Fishing Tackle: How to Fish on the Ice?

Have you ever heard an old legend which called:” Lying Down on the Ice to Fetch Carp for His Stepmother”? This story still spreads abroad among Chinese people.

During the Jin Dynasty, a young boy named Wang Xiang lost his mother to illness. His father took another wife so that the boy would have maternal care. His stepmother, however, was a bad-tempered, evil-natured woman, who took a dislike to her stepson, and often berated him privately. Eventually, she managed to turn Wang Xiang’s father against the boy. Although the stepmother treated Wang Xiang Badly, he still tried his best to look after his stepmother.

One winter it was unusually cold, and the small creek nearby froze solid with ice. The stepmother was terribly ill, and the doctor told Wang Xiang that the best medicine is the fresh carp. But the river has already been frozen, how to find the fresh carp? Wang Xiang walked to the creek side to see what he could do, but he found that the ice is thick. Finally, an idea came to his mind: He took off his clothes and lay down on the ice, melted the ice by the heat of his body. Finally, the Nature was moved by Wang Xiang’s filial piety, and two carp suddenly leaped up out of the crack in the ice. And Wang Xiang’s stepmother was also moved by his behavior, she changed her attitude towards her stepson, and became a kind and caring person.

The story told us we should be a filial person. But I always thought: what if Wang Xiang knows how to fish on the ice?

Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with fishing line and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. And here are the main steps of it:

Step 1

The preparation before fishing is very important. First, you should get a fishing license. Then, you should check your fishing gears (you need gear to drill your hole, ensure your comfort, and catch your fish). Finally, bring some heavy coats, it is necessary keep warm when fishing. And you can also prepare a pair of ice cleats, it can help you get away from tumbling.

Step 2

When you find a suitable spot, what you need to do next is setting up your hole. Using your auger, place it perpendicular to the ice so that the tip is touching the surface. Push the auger down onto the ice and turn it clockwise until the blade begins to cut into the surface. Keep turning until the chunk of ice releases and you see the water below.

When you search the spot, please make sure that the ice is thick enough, or it will be very dangerous when drilling the hole.

Step 3

After drilling a hole, what you need to know is the depth of the water, then you can know how far to sink your line. Then, place the bait at the end of the lure, and put the line into the hole. When the fish bites, reel your line in or lift your line out of the hole, lifting the fish along with it.

I have to say, ice fishing is an exciting but dangerous activity, a sense of self-protection is very necessary for people. Be responsible for yourself, then you can enjoy the real joy of ice fishing.