Photo by Dr. Jason Halfen
January 28, 2020
By Drew Warden
Here is some of the latest ice-fishing gear designed to make your time on the ice more productive—and comfortable.
Frabill Fortress XL Ice Shelter Frabill Fortress XL Ice Shelter Comfort and spaciousness are two key considerations for ice shelters. The Fortress XL offers 55 percent more fishable space. Kick-Out Hub technology utilizes hub extensions on each side for 100 fishable square feet inside a fully insulated, highly stable frame. Has T-style zipper pulls for gloved use. $499.99; frabill.com
Clam Pro Tackle Jointed Pinhead Mino Clam Pro Tackle Jointed Pinhead Mino This new jointed spoon mirrors the prior Pinhead Jigging Mino but has a jointed design with even more movement. The natural injured minnow profile and facedown design draws upward-feeding fish; meanwhile, a flapper blade attracts from afar. $5.49; clamoutdoors.com
Frabill Ice Hunter Sniper Frabill Ice Hunter Sniper A light action and highly sensitive rod tip are often crucial for subtle bites under the ice. Frabill’s Ice Hunter Sniper combo is available in five actions from Ultra-Light to Medium-Light, including two Quick Tip (QT) options. Features a high-vis tip section, stainless steel ice guides and 5+1 ball bearing reel with a multi-disc front drag. $49.99; frabill.com
Garmin Panoptix LiveScope Ice-Fishing Bundle Garmin Panoptix LiveScope This combines a 9-inch ECHOMAP Plus 93sv chartplotter, the LiveScope live-scanning sonar system, a swivel pole mount and more with a portable carrying case. Ice-anglers can see fish and structure in real-time up to 200 feet in any direction below the ice. Pre-loaded with LakeVu g3 cartography with integrated Navionics data. $2,799.99; garmin.com
Eskimo Legend Ice Suit Eskimo Legend Ice Suit Keeping warm, dry and safe are critical on the ice. This suit addresses all three. It contains 100 grams of 3M Thinsulate insulation; windproof/waterproof 10k materials keep you dry. Eskimo’s Uplyft breathable flotation assistance helps keep you safe, yet remains breathable to prevent overheating, unlike many flotation-assist suits. $539.98, $269.99 each for jacket and bibs separately; geteskimo.com
Clam Nanook XL Thermal Ice Shelter Clam Nanook XL Thermal Ice Shelter This two-person flip-over shelter provides a true “flip-and-go” option for anglers chasing roving schools across hardwater. Clam’s new Symmetry Door System—essentially “corner” doors—permit quick entry and exit. It easily cuts through snow or glides across the ice. $529.99; clamoutdoors.com
Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G3N All Season Humminbird ICE HELIX 7 CHIRP GPS G3N All Season Dual spectrum CHIRP sonar provides crystal clear returns, including 3/4-inch target separation for finesse presentations and CHIRP Interference Rejection to cut crosstalk from nearby electronics units. New AutoChart Live technology allows anglers to create custom contour maps for the first time ever on waters without existing contour maps. It includes Humminbird Basemap and features 7-inch HD LCD display. $799.99; humminbird.com
ION G2 Electric Ice Auger ION G2 Electric Ice Auger This lightweight, powerful, fast-drilling ice auger is a great option for running and gunning. It weighs just 17 pounds and can drill up to 2,000 inches of ice on a single charge with its 6 amp-hour second generation battery, optimized for cold weather. $779.99; ioniceaugers.com
Clam Gravity Reel Clam Gravity Reel In-line reels have become more popular in recent years, particularly with panfish anglers, mostly due to their ability to combat line twist. The lightweight Gravity Reel has a smooth adjustable drag to fit the intended technique and jig weight. Features an ergonomic design and highly sensitive anti-drag trigger. $59.99; clamoutdoors.com
