What Do You Know About Ice Fishing?

When ice fishing, it's important to have _____.

An ice shelter

Portable heater

Both

To start, you're going to need to find a way to get warm. Ice shelters and portable heaters are a must.

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Do ice fishers always release their catch?

Yes

No

Some ice fishers release their catch, and others don't. There's nothing like cooking up your crappie or perch at the end of the day.

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When starting out, seek ____.

Small bodies of water

A great place to find fish is in small bodies of water. That means finding your local bays, harbors, backwaters and channels off of larger bodies of water.

Large bodies of water

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Early in the season, look for _____ waters.

Shallow

Early in the season, it's smart to seek out shallow waters. These are the areas that freeze first, and many fish congregate here.

Deep

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A cardinal rule is to ______.

Congregate with others

Drive other anglers out

Give other anglers their space

Don't crowd other anglers. This is one of the cardinal rules of ice fishing.

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Ice fishers are ______.

Friendly

Although you don't want to crown other anglers, keep in mind that ice fishers are friendly. Never be afraid to ask for advice or tips.

Unkind

Loners

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Popular ice-fishing areas are often _____.

Risky

Safe

If you see a lot of ice fishers, it's a good thing. The most popular fishing spots are the safest. There's safety in numbers!

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Never fish where you see _____.

Slush

Soft ice

Either

Slush and soft ice are bad signs for an ice angler. You want to sit on top of the ice, and you don't want to swim with the fish.

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Ice rods are ______ .

The same as other rods

Quite large

Quite small

Ice rods kind of look like munchkin rods. They tend to be really small, at 24-28 inches in size.

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_____ rods are gaining popularity.

Smaller

Stiffer

Longer

Longer rods are beginning to gain popularity. These rods allow you to situate yourself farther away from the hole, so as to not scare away the fish.

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Ice rods tend to be quite _____.

Heavy

Light

Ice rods are very lightweight. They're also less expensive than open water reels.

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Ice fishers prefer to catch _____.

Bluegill

Crappie

Redear sunfish

All of the above

These are all popular fish for ice anglers to catch. Perch is another primary prey of the ice fisher.

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There's a growing trend for _____.

Straight line reels

There's a growing trend towards straight line reels, which resemble fly fishing reels. These straight line reels make catching the most popular ice fish even easier.

Baitcasting reels

Conventional reels

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Ice anglers cut holes in the ice using _____.

Hammers

Augers

Ice augers are the tools used to cut holes in the ice. Those with "lazer" blades cut through more ice than conventional blades.

Picks

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Ice augers come in ______.

Different sizes

Ice augers are available in different sizes. These will help you to cut holes ranging from four inches to eight inches and larger.

One size

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Augers may be powered by _____.

Gasoline

Battery

Both

There are both gasoline and battery-powered augers. These make cutting into the ice easier and more efficient than ever.

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It's not uncommon for ice fishers to use their buckets as ______.

Stoves

Seats

Think of your bucket as a versatile tool. You can use it to carry supplies to the ice, and then it also makes a comfortable seat.

Drums

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In terms of holding your rod, which strategy is best?

Always do it by hand

Have your buddy hold it for you

Get a rod holder

It's smart to get a sturdy rod holder for your rod. Because you're sitting for a great deal of time, it becomes tiresome to have to hold onto the thing.

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To remove hooks from fish, be sure to have ______.

A wrench

Wire cutters

Pliers

Two handy tools for ice fishers are needle-nose pliers and small forceps. These help to remove the hooks from the fish, and they also help you to secure split shot to your line.

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Cold water fishing requires _____.

A light line

Small baits

Both

The nature of cold water fishing requires light lines and small baits. Ice anglers tend to use 4-, 3- or 2-pound lines.

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Which is true about ice fish?

They put up a tough fight.

They like to be caught.

They are sluggish.

Ice fish tend to be a bit sluggish, and they won't put up a hard fight. Warm water fish are going to give you a run for your money.

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Be sure to select _____ weights.

Heavy

Brightly-colored

Split shot

Split shot weights are the smartest choice for ice fishers. These come in various sizes, and they help to get your baited hooks down quickly.

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When using small baits, choose _____ hooks.

Small

As a rule of thumb, when using small baits, use small hooks, as well. #8 to #14 work really well with small baits.

Large

Rigid

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To enhance your angling, use _____.

Depth sounders

Underwater cameras

Both

Both portable depth sounders and underwater cameras can enhance the ice angling experience. They've also become much more affordable in recent years.

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What device straddles the hole so you can fish hands-free?

Pop-up

Tip-up

A tip-up is a portable device that straddles the hole and tells you with a signal when a fish has been caught. These are great for larger fish like northern pike, bass and walleye.

Reel tilt

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Your fishing method is known as ______.

Execution

Presentation

Your fishing method or style is known as presentation. A jig presentation involves lifting and dropping the line in a series of enticing movements to lure a fish.

Perspective

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When it comes to bait and movement, fish prefer ______ each day.

Different approaches

The marvelous thing about ice fishing is that on any given day, you don't know what the fish are biting. That means that you have to get a feel for what's working each day.

The same approach

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When it comes to spoons and jigs, select _____.

Chrome

Gold

A rainbow of colors

When it comes to spoons and jigs, you're going to want to have a variety of colors. That includes chrome and gold, as well as black, white, orange, yellow and chartreuse.

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Where is the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza?

Canada

Minnesota

The famous Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza takes place on Gull Lake in the area of Brainerd, Minnesota. It draws thousands of people each year.

Alaska

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Do you need a fishing license to ice fish?

Yes

You do require a fishing license in order to ice fish. Costs and regulations will vary from state to state.

No

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Do you cast an ice fishing rod?

Yes

No

There's no need to cast an ice fishing rod. That's why they're so small. You simply drop them in the hole.

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As an ice fisher, it's essential to have _____.

A sled

Most ice fishermen will have sleds. These help to haul heavier gear, coolers, and most importantly, beer. Oh, and the catch of the day.

A snowmobile

Cross-country ski equipment

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Should you drive on the ice?

Yes

No

It's not recommended that you drive on the ice. That being said, if you're going to do it, check the recommended ice thickness for your vehicle.

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The crackling noise of ice is ______ .

Okay

That scary, crackling sound of the ice is actually okay. In fact, you get used to it after a while. Ice is expanding and new ice is forming. Watch out for visible cracks in thin ice, though.

Bad

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What is the first part of your body that will get cold?

Head

Hands

Feet

You need to dress your whole body for the cold, but your feet are the most important. They're going to get cold the fastest because you're standing on the ice.

FINISH QUIZ

What Do You Know About Ice Fishing?

About This Quiz

About This Quiz