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| Maine Lore
Dwayne Rioux |
With the official ice fishing season hopefully just weeks away, most winter anglers are looking ahead to another season. Receiving the latest in ice fishing equipment on Christmas morning is always a traditional eye-opener for most ice fishermen, including myself. Here's a list of ideas to help you along.
Most winter anglers would really appreciate finding a complete set of five ice-fishing traps (tip-ups), fixed with low-stretch braided line and monofilament leaders under the Christmas tree this season. Depending on brand name and materials used, custom-made ice fishing traps vary in price ranging from $5-$28 each. I for one, like most ice fishermen, prefer sturdy "underwater" style ice fishing traps made of hardwood, coil-spring loaded flags and large reels which can hold several hundred yards of fishing line. Some traps offer adjustable reel-drag-systems and come in assorted lengths to compensate for thick ice and deep snow conditions. Leading contenders in top-of-the-line ice fishing traps are Jack Traps, Heritage, Trip & Spin, and Thompson and with little season maintenance and proper seasonal care, any of the traps listed above should last a lifetime. In Maine, ice fishermen can fish with five lines in most lakes and ponds, but a number of waters are restricted to fishing with two lines, especially lakes and ponds which support landlocked salmon and trout. Anglers are advised to check a Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ice fishing regulations booklet for special laws season dates, bag limits, length limits and ice fishing trap regulations before venturing out on any lake and pond. Woven pac-baskets and basket-liners, that completely enclose a pac-basket from the elements, are great gifts ideas. Pac-baskets usually come complete with shoulder straps and vary in sizes ranging from 12 to 24 inches in height. Prices for most hand-crafted pac-baskets run between $22-$40. Basket-liners, come with drawstring tops and vary in length. Depending on options (some come with large zippered pockets) well-made basket-liners cost between $25-$40. Power augers are definitely big ticket items, but a necessity when it come to ice fishing. When properly maintained, tuned, and augers blades sharpened, most quality-built augers last for years. Two of the more popular brand-names in power augers are Eskimo or Jiffy, both costing between $300-$400, depending on engine and auger size. Augers bits come in 8-, 9- or 10-inch diameters, with the latter the most popular with ice fishermen hunting for 20-pound class northern pike. Spare auger blades are just under $20, and make a great stocking stuffer. Bringing a power auger to a reputable small engine mechanic for a seasonal tune-up or its ice-cutting blades sharpened is one thoughtful gift idea most ice fishermen really appreciate. Two relatively new ice fishing lures, the Air-Plane and Sting'r Jigs, will be making the news this season, with both lures proven killers for togue and northern pike. The lures come in a number of brilliant chartreuse colors and weight-sizes and cost just under $5. Sebgao lake region ice fishermen swear by them and so will you after hooking into a trophy fish. Ice skimmers to remove ice chips from fishing holes and a sounder, a heavy weight needed to locate and judge how deep to set a minnow bait off the bottom make great stocking stuffers. Bait buckets are a necessity, especially one those that come equipped with a padded cushion seat. Add in a small dip-net to catch live minnows with, instead of your hands, and you're set for a days fishing. Other great stocking stuffers include disposable hand, foot, and body warmers, which when activated generate warming 150 degree temperatures for up to eight hours. The small tea bag size throw-away heat source generally cost just over a $1 and can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. Ice fishing from a portable one-and two-man ice fishing shelter is always a bonus, but can be expensive for those on a limited budget. Most sporting goods stores carry portable shelters ranging from $100-$300 in price. A small portable catalytic heater which runs up to eight hours on a single 16-ounce disposable propane cylinder will heat an average ice shanty warm as toast, depending on how many BTUs it produces. Coleman and Paulin, are two more popular brands, and generate 3,000 to 15,000 BTUs, depending on size. Plan on paying between $40 to $100 for a good heater. Ice creepers or cleats are always nice to have on, whether out ice fishing or walking down a slippery roadway. Ice-grippers range from $5-$35, with the latter made from rubberized work boot soles, fixed with sheet metal screw heads for non-slip gripping power. The heavy-duty gripperslace up with two Velcro-straps and slip on and off like slippers. Need a lightweight sled to transport your fishing equipment out onto the ice? Try looking into purchasing a plastic Sno-Jet sled this season. The heavy-duty tub-styled sled comes in several different lengths, including the more popular six-foot sled and is more than capable of transporting tons of gear with ease. Prices vary depending on each model. Last season, I purchased the six-foot sled for $80, and it was worth every penny. Snowshoes have been hotter than a roaring fire, with snowshoeing fast becoming one of Maine's more popular winter sports for people of all ages. Wood, aluminum and poycarbonate snowshoes are manufactured in various frame shapes and binding sizes for walking, day hiking or lagging behind an old rabbit hound scenting a fresh snowshoe hare track. Snowshoes vary is price, but those ranging between $100-$150 should work just fine. To help keep steady and in step along the trail, add a set of lightweight, collapsible ski poles to a snowshoe outfit for around $70. Remember, all 2001 hunting and fishing licenses expire Dec. 31. Most sportsmen would be more than happy to receive a new 2002 license during the holidays. Dwayne Rioux, a master Registered Maine Guide, is the Morning Sentinel's and Kennebec Journal's outdoors writer. He can be reached by e-mail at outdoors@centralmaine.com or by calling 861-9287.
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