Take care of important ice-fishing prep now

Anglers waiting for ponds and lakes to freeze over don’t need to idly stand by. There’s plenty to do in the meantime.

Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, says taking care of some tasks now can prevent grief on the ice later. Here are some of his tips:

Fishing line – Ice-fishing for panfish typically requires lighter lines. Bauer recommends checking the line on your reels and replacing it frequently. “You probably need to replace them prior to every ice season and maybe even a time or two during the season,” he said.

Hooks – Bauer says sharp hooks are a critical part of ultra-light ice-fishing tackle. The sharper the hook, the easier it is to tip baits with wax worms or maggots. “With sharp hooks, those baits will be more natural – not all squished – and catch more fish,” he said.

Auger blades – Another item that must be kept sharp are ice auger blades. Check them now and sharpen or replace them, if needed. “Now is the time to do that, not when we have ice and you are wasting fishing time,” Bauer said.

Depth finder – Don’t forget to plug in your depth finder and see if the battery is holding a charge. The ice, again, is not the place to discover you need a new battery.

A couple other things to take care of are tackle and clothing. Go through your jig box and replace old favorites you are low on and pick up new ones. Get your ice-fishing clothing squared away. Check your boots and bibs. Make sure you have plenty of gloves and hand warmers. Bauer recommends a good pair of mittens.

Buy a 2024 Nebraska fishing permit at OutdoorNebraska.gov.