Ice Fishing Starter Kit

Ice auger

Neem: 6"–8" hand auger (6" is easier to crank and plenty for perch and walleye)

Waarom het in de set zit: No hole, no fishing. A sharp hand auger cuts fast, weighs little, and never runs out of battery on a cold morning.

Budget: Basic 6" hand auger — ≈ $45–70

Upgrade: 8" hand auger with a spare blade set — ≈ $80–120

Rod & reel

Neem: 24"–28" light or medium-light ice spinning combo with a spring bobber

Waarom het in de set zit: Ice rods are short because you fish sitting right over the hole. The spring bobber shows the upward bites a stiff rod tip would never register.

Budget: Entry ice combo — ≈ $25–40

Upgrade: Graphite ice rod + smooth 500-size reel — ≈ $50–80

Ice line

Neem: 4–6 lb ice monofilament or fluorocarbon (not regular open-water line)

Waarom het in de set zit: Ice line stays supple and low-memory in the cold; summer mono coils like a spring at -10°C and buries your tiny jig's action.

Budget: Basic 4 lb ice mono — ≈ $6–9

Upgrade: Fluorocarbon ice line — ≈ $9–14

Jigs & spoons

Neem: Tungsten jig assortment (3–5 mm, glow colours) + 2–3 jigging spoons (1/8–1/4 oz)

Waarom het in de set zit: Tungsten sinks a tiny jig fast in deep water; glow paint works under snow-covered ice. Spoons call in walleye and pike from a distance.

Budget: One tungsten jig multi-pack + one spoon — ≈ $12–18

Upgrade: Full jig colour range + spoon set — ≈ $20–30

Tip-up

Neem: One classic frame tip-up + 20–30 lb tip-up line and a leader

Waarom het in de set zit: Set it with a minnow a few feet from your jigging hole: it fishes itself for pike and walleye while you work the jig. The flag does the bite detection.

Budget: Basic wooden-frame tip-up + line — ≈ $8–14

Upgrade: Insulated thermal tip-up (hole won't freeze over) — ≈ $15–25

Ice skimmer

Neem: Standard ice skimmer/scoop with a chisel end

Waarom het in de set zit: Your hole skins over with ice all day; the skimmer keeps it open and the chisel end reopens a frozen hole edge without the auger.

Budget: Basic skimmer — ≈ $5–8

Upgrade: Skimmer with folding handle + chipper — ≈ $8–12

Ice cleats

Neem: Strap-on ice cleats that fit your winter boots

Waarom het in de set zit: Glare ice is a skating rink. Cleats are the cheapest safety item in the kit — wear them from the shoreline out, every trip.

Budget: Basic strap-on cleats — ≈ $10–18

Upgrade: Heavy-duty multi-stud cleats — ≈ $18–30

Storage

Neem: Soft tackle bag with a small jig box, sized to ride on a sled or bucket

Waarom het in de set zit: Ice tackle is tiny and easy to lose in the snow. A compact bag keeps jigs, line and the skimmer in one place between trips.

Budget: Basic soft bag + jig box — ≈ $12–20

Upgrade: Insulated ice bag + waterproof jig case — ≈ $25–40