There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." - Stephen Wright. Fishing on ice can be an enjoyable sport, provided you are dressed for the occasion. Proper warm clothing and a good pair of boots are indispensable. If, however, you are improperly dressed, ice fishing can be a miserable, frosting experience. Ice fishing comes at a hefty price. Winter jackets, thermal underwear, bib overalls, boots and snowmobiles are expensive. Fortunately, style isn't a primary concern for winter fishermen. They would rather be ugly and cozy, than pretty and frozen.
Early European settlers learned to make and use ice fishing lures from Native American tribes. Though the Indians used bones as decoys, Europeans made theirs from carved, painted wood. Ice fishing gained popularity by the mid-nineteenth century, and these decoys were widely used to catch large, lake dwelling fish, such as sturgeon, pike and salmon.
In ice fishing, winter anglers chop holes in lake ice and lower the lures into the water, enticing live fish. Fish eat a variety of foods beneath the ice. For this reason, ice fishing lures come in virtually every shape, size, style and color imaginable, enabling the die-hard winter fishing enthusiasts to conscientiously adjust their tactics depending on the species, environment, type of forage and activity level. For simplicity ice fishing lures can be grouped into seven basic categories: blade baits, ice flies, jigging minnows, plastics, spoons, swimming jigs and teardrops.
Ice fishing lures vary in size from a few inches to several feet long. Some lures are highly abstract, while others have very realistic proportions, detail and colors. Some Lures might also be very brightly colored or feature mirror or glass eyes or glow in the dark. Most ice fishing lures are reasonably priced. You can buy inexpensive ice fishing decoys for under $10, which are adequate for occasional use. People who fish more frequently, however, may want to invest in more durable fishing equipment, which can withstand repeated usage. Remember, the decoy must be matched with the apposite terminal tackle to perform to its full potential.