When you live in a state with more than 11,000 inland lakes and streams in addition to being surrounded by four of the five Great Lakes, fishing is an inevitable activity.  When winter arrives and the lakes are covered by inches of ice, it’s time to bundle up and go ice fishing.

This longstanding traditional activity is a favorite for many Michigan outdoorsmen, women, and children… both for catching fresh food and for recreation.  Many visitors travel to Michigan just to go ice fishing. The most common species of fish are pike, perch, walleye, trout, musky, bluegill, and crappie. Your catch will depend on where you drop your line.

Gear to Bring

Ice fishing, for all its simplicity, requires a decent amount of gear. Some of this gear is for safety, others are for necessity, other stuff is just to have because you can.  But it comes down to how elaborate you want your outings to be.

  • Fishing rods and tackle box: The most necessary gear of all!
  • Auger: You’re going to have to get through that ice somehow. Hand powered or propane/gasoline powered, an auger is what you need to make the hole through the ice. A hole should be no larger than 8-10 inches in diameter.
  • Ice shanty: Though you don’t absolutely need one, it can make the time outside more comfortable. Many types are very portable and lightweight. All across the lakes of Michigan you’ll see “shanty towns” pop up. That’s where the fish are.
  • Life jackets: You don’t need to wear one as you are fishing, but they are good to have in case of an emergency.
  • Spud bar
  • Cell phone
  • Thermos: Fill it up with coffee, hot chocolate, or tea to help warm up your insides.
  • Seat: This can be an upside down five-gallon bucket with a blanket or cushion over top, or a folding camping chair or other type of outdoor chair.
  • Sled: To help with transporting everything across the ice, hopefully in one fell swoop, bring a sled.
  • Cordless portable heater: A small portable heater can be a blessing in frigid weather.
  • Fillet knives: You’re fishing! Expect a great catch.
  • Cooler: You can probably keep this in the vehicle and use it just for transporting the fish back home.
  • Stringer: A long piece of cord with clips that hold multiple fish at a time.

Safety Tips

Even though ice fishing is fun, the most important thing to remember, as with most winter activities, is safety. According to the United States Search and Rescue Task Force website, when the water is less than 32 degrees (Fahrenheit), someone who has fallen through the ice has an expected survival time of 15-45 minutes. Shock, disorientation, numbness, and loss of consciousness can affect the body quickly.

Research the conditions before going out on the ice, and be aware of your surroundings once you start making the trek out from land. Some other safety tips:

  • Never fish alone. Not only is hauling the gear easier with an extra pair or two of hands, but if something were to happen, such as falling through the ice, someone else is there to offer or call for help.
  • Always test the ice with a spud. A spud bar is a four-five foot piece of steel with a tapered point. It can be used as a walking stick, help with the creation of holes, and to check the integrity of the ice as you find your spot to fish.
  • Avoid places where the snow looks discolored or dark. These could be thin or cracked areas and should be avoided.
  • Tell someone where you’re going and when you’re planning to be home. As with any outdoor sport or activity, it’s a smart thing to tell someone where you are planning to go and when you expect to be home. Remain in contact throughout, even if you want to get away from the world. Again, if something were to happen, someone else could ask for help and a starting point for a search, which saves time.
  • Indicate that you left a hole behind. As a warning to other fishermen so that they don’t accidently step through, mark the hole with a tree branch, sticks, chunk of ice, or pile of snow.

Ice Fishing Competitions/Festivals

There are plenty of these that happen over the winter, both for fun and for more serious sport. Registration is often required in advance so make sure you check the website or call. A complete list of contests can be found at the American Fishing Contests website.

Where to go Fishing

There’s a weekly fishing report available on the Michigan DNR website. This report will give you fishing conditions around the state – and maybe some ideas of where to fish. But for additional nuggets of information, call the local party store or grocery store for spots to fish that are near where you are staying. They can probably point you in the right direction!

Need a place to stay? Our interactive map can help you find a spot. Some campgrounds, RV parks, and RV resorts are open in the winter, but the map can be used to find other places, too.