Safety (aka "How to avoid falling through the ice") | Basic Equipment | Regulations | Tips and Places to Go

Safety Tips

For anyone who is serious about fishing, Montana is at the top of the list of dream destinations. And even though most anglers only think of Big Sky Country during the warmer months, guess what? All those fish are still here in the winter. Ice fishing can be a perfect getaway, and a true test of skill (if you think it's difficult hooking a fish in the summer, try doing it when the lake's frozen).

Of course, safety is an important consideration when you're ice fishing, for two primary reasons: 1) Ice conditions can change almost as quickly as weather conditions and 2) A cold day can be a heck of a lot colder when you're standing in the middle of a frozen lake without cover. It's only natural then that the first thing you should always do before fishing is check the weather forecast. Make sure you're prepared for changing weather, and bring along essentials such as:

• Extra changes of clothing
• Compass
• Food/Water
• First Aid Kit
• A friend (it's more fun, and much safer)

Learning how to read ice depth is an art developed with practice. However, follow a few pointers to avoid that sinking feeling. Remember that springs, currents, repeated thaws, snow cover and wind can all affect ice depth and strength. Avoid any ice that's less than six inches thick and stay away from edges of open water, springholes, or areas of strong current. While it may seem that deep snow is a good sign, beware: snow is a great insulator, and can actually inhibit ice production. Finally, steer clear of ice that has thawed and refrozen, or ice that is off-colored.

Basic Equipment

Part of ice fishing's great appeal is its simplicity; you won't need to load yourself down with gear to catch fish in Montana during the winter. The basics you'll need are:

• Tip-ups - Essentially, a tip-up is just a short stick that balances on a base; for ice fishing, it's your "pole."
• Tackle / Bait - You'll of course need basic tackle such as hooks, sinkers and bobbers. Try lures in the basic colors of black, silver, gold, pink and orange. Bait? Well, that's a hotly debated topic among Montana ice fishing fanatics. However, popular choices are salmon eggs, worms, corn and even marshmallows, depending on where you're fishing.
• Ice drill/auger - A good hand auger should be enough to handle most ice fishing situations for you. Most fold or disassemble for easy transport, and are usually available in 5-8 inch diameters.
• Ice skimmer - Once you've augered a hole, a skimmer will help you remove the slush, as well as keep new ice from forming.
• Clothing - Yes, you already knew you'd need to wear clothing. But for ice fishing, take extra care to dress extra warm. You'll be exposed to the elements, and you won't be exerting a lot of energy to keep warm. Well insulated boots are a must. Dress in layers, with a wind/water resistant outer layer.
• Shelter - You certainly don't need a hut or shelter to ice fish, but many prefer it. You can find everything from fold up wind breaks to nylon dome tents to mini bunk houses.
  

The maximum size hole that may be cut for ice fishing is 144 square inches.

There is no limit on the size of hole used for fishing with a spear or gig.

Shelters

The following special regulations apply to ice fishing shelters on the following waters:

Bearpaw Lake	Georgetown Lake
Beaver Creek Reservoir	Hauser Lake
Brown's Lake (near Ovando)	Helena Valley Reservoir
Deadmans Basin Reservoir	Lake Frances
Echo Lake (near Anaconda)	Lake Helena

Shelter definition: Any hut or shelter constructed of any material except ice or snow.

Shelter identification: Each shelter must be marked with the owner's name, address, and/or phone number, painted or permanently affixed to the shelter in legible letters not less than two (2) inches in height, of contrasting color to the background, and plainly visible at a distance of 100 feet.

Inspection: Each shelter of closed type construction shall have a door readily opened from the outside for inspection by an officer when the shelter is occupied. The door shall not be latched from the inside.

Use: It is prohibited for any person to use, fish from or occupy an ice fishing shelter if the shelter does not conform to the rules.

Shelter removal: Daily removal is required on the following waters:

• Brown's Lake (near Ovando)
• Echo Lake (near Anaconda)
• Georgetown Lake
• Fitzpatrick Lake
• Deadmans Basin
• Helena Valley Reservoir

On Hauser Lake and Lake Helena ice fishing shelters may not be set on the ice until after sunrise and must be removed from the area before sunset each day.

Removal after season: The owner of an ice fishing shelter shall remove the shelter from the area and from public property before it becomes irretrievable over the ice.

Waste and rubbish disposal: It is the responsibility of the owner and users of ice fishing shelters to keep the immediate area around the shelter free from rubbish and trash. Waste material must be removed when the angler leaves for the day.

Places to Go

Much of the conventional fishing wisdom applies for ice fishing, as well. For instance, the best times to fish are early morning and late afternoon--the prime feeding times. Overcast days are often better than sunny days. And, noise will naturally scare away fish from even the most perfect hole. One key difference: fish are more lethargic in the winter. Their metabolisms have slowed, and they're generally more finicky about taking bait. Ah, but that's part of the challenge.

Any ice fishing fan with his or her salmon eggs has a few favorite holes that stay secret. However, Montana has a number of lakes that are fishing faves in the winter months.

Near Anaconda, Georgetown Lake is popular for its easy access--it's just off of Interstate 90, and only a few miles from Discovery Basin Ski Area. Anglers who venture out onto the ice can catch salmon, brook trout and rainbow trout.

South of Kalispell, Flathead Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the Western U.S. Although the lake usually doesn't freeze completely due to its size, most bays freeze enough for excellent ice fishing. Whitefish and lake trout are the most oft-caught species, although yellow perch and cutthroat trout are also present. Speaking of whitefish, Whitefish Lake also offers excellent ice fishing beginning in late December; again, whitefish and lake trout are most common. Other nearby ice fishing spots in Glacier Country include Smith Lake near Kila (perch), and Bitterroot Lake (rainbow trout).

Numerous lakes dot the Seeley Swan Valley, and most feature excellent ice fishing--including Salmon Lake, Holland Lake and Placid Lake. Prevalent species in these lakes include bull trout, cutthroat trout, kokanee salmon and northern pike.

Fort Peck Lake, in Northeast Montana, is huge: it covers about 250,000 acres and reaches 220 feet at its deepest point. More than 50 kinds of fish swim in the waters of Fort Peck, including walleye, northern pike, sauger, lake trout and smallmouth bass. The Fort Peck Marina outside of Glasgow is one of the more popular ice fishing spots; it will even hosts an annual ice fishing tournament. (The holes are even dug for you, so it's easy to join the fun.)