Brian Sticka’s Top Ice Fishing Picks
Explore Brian Sticka's expert selection of the best ice fishing gear and equipment for a successful and enjoyable ice fishing experience.
Wow! It's getting cold already and looking like we may get some good ice this year! Are you itching to get out for some winter fishing fun? Me too. I love fishing. That’s why I do it year-round. I love it so much, the folks at Fleet Farm hired me as their top fishing expert. My name’s Brian Sticka. I help fishing enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels find the equipment they need to improve their fishing experience. If you’re looking forward to putting out tip ups this year, I have some ice fishing gear that you might want to check out.
Clam Pro Thermal Kenai One-Man Ice House
I really like the Clam Kenai Series of Ice Houses, and with the predicted cold weather coming, the thermal shell helps keep me warm. I can also lift the entire Ice House with gear into my truck bed and I can even shut the trunk door so it does not slide out.
Most fishermen know to continue to catch fish, you need to keep moving to find them. This is a great house for moving around, so you can continue to look for and find those active fish. It has just enough room for my skimmer, auger, locator, rod/reel combos, lunch, tip ups, lures, and live bait if needed. It also has room for a pail of fish.
Eskimo Quickfish 6HD Pop-Up Portable Shelter
The Eskimo Quickfish 6HD pops up in just minutes and is a great Ice House for anyone that wants to get a group of fishermen together and use it as a base camp. It's also a great choice for the ever popular Ice or Winter camping, with plenty of space to set up a few cots and still have room to move around. I suggest using some of the ice house floor panels to build a dry area to keep everything from getting wet.
This unit has the Eskimo IQ quilted fabric to keep you warm, oversized no trip door, built in mesh pockets and removable windows for ventilation. Screw it down to the ice with the self-tapping ice anchors and get ready for a day or weekend of fun on the ice.
Otter Pro Sleds
Bringing your gear with you isn’t always easy. Drag an Otter Pro Sled behind your truck, snowmobile, or ATV to easily transport your heavy equipment to your fishing spot. Ice fishing can be rough on equipment. With different sizes and durable material, these sleds are ideal for your next ice fishing trip. I really like the smaller sleds for walking out early in the year and I also use them dragging out deer when deer hunting. Since these sleds can float, I also like using them to fill with duck and goose decoys when the boat is not big enough.
Ion Alpha Series Augers
Drilling holes for ice fishing can be a pain in the neck if you don’t have a hard-working auger. The ION Alpha Series Auger is lightweight and can cut through 3.4 inches of ice per second. It’s lightweight, it doesn’t need extra fuel so your truck doesn’t smell of gas all day, plus, it cuts through ice like a pro.
K-Drill Augers
The K-Drill Auger has a unique three-blade design that can chip through fresh ice and frozen ice holes in a flash. Its sturdy aluminum design offers thermal technology to keep your hands warm. These augers are quiet and effective, so you don’t spook the fish and can move from hole to hole with ease.
Humminbird Ice H9 MSI+ GPS G4N Mega Live Bundle
Tracking fish under the ice is a key advantage to your fishing success. This fish finder uses sonar technology so you can see where fish are below the ice. You can see how fish react to your jigging and see where you should move to have a better chance at a catch.
13 Fishing FreeFall Ghost Combo
If you’re looking for a new rod this winter, look no further than the 13 Fishing FreeFall Ghost Combo. This rod is one of my favorites for fishing and catching larger panfish. The straight-line presentation to the fish versus a curled line is more effective and more sensitive to the point you really don’t need a spring or traditional bobber. I truly believe we catch bigger fish because of this.
Clam Tikka Flash Crankbaits
The Tikka Flash is designed as a crank bait for ice fishing. Don’t be afraid to work this lure aggressively until you start marking some fish. These work for Perch, Bluegills, White Bass and Crappie. They can be fished bare or with bait on them. I like fishing the glow colors early in the morning, night time or on overcast days. The flash tail gets more biter's attention as the bait moves downward, or when you shake it. In an effort to “kill the bait”, the panfish seem to hit this one pretty hard.
Beaver Dam Exclusive Snot Rocket Pike Tip Up
When I am fishing for panfish, I love to run a few tip ups to catch the Northern Pike that are stealing my blue gill lures, or an occasional rod and reel combo when I am caught sleeping. Beaver Dam tip ups are a top choice with a smooth quality detection system that alerts you when you have a bite. However, they're very stealthy and smooth, so the fish do not drop your offering. Wrap them up and you can easily get a number of tip ups in a five-gallon bucket. You can either set the tip ups with sucker minnows, shiners, dead smelt, or try my favorite method - Even though I use a lot of sucker minnows and shiner, I like to try a cheap hot dog on a quick strike rig. Some of the Y-shaped quick strike rigs with two hooks work perfect out of the package to catch those toothy critters. The cheaper the hot dog, the better! My two biggest caught last year where on the hot dogs!
Rapala R12 Heavy Duty Lithium Filet Knife
Before you fry up your fish, you’re going to need a high-quality filet knife for the finest cuts. I recommend the Rapala R12 Heavy Duty Lithium Filet Knife. It’s battery-powered, can run for 80 minutes, and has an LED light for nighttime cleaning.
Engel 30-qt Live Bait Cooler w/ Net
Don’t forget to grab some bait before you go fishing. Keeping your bait lively while you fish can make a big difference between a good day and a bad day of fishing. I recommend the Engel 30-qt Live Bait Cooler for fishing trips when a lot of live bait is required. This bait cooler holds up to 30 quarts, or 7.5 gallons of water and weighs 11 pounds. I like to use minnows for fishing for northern pike with tip ups, and this cooler can hold a whole school of them for your next fishing trip.
Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX Heater
It’s okay to admit it. It can be a little chilly on the ice. That’s why you should pack a heater with you to keep you and your pals warm while you wait for the flags to go up. The Mr. Heater Buddy FLEX heater is great for heating enclosed areas in extreme winter temperatures. It has a 180-degree spread so everyone can keep warm, plus advanced safety systems to warn about low oxygen and a thermal shutdown system to keep you safe.
YakTrax Winter Traction Chains
Slipping on the ice is a real hazard when fishing. The YakTrax Winter Traction Chains can help prevent injuries on the ice with its ladder design for heel to toe traction. Its natural rubber sling remains elastic and secure in sub-zero temperatures. What used to be in the bottom of my ice bucket is now a requirement on the bottom of my ice boots. A fall running for tip ups or carrying an ice auger is dangerous at any age.
LaCrosse Boots
If you’re looking for another pair of winter boots, LaCrosse has a wide selection to choose from. Hailing from the Midwest since 1897, these boots are made with generations of experience making great footwear. A big reason to stop fishing is if your feet get cold. These quality boots keep your feet warm and help you catch fish by being able to fish longer. I also wear mine in the boat for fall and early spring fishing trips, so they have year-round value.
Striker Jackets and Bibs
You need to dress in layers while you’re fishing this winter. When fishing in subzero temperatures, I recommend Striker jackets and bibs. They’re designed to retain heat in the harshest conditions. More ice fishermen are catching on to the fact that a good ice suit is crucial to being able to travel to distant ice spots and be able to fight the elements longer.
These picks are essential for your next ice fishing excursion. I hope you and your fishing buddies have fun out there. You can find more ice fishing gear all in one stop at your local Fleet Farm or at FleetFarm.com.
