By Dave Genz
That point of the year when I sit around in the evenings, thinking about ice fishing, has come. There’s a lot you can do to convert that mental energy into action, beyond trips to the tackle shop. It’s not a bad time to go through all of your new jigs with the jig-eye cleaner. Now is also a good time to be replacing the line on your ice fishing reels. I pay more attention to line diameter than pound test. I am looking for the thinnest diameter line I can find for the strength.
It’s also a good time to unearth all of those safety items you are going to need, especially if you head out during the early ice portion of the season. Get your cleats together, because early ice tends to be slippery. Make sure to locate your spud bar and gather up some emergency throw rope.
Genz, who is considered the godfather of the portable fishing shelter and founded Clam, has decades of ice fishing experience. Go to www.davegenz.com for more tips from Genz.