Hello, and welcome to Ice Fishing for Beginners with MassWildlife. My name is Jim Legacy. I’m MassWildlife’s angler education coordinator, and I’ll be your host for this virtual walkthrough on ice fishing.
Have you ever been curious about ice fishing, about getting out and fishing through the ice on the hard water in the winter? Short of getting out and having someone show you, this should give you the confidence to give it a try. The best part about this is that it will live on our website, so you can view it as many times as you need to. So let’s get into it.
What we’ll cover is why ice fish, why you would want to go out and spend time on the ice in the winter, learning to be comfortable on the ice, and that means being safe and knowing how to test the ice, dressing for warmth and comfort, and a bit about ice fishing regulations. Ice fishing is one of the niches within the fishing pastimes, and it has a handful of its own regulations. We’ll cover, obviously, all the essential ice fishing gear. The two most important things you need to have are tip-ups and jig sticks to fish through the ice. We’ll cover those in depth, and then we’ll give you some further tips for success.
So why ice fish? Why would you want to get out and ice fish? Well, the most important thing is because it’s fun. Why would you do anything unless it’s fun, right, other than work? For me, this is my work, but ice fishing is great fun, particularly when done with families and friends. It’s one of the more group activities in terms of fishing. Any type of fishing can be a group activity, but you typically see a lot of people out ice fishing in groups, having a blast out on the ice. So that’s the most important reason to give it a shot, because it is fun.
You never know what you’re going to catch. I always get asked, why would you fish through the ice? The fish aren’t biting. What do you catch? You can catch everything that you can catch during the open water season through the ice with just a little bit of knowledge. The good part is, because there are no visual clues since you’re over the ice, a lot of times you don’t know what you’re going to catch when that flag goes off or when that rod bends. So it’s really that curiosity factor, especially for people that are just starting, that makes it that much more wonderful.
It’s also about what’s for dinner. A lot of people are motivated to fish by catching fish and eating them, and fish taste better through the ice in the winter. It’s hard to explain, but I can tell you firsthand. I love catching these little guys here, these yellow perch, and they’re absolutely delicious caught through the ice in the winter. There’s a variety of other species too. Anything that you can catch and enjoy eating during freshwater open-water times, you can catch during the winter.
It’s also great exercise. There’s all kinds of new research that shows you need to stress your body periodically, and periodically for me is a few times a week. You’re definitely going to do that when you’re out braving the cold, exercising in that fresh air, getting that good vitamin D from the sun. So it is wonderful exercise, and it’s a good healthy stressor to the system, so don’t overlook that aspect.
It’s great for families, especially with young folks. Anyone, obviously, but young people just find it that much more interesting. We do a handful of in-person ice fishing events every year, and it’s a very short season, so we can’t be everywhere. That’s another good reason this tutorial will be valuable to you. Families are what it’s all about, and children seeing their reaction to the flag going off or a fish coming out onto the ice is absolutely priceless.
Perhaps my other biggest factor is that it’s like a tailgate party on the ice. You can make a whole day of it. You can do the minimalist thing, absolutely. I have friends that do, and I’ve occasionally done it myself, where I just break away for a couple hours, bring my jig stick, and keep it really lean. But most times, you’re making a day of it. You’re eating breakfast, eating lunch, cooking, maybe skating, throwing a football around, sledding if there are hills nearby. It’s just a wonderful activity to make a full day of, like a big old tailgate party on the ice.
Before you do any of that, though, before you go out and invest in your gear or try it, you need to know how to be comfortable on the ice. There’s no more important factor when you’re walking on hard water in the winter than gaining that confidence. To learn how to be comfortable on the ice, like this young lady here who has learned to be comfortable and now enjoys it as one of her favorite winter pastimes, you need to start by being safe.
We always advocate wearing a life jacket or PFD. It may sound a little silly to wear that over your winter clothing, but it gives you more confidence if the worst happens and you go in. If you follow the tutorials coming up, that shouldn’t happen, but if it does, you’ll stay afloat, be able to stay calm, and get yourself out of the ice. A length of rope is also important, especially if you’re fishing with a group, so someone can help pull you out if needed.
If the ice is slick, wear safety spikes. They come in many varieties and price ranges, but they help you grip the ice. Walking on slick glare ice with all your gear can be challenging, and these spikes make it much easier. Bring a chisel or auger to test the ice yourself, and pack an extra set of dry clothes.
How thick does the ice have to be to be safe? This is based on clear blue or black ice, which is the strongest. Two inches or less is unsafe, and even four inches can feel thin. We often recommend six inches for programs to ensure people feel comfortable. Generally, four inches is considered safe for a small group, and thicker ice allows heavier loads.
In southern New England, you don’t often get perfect black ice. Instead, you get milky white ice due to freeze-thaw cycles and precipitation, so always err on the side of caution. If you want more confidence, go to areas with colder, more consistent winters, like northern New England or the Berkshires, and wait until late January or February when ice can reach one to two feet thick.
It’s not going to be as simple as arriving at a water body and seeing a sign that says safe or unsafe. There’s no number to call or website to consult, so you have to be your own advocate for safety. The most important thing about ice fishing is being safe and confident in your ability to be safe.
You should always carry safety equipment like a PFD, ice spikes, and a rope. The most important skill, however, is testing the ice. Start at the shoreline, check the ice by applying pressure, and gradually move out. Drill a hole and measure the thickness using a skimmer or similar tool. Always test multiple locations because ice thickness varies. Ice forms first near the shore and later toward the middle, and it also melts from the shore inward late in the season.
You may hear cracking or booming sounds while on the ice. In cold conditions, this is usually a good sign, meaning the ice is expanding and getting thicker. However, during thawing conditions, those sounds can indicate weakening ice. Always use common sense and pay attention to how the ice feels beneath you.
Stay off early ice after just a few days of freezing temperatures, and avoid rivers and streams in southern New England. Watch for soft, slushy, honeycomb-like ice later in the season, and always test the ice in multiple locations. Be cautious near shorelines, especially on the northern edge of a pond where sunlight can weaken the ice more quickly. Avoid inlets and outlets where water movement can make the ice thinner.
Dressing properly is essential. There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing. Use a moisture-wicking base layer, add insulating layers, and finish with a wind-resistant outer layer. Avoid cotton, as it retains moisture and can make you cold once you stop moving. Protect your extremities with gloves, warm boots, and head and face coverings. Use traction devices if the ice is slick, and wear eye protection like polarized sunglasses to reduce glare from snow and ice.
Ice fishing follows general fishing regulations, including size and catch limits, but it also has specific rules. In Massachusetts, you need a fishing license if you are 15 years or older. You can have up to five devices, such as tip-ups or rods, in the water at one time. Each device must be actively managed by the person using it. You cannot leave your gear unattended or count someone else toward your limit unless they are actively participating and managing their own equipment.
To ice fish, you need a way to cut through the ice, such as a chisel, hand auger, gas-powered auger, or drill-powered auger. Each has its pros and cons, but all serve the same purpose. You’ll also need tip-ups and jig sticks to catch fish, along with tools like a sled for transporting gear, a bait container, an ice scoop, and a sounding weight. Additional comfort items, such as heaters, shelters, and food supplies, can make the experience more enjoyable.
A tip-up is a simple device used to catch fish through the ice. It consists of a spool of line, a hook, and a flag that signals when a fish bites. To set it up, you drill a hole, measure the depth using a sounding weight, and adjust your line so the bait sits just above the bottom. After baiting the hook, you lower it into the water and set the flag mechanism. When a fish bites, the flag pops up, signaling you to check the line and pull in the fish by hand.
Jigging is another technique that uses a short rod and lure. You drop the lure to the bottom and move it up and down in a rhythmic motion to attract fish. Fish tend to stay near the bottom in winter because the water is slightly warmer there, but they may move higher in the water column depending on oxygen levels and food availability. If you’re not getting bites, move to another hole and keep trying different depths and movements.
To improve your success, use mapping tools like the Go Fish MA app to find good fishing locations and understand water depth. Start fishing near the bottom and adjust as needed. Spread out your holes to avoid tangling lines, and use smaller bait to increase your chances of catching fish. Keep your bait lively and move your setup if you’re not getting bites. Ice fishing is about adapting, observing, and enjoying the experience.