservoirs up! As far as the water levels, Pineview and Causey are spilling. Which means there is a lot of water flowing into Willard right now! That is great news!

In fact, they have put more water in Willard this year, than they have since I started working here at Smith and Edwards. That means the fishing is going to be completely different this year.

Fishing in High Water Levels

The last few years, the forage fish have not had any cover to hide in and have been pushed to open water. Well, with the higher water this year, there is plenty of cover for the minnows to hide in. This is good and bad as an angler.

This is a good thing because there will be plenty of shad and other forage fish for food the next few years.

The bad news is that this year, the wiper and walleye will be spread out and hunting for more prey. That translates into having to troll longer and farther distances to find fish. That can be a pain and a bit discouraging.

Never fear though, rumor has it that with high water comes BOILS, which are super fun to fish! One can hope, right? We will have to wait until probably July and August to see if we get boils this year, but here is what we should expect for June fishing!

Fishing Willard Bay

Columbia and Huk Fishing shirts at Smith & Edwards

We love these Kryptek and long-sleeved fishing shirts from Huk and Columbia.

Fishing at Willard should really start to get good in June if you can stand the bugs. Mosquitoes will be in full force, so pack the bug spray.

Another good option is the new Huk Gear shirts or Under Armor shirts that we have in stock. They are long-sleeved but breathable, and have cooling technology in them. Check our fishing shirts out!

As far as lures and bait, mussels will continue to be great from shore. Also, try some Rapalas and other shad imitating lures around the submerged structure. Wiper and walleye will be hanging out close to the vegetation, waiting for shad to stray from cover.

People are still catching crappie from shore as well. Rapalas in the shad black and silver or blue and silver should work great. Click here for Rapalas and more lures.

If you are having trouble finding walleye, you may need to run a bottom bouncer and worm harness. With the new high water, the walleye will for sure be deeper most days. Don’t forget the planer boards either! They can be the difference from catching fish and not!

Have you seen the pelicans at Willard yet?

Pelican at Willard Bay - photo by Rose Marion

Rose went out to Willard this week and caught photos of some huge pelicans.

Fishing Pineview & Mantua

Bass fishing should really be picking up at both of these reservoirs in the next few weeks. I have had reports of bass on beds and some that haven’t made it to their beds yet. Definitely a great time to try and catch some good-sized bass from shore or boat.

We just got in our new line of Zoom baits in and any of the colors will be worth trying. The flukes are a great swim bait that can drive bass crazy. You should also try pitching some brush hogs or Carolina rigging a lizard as well. All are proven ways to catch fish all summer long!

Show me what you catch!

The annual Free Fishing day is coming up: Saturday, June 11th. That’s the same day as our Range Day event – so go fishing in the morning, send me a picture with #smithandedwards so I can see it and add it to the Braggin’ Board – then head out to the Perry Three Mile Creek Range to shoot our guns & ammo. Have a great month out there!

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WAKE THE BAY: Your April Willard Bay Fishing Report

April 9, 2016 - posted by Chris Jacobson

#WAKETHEBAY

Willard Bay is roaring awake for 2016! We are super excited to get this fishing season underway and I think Willard Bay isn’t going to disappoint this year. Check out this quick video we put together because we couldn’t wait to get out there!

FISHING REPORT

They raised the dike last year like some of you know, and early indications are that it is going to be an adequate watershed year. Hopefully that translates to a longer fishing season and more water in the bay.

To celebrate what should be an awesome year, we want to know how you #wakethebay! By that I mean, I want to see all of your Facebook and Instagram shots of you out on Willard Bay chasing the wiper, walleye, or whatever finned friend you like to chase.

Wayne Russell wakes the bay with kids & wipers!

Also, we have some killer deals in the Smith & Edwards Fishing department starting Saturday, April 9th and running for two weeks. Check them out online or watch your local newspaper for the ad coming Sunday, April 10th!

I had the opportunity to go out yesterday and go fishing on the bay. Let’s just say, I was a little nervous at first. We fished for 3-4 hours without much more than one fast strike and done. We didn’t even have time to get the rod out of the holder.

We kept at it though, and finally around 6pm we got into the wiper. We even hooked into a couple big crappie. I left my scale at home but they were almost the size of a dinner plate!

We were trolling a few different colors and patterns to try to figure out what they wanted. The hot color for the day was Fire Tiger. I think that had to do with the water being so murky. The bright colors showed up a lot better than some of the others.

The action was fast once we found the fish. They seemed to be in 14-18 feet of water. Although, the most active fish were in the top of the water column. The water temp was fluctuating between 56 and 60 degrees. Perfect to get the fish to be a little more active then they have been. My trip started out slow, but by the end of the day we caught close to a dozen fish and had a blast. Even got a little sunburnt!

Looking ahead to what the month of April could bring, we should see the crappie fishing picking up with them coming in close to spawn in the next few weeks. The walleye spawn is all but over now and given a few weeks to recuperate, we should see them being caught in better numbers as well.

All of the fishing hinges on what the weather does. It looks like it should stay relatively warm, except for a few days of temps in the 50s. That should mean the water temp should stay up and fishing should be good and getting better going forward.

Look for the Fire Tiger colors to stay really hot. Especially if the water stays really murky. Other good colors are going to be the old standbys. The silver and blue or silver and black cranks and the gizzard shad cranks will produce fish. Especially as the new shad for this year get bigger.

These next couple of months are the best fishing on Willard and I hope y’all get out and enjoy the sun and fun.

GET YOUR GEAR

Click to shop fishing gear online with Smith & Edwards… and get EVEN MORE gear in the store, just off Exit 351. Visit us on your way to the south marina of Willard Bay!

SEE THE WAKE THE BAY AD

The WAKE THE BAY Sale runs April 9-23, 2016. Show us on Facebook and Instagram how YOU #WAKETHEBAY!

Thanks to Curtis Carter for the stunning photos!

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Ice Fishing Stories: Self-Rescue and Hypothermia

February 6, 2015 - posted by Chris Jacobson

Well we’ve had a whole lot of warm weather this winter, let me tell you some ice fishing stories in lieu of new Braggin’ Board pictures. And I DO have a new Braggin’ Board pic for you to check out, so scroll down to see what’s swimming in local ponds.

Self-Rescue while Ice Fishing

Some of you guys are braver than I am.

When it comes to thin ice, I am a chicken. I struggle even on 5 inches of ice!

I don’t know if it is because I am a bigger guy, if it’s cause I swim like a rock, or just what… but I AM pretty chicken.

In any event, you should check out this video that I found through our good friend Wynn aka Bear’s Butt. He’s totally immersed in fletching and bows but go tell him hi from me. This video he shared, teaches you what you should do in the event that you fall through the ice.

Thanks Butt! That’s some good knowledge to have.

I don’t fish very often (if ever) on ice that could potentially be less than 5 inches. That means that I haven’t had much fun this ice season. It’s been a big bust actually here for northern Utah – one of the mildest winters on record.

When Cold Water is Hot, You’ve Probably Got Hypothermia

I remember when I was younger and growing up in a very small town in northern Utah. My hometown is small enough that if you blink when driving through it to go to Bear Lake, you would miss it.

I was young enough that I did not have a driver’s license yet, and it was Christmas Break. A friend of mine and I decided we wanted to go fishing.

Being in the small town where everyone knows everyone, you can get most places on a four wheeler. My buddy just happened to have one, and we got permission to go.

Woodruff Reservoir was about 10-15 miles away, and we thought that would be no problem to get to. We forgot about where we lived and that we wouldn’t be inside a cab getting up there. A four wheeler in the winter up there is SO cold!

We only made it partway and decided that we would just fish a pond that was only part of the way up the highway.

When we finally got on the ice, we found another obstacle. We realized that the hand auger that we had was dull.

I mean, so dull that it wouldn’t have cut warm butter let alone 10″ or more of ice. This thing was almost useless!

We finally got two holes drilled and fished for about 10-15 minutes. We caught two fish and decided that was enough… and froze all the way home.

Our hands were SO numb that when we got home, we put them under COLD water because warm water felt like it was burning us! I still have all 10 fingers though so we made it ok.

We never went on a trip like that again… although there were plenty of other adventures we went on!

Want to hear more of my fishing stories? Or share one adventure you had? Leave a comment below and tell me about it.

And before I go, let me show you this perfect rainbow trout caught at Brigham City’s Pioneer Park in January.

Allen Larsen pulled this beauty: 8 pounds and 26″. Thanks for sharing Allen, and great catch!

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Cisco Fishing Nets are Here!

January 15, 2015 - posted by Chris Jacobson

It’s coming to Bear Lake, Utah… and it’s the only time this year! Are you ready?

The Bear Lake Cisco Run happens 1 time a year and it’s unique in how you fish for them. And it’s only a couple weeks out of the whole year.

This fish, the famous Bonneville Cisco, can only be found at Bear Lake. During this time, they can be caught by using a dip net from a boat.

(Be careful not to net the Bear Lake MONSTER, though!)

And if you’re participating in the Cisco Disco, a cisco net is a MUST!

Get your Cisco Fishing Net today

This Ranger 173 wire smelt net is perfect for Cisco! Get yours before you miss the season.

What’s the Cisco Disco? This year on January 24th, start fishing at sunrise at Cisco Beach on the east side of Bear Lake. There will even be prizes for largest catch of the day!

From now through the first of February, get your chance at a cisco with a cisco net! My Cisco fishing nets just arrived here at Smith & Edwards, I’ve got the Ranger 173 wire smelt net for you here in the Fishing department.

It has a telescoping handle, and an 18″ net perfect for cisco. Plus, it’s got a handle on the bottom so you can empty your catch easily!

Exclusively available in-store at Smith & Edwards (not online), come in & get yours today for just $29.99.

More Information about the Cisco Disco

Click for all the details about the Cisco Disco & Polar Bear Plunge on BearLake.org, and make sure to Like the Bear Lake Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau on Facebook!

Plus – New Lures online

Before you go, check out the new Maniac Lures I just added to our web store. New colors of Gizzybugs, Gizzillas, Cutterbugs, and new Vertigo. Give these jigs a shot and let me know how they work for you.

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Everything to make Ice Fishing FUN!

January 2, 2015 - posted by Chris Jacobson

OK, so last month we talked about 5 Things to do while waiting for the ice to freeze.

Well, it’s January and Mantua is FROZEN! Utah’s ice fishing season has arrived. Strawberry Reservoir and Birch Creek are frozen too, and Causey and Pineview. All right!

So I’ve made a checklist of everything you need to go ice fishing in comfort. And if you’re getting ready to go ice fishing for the very first time, scroll down to the bottom of this post for a printable ice fishing gear checklist just for you!

Checklist for Ice Fishing in Comfort

If you’re ready to invest in a Clam tent to really enjoy fishing, here are the items you want to make sure to have on your trip this weekend.

Staying Warm in Comfort

It’s all fun and games til you get wet and freeze! Have fun by staying warm & dry:

Carhartt has lots of great beanies and ways to keep your head warm, including this Pull-Down Face Mask (click the picture)

Clam Ice Fishing Shelter at Smith and Edwards

This Clam Vista shelter will fit up to 3 people.

Good-quality coat, snow pants, boots: There’s a good bit of advice for a lot of winter activities: dress in layers. If you’ve got a tent, which I’ll talk about in a bit, all you need is a good-quality coat and pair of boots to get you out on the ice and get the tent set up – then you can hang out in a hoodie. If you don’t have a tent, a good pair of snow pants can really keep out the cold.
If you already have a good Carhartt coat or Carhartt bibs, put a little waterproofing on them and they’ll work nicely. Our Western guy Marty recommends Duck’s Back waterproofing for dusters and canvas clothing. Or, look for nice waterproof snow bibs & a jacket.
ICE Trekkers: One of the best brands of treads out there, choose from Chains or Diamond Grip. These treads slide right on to your boots and will let you walk on ice just like pavement.
Ice Shelter & Sled: Yeah, you can go Ice Fishing without a tent – definitely! But if you want to enjoy ice fishing (or your kids & wife!) – get a Clam ice tent. They start right around $200.00 and you can even upgrade to one that would hold all your buddies from work or your whole family.
And to haul all your gear, get a nice Ice Sled. I like Otter sleds, and you can even hook up your ATV or snowmobile. Some ranches use these to haul newborn calves. Upgrade from just your bucket: fit all your gear and a folding chair, and make life easy for yourself!
Gloves, Hand warmers, Beanie or Hat: Heat rises – keep that heat in with a good hat, beanie, or face mask. A ball cap works for some guys, and others need all the fleece and lining they can get.
Plus, a good pair of gloves goes a long way. If you get waterproof gloves you won’t have to rotate pairs. One trick I learned from a skiing buddy is to wear a pair of knit glove liners, put in a handwarmer pad, and then wear good gloves on top of that.
Snacks: Make sure and pack in jerky, Twizzlers, candy, and drinks!

Man could we all be as lucky as Marty with this 20″ Tiger Trout at Causey Reservoir! Nice!

Ice Fishing Tackle for the Experienced Angler

OK, now that you’re set up on the ice, let’s start catching some fish!

Ice Auger with a Motor on top… nice.

This ice rod holder, “Tip Up Tip Down”, lets your rod jig up and down with just a push.

Power auger: Lots of guys start out with a hand auger because 1, they work well enough, and 2, they start at $59.99. Your Power Auger is for us guys who want to get out there and fish without the workout first – taking 15 minutes of drilling through 6″ of ice! I’ve got Strikemaster power augers starting at 499.99 and you’ll love yours to pieces. And remember to have a set of replacement blades with you. Check out ice fishing augers online here.
Jigs: If you’ve been out before, you’ve got a feel for what you like. A lot of my customers love the Ratsos and Ratfinkees. I’ve had good luck with them too.
Metro Tungsten Jigs are a new lure out there for ice fishing and they’re a lower price than other options. And they’re just as good. Give them a try and let me know how they work for you!
Rod: Shorter than your summer fishing rod, get a good ice fishing rod and reel. I’ve got combos as well. If you’re serious about ice fishing, you might have 2 or more poles going at a time! If you’ve got good rods, make sure and protect them in a Rod Case.
Ice Skimmer to clear the ice.
Ice Fishing Line to take the colder temperatures. I carry clear, clear blue, smoke and green ice fishing line: Fireline, Trilene, Stren – and you can even get it shipped to you. Monofilament as well as braid line for you to choose from.
Terminal Tackle: Can’t catch a fish without a hook. Plus I’ve got sinkers, swivels, and everything you need for the end of the line.
Rod holder: Yeah, here’s how you fish without needing 5 hands. Set it up and let it go! With cool inventions like the Hook Setter and the Tip Up, you can keep jigging with just a poke – some models set the hook for you!
Use a Spring Bobber to keep the ice off the top of the rod and detect bites.
Bait: Most people like to use wax worms or night crawlers as live bait. Those wax worms are sure tricky for us to keep in stock – too warm and they’ll turn into moths, too cold and they won’t make it! I’m trying my hardest to keep new wax worms coming in from our supplier so you’ve got the live bait you need. I’ve also got spikes and mealworms for you.
If you don’t need your bait to wiggle on its own, I’ve got Powerbait, Trout Dough, Waxies, and Lunker Lotion for you. It’s also on the website if you want it shipped.

Fish finder: Just like summer fishing, see those puppies under the ice. Ice fishing fish finders are more temperature-resistant.

Budget or First-Time Ice Fishing Gear Checklist

Enter your email address and I will send you a free PDF checklist you can print out so you remember all the gear to take with you to the reservoir! Nothing worse than pulling up to the shore and remembering your jigs and lures are back on the kitchen table…. been there, done that!

Get your Ice Fishing Gear Checklist!

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Did I miss anything? Do you have questions on ice fishing? Leave a comment and let me know, and have fun fishing!

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5 Tips to get Ready for Ice Fishing

December 6, 2014 - posted by Chris Jacobson

Alright y’all, it’s that time of year again. It is getting colder and that means crazy weather, crazier drivers, and of course (my favorite) ice fishing season!

It won’t be long now and all the reservoirs will be ice capped. Here at Smith and Edwards, we have everything you need if you’re looking to get into ice fishing or if you are a seasoned veteran looking to upgrade.

(click here to shop Ice Fishing online!)

Now, to get ready for ice season, I wanted to share a 5 good ice fishing preparation tips that have helped me get ready to go.

1. Patience is a virtue! Even though you can safely fish on only a few inches of ice, I prefer to be safe and wait for at least 4-6 inches before venturing out.

There are a few reservoirs around that have under water springs and just because there will be spots with plenty of ice doesn’t mean it’s safe everywhere.

2. Make sure that you charge your gear before going out. The first outing can be so exciting that anglers forget that some of their gear runs off of batteries.

Make sure that all of your gear is charged and ready to go before you head out. There isn’t anything worse than getting out on the ice and realizing your gear isn’t ready!

3. Layers!! Make sure that you dress in layers. You never really know what kind of weather you are going to have out on the ice. The best way to prepare for any weather is to have layers on. You can always take layers off, but you only have so many that you take with you.

Start with a good pair of thermals – find men’s thermals here, and click here for ladies’ thermals.

4. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever been given is to have a plan. By that I mean, plan your fishing trip out. I know its hard to believe that the advice your friend gave you about how great the fishing is at a certain spot wasn’t exactly accurate. Also, a lot of times the fish move and you miss the great bite.

I like to have at least one backup spot that is near my original planned area, and it doesn’t hurt to have a couple backup spots.

5. Have some snacks and drinks on hand. If you are like me, you are so excited to get out and go fishing that the last thing on your mind is food or drinks. It is no fun to be out on the ice and not have anything to eat or drink all day! This tip is a must if you are taking your family with you!

Get your Ice Fishing Gear Checklist!

I know I for one can’t wait for ice season to get here. It can’t get here fast enough! Be sure to check back with us for more tips and tricks on ice fishing. We really want to get out and test some new gear we have in stock as well as to just get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

I would love to hear from you guys as well. What are your favorite tips or techniques to get ready for the ice season? Let us know in the comments below. Be safe out there!