For most anglers, winter is usually the time where they would hold off from their usual fishing activities and stay at home to relax under the warm and cozy heat. After all, it can get quite cold out there. Plus, most fish aren’t as active in the winter, thanks to the cold temperatures. They are lethargic and lower their metabolism in response to compensate for the fact that there are less fish swimming about.
But of course, this doesn’t mean all of them. Some anglers would still choose to fish despite the cold temperatures. Some anglers may even try out a new specialized fishing style exclusive to the cold temperatures: ice fishing. True to its name, ice fishing is an activity exclusive to winter or extremely cold environments, as it involves fishing at a lake that is frozen over, but has the ice cut open (usually by way of a drilling tool) to make way for a line to be dropped in.
Regular fishing and ice fishing have a lot of similarities together. They are, after all, activities that involve catching fish usually by way of a rod. But there are some minor yet important differences as well. It can affect anything from the comfort of the angler while fishing, to the effectiveness of their throws. One such difference is the line that they use.
What separates an ice rod from a regular one?
There’s more nuance to ice fishing than just being an ice hole that you drop your line on and wait for the fish to bite. Your line, for instance, is one of the most similar, yet different items you have in comparison to open-water fishing.
Fundamentally speaking, both rods function the same. Whether it’s ice fishing or river fishing, you’re still going to throw it the same in the water and wait for the fish to bite.
But the how is the key here, as ice fishing rods separate themselves from regular ones in multiple ways.
Ice rods are shorter
To start with, ice rods are much shorter than regular rods. Most of them range between 18 inches to 48 inches in terms of length. In comparison, regular fishing rods usually range between 72 inches to 144 inches. Quite a massive difference! But there’s a good reason for that.
Regular rods are much stouter and longer, as you need to cast a heavy lure towards the water, meaning that you need a good buildup and throw for a proper cast, especially if the fish that you are targeting are quite far from the shore.
You won’t be doing such a thing with ice fishing. The lakes are frozen, and the amount of ice that you can drill is limited, unless you want to waste a lot of time. Instead of needing momentum to throw your lure at the part of the water you want, you will instead approach the water and just drop your line then and there. Yup, you’re only fishing below you, so it makes things easier on your end, especially if you aren’t too confident in your throws.
The fact that ice rods are so short in terms of length and cast means that people who are ice fishing can make use of different types of shelters, such as a shack or a pop-up tent to assist them while they fish. In comparison, a regular rod will not have such a great time, due to the greatly reduced maneuverability. It won’t even be able to fit in the shelters that an ice rod can, due to how long it is.
Fighting against fish is completely different
This comes more from the location rather than the rod itself, but the rod plays a part as well. As you will be engaged in a mini-war against the fish inside the hole of the ice, your aim is to not allow the line to get dragged along the edge of the hole. This is due to the fact that the ice can get quite sharp and may inexplicably cut the line of your ice rod, allowing the fish to escape.
It’s certainly a different feel from allowing fish to swim in any direction with a regular rod, as you want to restrict moving too far along the hole to keep the line alive. Luckily, fish won’t be as energetic, due to the cold temperatures, giving you a bit more leeway. This also means that there will be less movement overall, but don’t let your guard down! When threatened, fish may suddenly get a burst of energy and catch you off-guard, which can throw off your aim if you aren’t careful. One tactic you can use is dipping the tip of your pole into the ice, allowing you to control the direction of the fish, as the line is now below the ice. It might be a bit strenuous to pull off, especially if the ice is thick, but it can help your control.
Ice lines use different material and behave differently
Ice lines are quite similar to the ones used in open-water fishing, but there are differences, notably in material. Ice fishing is a specialized sport for a good reason. The lines can be stretched with minimal effort and loosens when there is an increase in temperature on the lake. Though, ice lines will become stiff when placed on a body of water that has no ice, which obviously isn’t a problem for a regular line.
In terms of materials, fluorocarbon is a popular choice, due to their strength and resistance to abrasion. They are also lighter, so they can sink more naturally in the water while not being as obvious. As a result, this makes them stronger and less visible when thrown in the water compared to regular lines.
Finally, ice lines are treated with anti-freeze substances to ensure that the lines do not stick to the rod nor freeze when thrown on the freezing water. This is a precaution taken because of how the cold temperatures usually affect rods, making them stiff and have some parts of it stick.