Photo by Ron Sinfelt

It was the mid-1950s and an old man with a young boy walked onto the ice of a river backwater. They used an axe to chop a hole through the ice, soaking them both and producing a ragged hole that narrowed toward the bottom. Their tackle was the same as they used during summer, a solid 6-foot fiberglass rod and a tubular steel model, both fitted with level-wind, "knuckle-buster" reels filled with braided black nylon line. In spite of all this, they caught fish and they had a great time.

Half a century later, the old man is gone except in the memory of the boy who is now well into middle age -- but how his ice-fishing gear has changed!

Those were the "good old days," but not because the fishing was better. Nor was it because that simple, crude ice-fishing gear made fishing any more enjoyable. Yes, there is a lot of nonsense tackle on the market these days that serious anglers do not need, but there is also some gear that can make winter fishing more comfortable, a little less like work and some of it will even help anglers catch more fish.

THE RIGHT STUFF
Start with the right clothing. This might not be an exciting topic to read about, but it is probably the gear that will make the biggest difference in your ice-fishing day. Proper, comfortable clothing will keep you on the ice longer, and time on the ice is the key in winter fishing.

The most important elements of winter garb include a wind-resistant and waterproof outer shell, outer layers that may be adjusted to changing conditions, and boots that are waterproof and heavily insulated between the ice and the soles of your feet.

Boots have improved a great deal over the past few years. If your boots are not quite warm enough, add an insulating insole and light socks that will wick away perspiration under heavier socks.

A POWER AUGER?
Gas auger designs have come a long way over the last 30 years. Some of the newer models are relatively light yet powerful enough to drill through several feet of black ice. If you fish with a few friends -- and it is wise never to go ice-fishing alone -- one power auger for the group is plenty.

Very new to the market are electric power augers that may be attached to rechargeable drills. These are the ultimate in lightweight gear. They eliminate the odor of two-cycle motor fumes, and they are relatively quiet. If you already have the drill, this is a very inexpensive route to a gas auger -- about $30. Two-handed, 18-volt drills work best. The downside is that battery life is limited in cold weather.

REASONABLE GEAR OPTIONS
There are only so many things you can do when fishing vertically through a hole in the ice, so don't be tempted to get overly fancy with gear. All the fishing gear you really need is your legal limit of jigging rods or tip-ups, plus the proper terminal tackle and comfort items.

When choosing jigging rods, consider how often you may use them inside an ice shelter, in which case they should be very short. If you fish without a shelter, rods can be any length within reason, although there is no big advantage to using longer rods simply because no distance casting is involved.

The one minor advantage to a long rod is when fighting big fish through thick ice. A long rod can be stuck down the hole to prevent the line from fraying on the ice.

Rod material can be important if you fish inside a shelter or on warmer days when there is no need to wear gloves. Fish often hit very lightly during winter, so rod sensitivity can mean the difference between slim pickings and a great catch. You may not feel light hits while wearing gloves, even with the finest graphite rod money can buy. The sensible solution here is to use a spring bobber.

If you fish without a shelter, your jigging rods should have a minimal number of larger-diameter guides to minimize icing. If you're fishing inside a warm shelter, this is not important.

Ice-anglers generally use tough, inexpensive reels because the demands on them are not as great as might be the case during open-water seasons. However, a good drag is just as important in winter as it is at any other time.