By Louie Stout

Technology Giving More People a Reason to Ice Fish

Ice hasn’t formed safely on Michiana waters but ice fishing sales remain brisk for local retailers who cater to the hard-water crowd.

Ice fishing participation has grown steadily over the past few years. That growth encompasses all age groups and now includes more women and families.

Technological advances in equipment, clothing and electronics have made the sport more tolerable if not enjoyable. Staying warm is no longer an issue if you’re willing to spend the bucks on cold weather clothing and insulated portable shanties.

And people are.

“I had a middle-aged guy in here the other day who decided to take up ice fishing,” said Darren Schaap of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg. “He walked out with a $500 cold-weather suit, a couple of rod and reel combos for $100, a $200 auger and another $100 in basic terminal tackle and accessories.”

Not long ago, $15 to $20 would buy you a bucket to sit on, a couple of cheap rods, tin of tiny maggots and a handful of terminal tackle. That’s all you needed to catch fish through the ice.

If you could tolerate the weather.

When today’s lightweight shanties aren’t popped up, they serve as gear totes. Space-age insulated winter suits and quality boots enable anglers sit out there all day in bitter cold and be comfortable.

“Technology makes it easier to go, more enjoyable and you simply catch more fish,” said Schaap.

Portable electronics have played a huge role in angler interest and success. Prior to electronics inclusion in winter fishing, an angler had to rely on previous experiences to “guess” the water depth and where the fish might be.

That’s not the case today. Even the most basic fish finder not only will reveal the water depth and fish location, but you can literally watch the fish take the bait on the electronic screen.

“Most anglers will drill multiple holes and check each one to see if – and how many – fish are in that area before dropping a line in the water,” said Schaap who sells an average of 50 units each year. “It not only saves time but makes the day more productive.”

Portable electronics start around $300 while more expensive units offer mapping and GPS capabilities. Some will even scan the area around the hole to help anglers pinpoint fish location even better.

If a sophisticated fish finder doesn’t satisfy an angler’s techie needs, he can add an underwater camera. A small, waterproof camera attached to a cable connected to a small screen allows an angler to look around beneath the ice and even witness fish sucking in his lure or bait.

“The camera has become quite popular with our anglers,” said Jim Housman of the Tackle Box in North Webster, Ind. “The prices are coming down and there are some really nice ones out there. Plus, you can use them in the summertime, too.”

Lithium, battery-powered augers eliminate the grind of manually chipping out a hole through the ice.

All of this has led to more families taking up the sport. In addition to the technological improvements that make winter fishing more comfortable, families are looking for ways to get their kids outdoors, said Schaap.

“You don’t need boat to go out and catch a nice mess of panfish,” he said. “You can fish anywhere on the lake when ice conditions are safe.”

While modern day ice gear certainly can make the experience enjoyable, you can keep it simple.

“You can get as involved as you want,” said Schaap. “You can spend as little as $30-$40 and still catch fish. Is it better to have the battery-powered drill and fish finder? Yes. It will save you time and effort. But you don’t have to be an expert to catch fish.”

Of course, the big draw is the abundant panfish populations found in nearly every Michiana lake. There’s not a better tasting fish than bluegill, crappies, and perch caught during the wintertime.

However, because Michiana ice fishing is unpredictable and often short-lived, it’s best to purchase ice fishing items – especially the big ticket ones – early. Retailers are reluctant to overstock expensive seasonal items.

“We sell the majority of our ice tackle before the season even begins,” said Darren Schaap of Clear H2o Tackle in Edwardsburg. “If we have a hard winter sales will be steady, but where we live, there’s never a guarantee there will be good ice for any period of time.”

Jim Housman at the Tackle Box in North Webster said last year wasn’t a good year for ice fishing but his shop still sold out of most of the big ticket items.

“Anglers have learned that once a tackle shop runs out, we can’t get any more,” he said. “It’s a short buying season, so if you want it, you better buy early.”