Hot New Ice Fishing Gear

Editors note: this is the first article by new WildIndiana contributor Trent Marsh

The ice has been slow to form this year, but northern lakes have locked up in the last week and some sustained cold looks to keep fisherman on the ice for the time being. If you’ve been putting off any new ice fishing gear purchases, now is the time. Here are a few items that should be on every ice angler’s wish list.

Clam Corp: www.clamoutdoors.com

Ice Team Pro Rods

The Godfather of ice fishing himself designed the bluegill Ice Team Pro Rod around everything he had ever wanted in a dedicated panfish setup. The 26” light action rod has been designed to focus on rigidity and sensitivity, while still delivering the touch of a light action rod. Genz has preached for years to “fish the cadence.” Focus on the jigging action of the lure, know what that feels like, and when something changes set the hook. That’s your bite. The Ice Team Pro Rod from Clam allows the angler to do that perhaps better than ever.

Maki Mino and Maki Jamei

There’s nothing more frustrating that spending more time on the ice messing with bait than actually fishing. Wasting money on bait that dies, freezing fingers from dipping them in bait buckets all day, it’s frustrating. Stay more active on the ice, and spend more time with the lure in the strike zone by using finesse plastics from Clam. Now available in up to 2” sizes and six colors, the Maki Mino provides a more durable lure, meaning less time switching bait and more time fishing. Because the plastics don’t freeze there is no worry about presenting a dead bait to the fish. The plastics always present a vital and lifelike prey action.

Frabill: www.frabill.com

Citadel 3405

The Citadel 3405 shelter uses the new SideStep entry from Frabill. Rather than having the entry and exit door at the front of an angular nose, the Citadel employs a vertical nose, meaning more vertical hook setting space, and because the door is located closer to the angler, fishable space is increased and tripping over gear like flashers, heaters, or poles is a thing of the past. With more than 28 square feet of fishable space, and the combo-case bench seating and storage system, the Citadel 3405 makes time in the ice more comfortable and productive.

I-3 Jacket and Bib

Waterproof and windproof the 300 denier shell is 100% seam sealed to keep the ice angler warm and dry in the most brutal winter conditions. Using 500 denier reinforced cuffs and knees, high-wear areas of the suit are protected to provide years of use. With safety always a priority for ice anglers, the I-3 suit has features such as pick holsters and drainage mesh. Knee and seat padding, along with zippered vents for temperature regulation mean time in the ice is as comfortable as it is safe.

Akara: www.akarafishing.com

The new Grizzly line of palm rods from Akara are simple in their design, but offer a level of finesse often called for on the ice, especially as winter drags on. The fiberglass whip has no eyelets for the line. The internal spool housing the line has a single guide hole for the line which runs to a spring bobber chosen by the angler to match the jig being used. The goal is for the spring bobber to hang at a 45-degree angle when the jig is deployed. Measuring just under 9.5” long, the palm rod may seem undersized, but when tight-lipped panfish get particular, the direct contact of spool, spring, and jig can be the difference between a pile of gills on the ice, or delivery pizza for dinner.