Has Ice fishing declined?

[akaShag]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:22 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

How much is your load out usually?

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Are you asking me this question?  If yes, I do not understand your term load out.

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:30 AM, akaShag said:

Are you asking me this question?  If yes, I do not understand your term load out.

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I'm sorry. I was asking roughly how heavey is all of your equipment for your to haul when ice fishing.

[akaShag]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:39 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

I'm sorry. I was asking roughly how heavey is all of your equipment for your to haul when ice fishing.

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With the tent, Ion ice auger, sled, pack and gear, maybe forty five pounds.  Often, fishing with a buddy, one of us brings a shelter and the other brings an auger.  For back-country lakes I take a hand auger.  I am going for crappies tomorrow, no shelter, minimal gear but with the Ion, total weight probably 25 pounds.  HTH

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:43 AM, akaShag said:

With the tent, Ion ice auger, sled, pack and gear, maybe forty five pounds.  Often, fishing with a buddy, one of us brings a shelter and the other brings an auger.  For back-country lakes I take a hand auger.  I am going for crappies tomorrow, no shelter, minimal gear but with the Ion, total weight probably 25 pounds.  HTH

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I see, it's almost double the weight of the tent. I'm going to collect all the gears (tent, auger, sled, heater, etc) through out this summer and I'm about to find out if I'm capable to haul all of it the coming winter. 

[Orca]

  On 3/18/2025 at 1:05 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

I see, it's almost double the weight of the tent. I'm going to collect all the gears (tent, auger, sled, heater, etc) through out this summer and I'm about to find out if I'm capable to haul all of it the coming winter. 

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Started with a Pelican sleigh because it fit in the car.  Wasn't big enough.  What do do?  Decided to purchase a second one, and it fits into the first one, without taking more room except for a couple inches in height.

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/18/2025 at 12:45 PM, Orca said:

Started with a Pelican sleigh because it fit in the car.  Wasn't big enough.  What do do?  Decided to purchase a second one, and it fits into the first one, without taking more room except for a couple inches in height.

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Woah, great point! I wasn't even thinking about fitting in the car 0.0, what a mistake that would of be. Thx!

[pics]

I haven't been in years due to poor ice conditions. This year my focus has been on other things like making sure my mother has enough firewood and working on the house. Motivation has been low either way.. I'm an hour and a half from long point bay and digging out my equipment seems like too much work..

[akaShag]

  On 3/18/2025 at 1:05 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

I see, it's almost double the weight of the tent. I'm going to collect all the gears (tent, auger, sled, heater, etc) through out this summer and I'm about to find out if I'm capable to haul all of it the coming winter. 

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An ice angler does not NEED all that much gear.  A pail to sit on and carry ice rigs and lures (and fish being brought home!), a spud or manual auger, and warm clothing will suffice.  I have been ice fishing for a very long time (over 50 years) and have rarely used a shelter.  When I hit some of the back lakes, I take a minimum of equipment in a small sled, and a manual auger.  No tent, no heater, no power auger, no graph, and I catch fish just fine thanks.  Sure, the extra bits make life more comfortable and a graph is a great thing for some fishing, but you don't NEED them.  Just sayin'....

Doug

[glen]

Makes you wonder what people did before all the gear was invented.  lol.  

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/18/2025 at 11:47 PM, akaShag said:

An ice angler does not NEED all that much gear.  A pail to sit on and carry ice rigs and lures (and fish being brought home!), a spud or manual auger, and warm clothing will suffice.  I have been ice fishing for a very long time (over 50 years) and have rarely used a shelter.  When I hit some of the back lakes, I take a minimum of equipment in a small sled, and a manual auger.  No tent, no heater, no power auger, no graph, and I catch fish just fine thanks.  Sure, the extra bits make life more comfortable and a graph is a great thing for some fishing, but you don't NEED them.  Just sayin'....

Doug

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That's true. I think I watched way too much of commercial (Youtubers) and over think the matter. 

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/19/2025 at 12:28 AM, glen said:

Makes you wonder what people did before all the gear was invented.  lol.  

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Right! Thank you guys for cooling my head. 

[Orca]

  On 3/19/2025 at 12:28 AM, glen said:

Makes you wonder what people did before all the gear was invented.  lol.  

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We used heavy canvas tarps supported by 3 lodge poles sourced near our destination to keep outta the wind.

[Reelpro]

  On 3/18/2025 at 11:47 PM, akaShag said:

An ice angler does not NEED all that much gear.  A pail to sit on and carry ice rigs and lures (and fish being brought home!), a spud or manual auger, and warm clothing will suffice.  I have been ice fishing for a very long time (over 50 years) and have rarely used a shelter.  When I hit some of the back lakes, I take a minimum of equipment in a small sled, and a manual auger.  No tent, no heater, no power auger, no graph, and I catch fish just fine thanks.  Sure, the extra bits make life more comfortable and a graph is a great thing for some fishing, but you don't NEED them.  Just sayin'....

Doug

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Your right an ice angler does not need all that much gear - but it sure can be fun running and gunning,  on the Reelpro Ice fishing Sled at 80 mph 

[AKRISONER]

  On 3/19/2025 at 12:28 AM, glen said:

Makes you wonder what people did before all the gear was invented.  lol.  

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caught just as many fish, because the lakes were teaming with fish and were unpressured. 

[pics]

Long point fishing is similar to lake simcoe in that it's a long walk from shore and if you get cold it's a long walk back. Plus, half the fun is when you are sight fishing which means you need a hut.. with that comes a machine to pull it .. when I was younger, I would pull a small sled and it wasn't a problem to go 40 minutes.. my limit now is 10 or 15 minutes.

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/21/2025 at 11:34 AM, pics said:

Long point fishing is similar to lake simcoe in that it's a long walk from shore and if you get cold it's a long walk back. Plus, half the fun is when you are sight fishing which means you need a hut.. with that comes a machine to pull it .. when I was younger, I would pull a small sled and it wasn't a problem to go 40 minutes.. my limit now is 10 or 15 minutes.

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It is crazy as it sounds, just last night I was watching ice fishing videos at Long point and now you are mentioning it. The walk is daunting, but it is still a great place to fish if I manage the walk. 

[akaShag]

  On 3/21/2025 at 11:34 AM, pics said:

half the fun is when you are sight fishing which means you need a hut..

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Big time!  This is the only reason I fish from a hut a lot of the time....

[pics]

  On 3/21/2025 at 1:07 PM, waterfrontdinning said:

It is crazy as it sounds, just last night I was watching ice fishing videos at Long point and now you are mentioning it. The walk is daunting, but it is still a great place to fish if I manage the walk. 

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Its a great fishing spot but when you have to park up the hill in st Williams, it can be a pain in the ass to drag your sled down the pavement to the lake.. Collins is good and they have a shuttle but it costs $15 for each person for parking and access.. 

[waterfrontdinning]

  On 3/21/2025 at 2:57 PM, pics said:

Its a great fishing spot but when you have to park up the hill in st Williams, it can be a pain in the ass to drag your sled down the pavement to the lake.. Collins is good and they have a shuttle but it costs $15 for each person for parking and access.. 

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Uh....I rather walk tripled of that distance on ice, and not to mention the return. Does the shuttle take you out on the ice?

[misfish]

I was out 5 x,s before the deep snow. I walk and my knees will not allow me to walk through that mess we had,as short of a walk it is . Past 2 season were,warm temps,sketchy ice,this season,good ice,way to much snow and slush . Am I giving up,hell no, there is always next season.

As for my equipment when heading out well, KISS . A good push smitty,pop up hut,heater,3 bottles of heater fuel ( I LIKE TO STRIP DOWN )  Auger, finder and 2 sticks. Pocket radio and thermos of java.

[AKRISONER]

  On 3/21/2025 at 6:54 PM, misfish said:

A good push smitty,pop up hut,heater,3 bottles of heater fuel ( I LIKE TO STRIP DOWN )  Auger, finder and 2 sticks. Pocket radio and thermos of java.

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as we get older, our list has expanded to include some very important items

-barbecue

-marinated pork loins

- naan

-home made tzaziki

-greek salad

[misfish]

  On 3/21/2025 at 8:22 PM, AKRISONER said:

as we get older, our list has expanded to include some very important items

-barbecue

-marinated pork loins

- naan

-home made tzaziki

-greek salad

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All enjoyed in the confines of home lol

[Orca]

  On 3/21/2025 at 6:54 PM, misfish said:

I was out 5 x,s before the deep snow. I walk and my knees will not allow me to walk through that mess we had,as short of a walk it is . Past 2 season were,warm temps,sketchy ice,this season,good ice,way to much snow and slush . Am I giving up,hell no, there is always next season.

As for my equipment when heading out well, KISS . A good push smitty,pop up hut,heater,3 bottles of heater fuel ( I LIKE TO STRIP DOWN )  Auger, finder and 2 sticks. Pocket radio and thermos of java.

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And the minnows!

[limeyangler]

Took this picture on my way trout fishing mid February, do I need a shelter and a heater? For me A BIG YES.
 

Do I need a fishfinder…no, do I need a power auger? With my arthritis another big yes. Do I need live scope… nah. Do I need a snowmachine and a quad, no…. But I wouldn’t get to 80% of the places I go. Life is short…make it as fun and comfortable as you can is my thinking.