PFBC Introduction to ice fishing

A-5

A-5

Moderator
I hate ice fishing.


I bring the grill and we tailgate. But that’s not fishing.


Did I mention I hate fly fishing



Ok let me say this.


I hate fly fishing. Fly Guys Fly equipment all of it.
Let me clarify.


2x 3x 4x tippet. Aholes. It’s 6lb or it’s 8lb


I hate the way flyfisherman sqeeek when walking down a path. I hate the simms and orvis army.


Having said that I have fly fished I will fly fish. No one here qualifies to the above criteria. So blah


As for ice fisherman your turn. Any and I mean anyone thinks I am buying a tent on a sled for $500 and taking propane a heater all the rods stopping at a store for bait wasting $100 on gas is nuts



Now I am nuts






So don’t take offense.



This is meant to be slightly amusing but true










I hate myself







Merry Christmas
 
Don

Don

Well-known member
A-5 said:
I hate ice fishing.


I bring the grill and we tailgate. But that’s not fishing.


Did I mention I hate fly fishing



Ok let me say this.


I hate fly fishing. Fly Guys Fly equipment all of it.
Let me clarify.


2x 3x 4x tippet. Aholes. It’s 6lb or it’s 8lb


I hate the way flyfisherman sqeeek when walking down a path. I hate the simms and orvis army.


Having said that I have fly fished I will fly fish. No one here qualifies to the above criteria. So blah


As for ice fisherman your turn. Any and I mean anyone thinks I am buying a tent on a sled for $500 and taking propane a heater all the rods stopping at a store for bait wasting $100 on gas is nuts



Now I am nuts






So don’t take offense.



This is meant to be slightly amusing but true










I hate myself







Merry Christmas
Click to expand...
Youre probably a Dallas Fan too! Running roughshod over the good people of PA. We'll fix your wagon! Tie you down with 2x and feed you hotdogs....frozen hotdogs.
Are you getting low on flies?
 
truecrimson

truecrimson

Well-known member
So let's say someone had some BP gift cards from a very recent holiday and was thinking about trying ice fishing.

What minimum decent equipment (Auger, clothing, accessories) would the august and distinguished experts here recommend to a beginner for a good starting experience? What brands and models would be recommended and what should be avoided?

Last year or year before I drove by Stoever's dam in the cold months and saw people ice fishing. Memorial is also a possibility. I This alleged theoretical person would be going short distances and not staying for extended periods.
 
HenryDavid

HenryDavid

Well-known member
truecrimson said:
So let's say someone had some BP gift cards from a very recent holiday and was thinking about trying ice fishing.

What minimum decent equipment (Auger, clothing, accessories) would the august and distinguished experts here recommend to a beginner for a good starting experience? What brands and models would be recommended and what should be avoided?

Last year or year before I drove by Stoever's dam in the cold months and saw people ice fishing. Memorial is also a possibility. I This alleged theoretical person would be going short distances and not staying for extended periods.
Click to expand...
You can't fish if you can't drill a hole so an auger is pretty much standard gear, unless you have a friend that can drill one for you. Jig rods are inexpensive and you could attach a med/light spinning reel to one. Tip ups are pretty cheap too. A kids sled will help you get your stuff out on the ice. Besides warm clothes, boots and maybe sonar - flasher - depth finder you can get fishing. Oh yeah and a scoop to clean out the ice hole.
 
HenryDavid

HenryDavid

Well-known member
Eskimo has good gear at a reasonable price. Keeping the blades sharp is the key, you really have to baby them, no bouncing or banging them on the ice.
 
truecrimson

truecrimson

Well-known member
I don't do facebook. I was looking for official reports. Memorial Lake State Park used to but doesn't seem to anymore. The web site now says "Ice thickness not monitored" but I know they used to post it.

www.dcnr.pa.gov

Fishing at Memorial Lake State Park

www.dcnr.pa.gov www.dcnr.pa.gov

Stoever's Dam doesn't seem to either.

visitlebanonvalley.com

Stoever's Dam Park - Visit Lebanon Valley | Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Located just outside of Lebanon City, this 153-acre park offers camping, picnicking, hiking, and a 23.5-acre lake for canoeing and fishing.
visitlebanonvalley.com visitlebanonvalley.com

Seems like it would be a pain in the ass to get all ready and go just to discover not enough ice. Especially if I was going someplace further. I might go to memorial or Stoever's without knowing for sure there was enough ice, but no way I would go to Sweet Arrow or Blue Marsh without knowing first.

Sweet Arrow also says it isn't monitored

Fishing-Boating

www.sweetarrowlakepark.com

Blue Marsh does post news on their web site so maybe they will publish it

Philadelphia District Civil Works – Blue Marsh Lake

www.nap.usace.army.mil
 
truecrimson

truecrimson

Well-known member
Going up to A town area for Job #2 today. Will probably stop at Cabela's on the way home. I'm debating between ice fishing gear or a traditional bow and trying to get back into hunting. I have some Bass Pro gift cards so I have to use those at Bass Pro or Cabella's.

The nurses I share an office with at the FT job are big hunters so they are rooting for a bow. But I have been thinking about ice fishing for about 20 years off and on, so who knows what I'll come home with. Not one of the nurses unfortunately ;) Where were they when I was young and single ;)
 
Melvinp

Melvinp

Well-known member
truecrimson said:
Going up to A town area for Job #2 today. Will probably stop at Cabela's on the way home. I'm debating between ice fishing gear or a traditional bow and trying to get back into hunting. I have some Bass Pro gift cards so I have to use those at Bass Pro or Cabella's.

The nurses I share an office with at the FT job are big hunters so they are rooting for a bow. But I have been thinking about ice fishing for about 20 years off and on, so who knows what I'll come home with. Not one of the nurses unfortunately ;) Where were they when I was young and single ;)
Click to expand...
Just a warning archery takes practice practice practice
 
HenryDavid

HenryDavid

Well-known member
I wouldn't rely on State Park ice thickness reports. Most of the DCNR officials I've met and spoken with don't have a clue. It really is up to the individual to find out 1st hand or from a trusted source. You can guesstimate or at least have an educated idea if you map out elevation and temperature range of your lakes.
 
truecrimson

truecrimson

Well-known member
Well the bow is definitely out. One of the bow guys at Cabela's told me had some people that had heart bypass surgery previously that couldn't use a bow, and that has been a concern of mine since my surgery in 2012. I had hoped that since 10 years have passed I would be able to use a bow. I have had several episodes over the years where I hurt myself pulling up patients or carrying heavy boxes on my shoulder. But that has not happened in a while. The bow guy said the only way to know for sure was to set up a bow for me at the minimum draw weight, and try it, slowly and carefully. Then slowly and carefully increase the weight until I couldn't do it. So he set one up for me at 31 pounds. The initial draw was tough but OK. When the cam rolled over I felt a bunch of muscles pull that I didn't even know I had. I was in pain and my right shoulder and chest weren't right for the rest of the night. They seem to be better this morning. Still stiff and my should is popping with certain movements.

So we went to look at the ice fishing stuff. The selection in store was small and I ended up not getting anything.

Todays question;
How important is clothing? Is just ordinary warm clothing sufficient? Most of my ordinary warm clothing is cotton, so I should probably switch that out for synthetic and wool, but do I really need $250 floating bibs? Explain it to me like you're explaining it to Don ;)
 
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