CLOTHING AND STUFF YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR PERSON Dress warm, dry, and in layers - Insulated wind-proof and water resistant - Hoodies are
nice Insulated water-proof boots - felt pack type or Mickey Mouse
are most popular Hat, facemask, or balaclava - a LOT of body
heat is lost through the head Baseball or other billed cap -
in case a heavy hat gets TOO warm Gloves and SPARE gloves - fingerless
wool for fishing are nice Scarf or neck protector - wind and/or
snow down the back of the neck is VERY CHILLING SUNGLASSES -
SNOW BLINDESS SUCKS!! Spare bag of clothes (including towel)
in car - JUST IN CASE you get wet Don't wear the boots you
will fish in driving to the spot (gives you spare DRY shoes or boots in car) Ice cleats (Creepers) or cleated boots - CONCUSSIONS SUCK!! Ice
picks - pieces of broom handles with nails will work as will old screwdriver One handed pocket knife - you should ALWAYS carry a pocketknife according to grandpa Whistle and a compass - WHITE OUTS REALLY SUCK!! Flashlight - L.E.D. headlamps work great IF FISHING
ALONE - Flotation Vest - PFD - you can wear one under your parka
 FISHING ACCESSORIES aside from rods, reels, Slammer Tip-Ups, and terminal tackle (Ice fishing depth finder, lures, hooks, leaders, line, split-shot, bobbers, and bobber stops etc ....) Hole scooper OR TWO - preferably metal Multi-tool w/ pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, hook sharpener etc. (Leatherman, Gerber, others) OR
pliers,
scissors, screwdrivers (phillips and slotted), hook sharpener Fishing
towel - to wipe off goo Jaw spreader and/or hook remover (depending
on species) Foam kneeling pad - Cardboard wrapped with duct
tape also works Rod holder or rod cradle (bucket mounted or
free-standing) - I prefer a Slammer Tip-Up for a free standing hook-setting open ice rod-holder, the little red Tackle Tamer
Rod-Holder for a bucket mounted in-shanty rod holder, and the Orangeville Hooker for a free-standing fold-up rod cradle DO NOT LAY YOUR ROD ON THE ICE!!!
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR ROD!! - IGNORANCE GETS
RODS SUCKED DOWN HOLES!!! Gaff - with TIP COVER!! Stringer - good idea to stringer female steelies under the ice to keep them from freezing Plastic bags - size according to fish species being kept - keeps the slime off the gear
 MORE FISHING ACCESSORIES - not always necessary, but things to consider
if you want to catch more and bigger fish Portable Depth
Finder - Strikemaster PolarVision and others - size of a flashlight Portable
Fish Finder - Flashers are awesome i.e. Vexilar and Marcum - LCD's will also work Underwater Camera - Aqua View is most popular with most models - Aqua Cam (from Menard's), Harbor Freight's
camera, and Homier's cameras also work fine and have a Sony camera Handheld
GPS - to find the hot-spot Lake Map - HotSpot fishing maps
are about the best Sled type flip-over shanty - Bring up again
- also good for sight fishing Artificial weeds - ReelWeeds,
other commercially available - fish tank supplies, hobby shops for make your own structure Hole Covers - Slamco lightweight, freeze-proof, folding, insulated, solar heated hole
cover - avoid foam as it could get frozen into your hole Wind-Jigging
devices - Slamco Wig-Jigger attaches to your Slammer Tip-Up Small
snow shovel - nice for clearing an area for your stuff in heavier snow and/or slush Snow brush - nice for dusting snow off accessories Longer
"stand up" rods for standing on the ice and fishing - good for moving from hole to hole while jigging - if you have
the room and aren't in a shanty, a 4 to 6 foot rod works FINE ON THE OPEN ICE Sitting on your ass in a shanty?? - use a short enough rod that's comfortable SWISH RODS - for deep water perch fishing - they are hard to beat - if you know someone who has some and doesn't
use and/or want them - BUY THEM!! Handicraft Industries is making them again!
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ICE CHECKING AND HOLE MAKING GEAR Spud bar or Ice Chisel - CHECK THE ICE!! Hand
Auger - Laser Augers work GREAT Spare Blades and tool for
the screws of your hand auger are a good idea Gas Power Auger
- DON'T RELY ON JUST A POWER AUGER!! (Dave's last year on PM Lake ....) Electric Ice drills - IceGator Power Head has VERY GOOD REVIEWS!! Auger Adaptor's for Cordless Drills - Minimum 18V GOOD drill - 6" diameter hole OR LESS - Ice Master
is best - has a collar and a strap that wraps around drill - most others (i.e. Nymrod) ARE A JOKE - loosens in drill chuck
and you lose your auger head to bottom of the lake Ice saw
- for cutting spearing holes - CHAIN SAWS ARE A BAD IDEA!!
TRANSPORT GEAR 5-Gallon bucket OR TWO - preferably with lid - also acts as a seat Plastic "milk" crates work nice as do plastic totes - lightweight, sturdy, and waterproof SOLID minnow bucket or old cooler for live minnows - styrofoam liner in a 5-gallon bucket
works fine - JUST a styrofoam bucket is NOT a good choice - battery operated aerators are nice too Soft or hard cooler for spawn - DON'T LET YOUR SPAWN FREEZE!!! Gear bag - keep your small itmes CONTAINED Ice Fishing Rod Case - DON'T HAVE YOUR RODS AND REELS IN A MESS!! Backpacks - work well for transporting gear High
walled sled - i.e. Shappel Jet Sled - Frabill, Otter, Viking Bungie
cords to secure your gear in the sled Sled cover, plastic
tarp, or even blanket to keep snow and slush off of gear in the sled Snomobiles,
ATV's, Utility Vehicles - WEAR YOUR HELMET !!! C.O. Chris Simpson will get you!!
COMFORT GEAR Snacks
- something to drink and munch on Propane or White Gas Heater
- style, size and type depending - HAVE ADDIQUATE VENTILATION!!! Gas
Lantern - for light and/or heat Lighters and Matches - a couple
disposable lighters and some waterproof matches Hand warmers
- different types (Jon-E lighter fluid, charcoal stick, Liquid-filled bag w/ metal disc, disposable) Toe Warmers - DISPOSABLE TOE WARMERS ARE A GOD SEND !!!! Mittens are warmer than gloves Hand muff that
wraps around your waist (with a hand warmer works great) Chair
- usually more comfortable than a bucket Portable Shanty -
sled flip-over Lodge style works great - other types i.e. Muskegon manufactured Viking, accordian style Alumatents (make your
own with plywood ends, canvas or plastic tarp middle and conduit pipe poles) NOTE: Muskegon Awning's Lodge was available BEFORE the Clam flip-over type portable shanty Permanent Shanties - Have to check on them almost every day
SAFETY GEAR - some good things to have handy in case someone falls in if you're away
from the public - a good idea to be fishing with a buddy or a group as well - 50'
- 100' Rope tied to a boat cushion OR a manufactured throw bag
- Snow shoes - weight
distribution for rescue
- Flares or flare gun
- Emergency
blanket
- Cell phone
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