Ice fishing is a time-honored outdoors activity going back thousands of years. The use of unmanned fishing apparatus are likely only predated by the hand line. Modern fishermen have many choices as to which system best suits their fishing needs.

I love feeling a fish on a rod. The only thing more exciting is hand-lining one in. There are several methods of fishing, that as an end product you will have to pull the fish in by hand. Tip-ups and tip-downs are the most common forms of fishing in which you pull the fish in by hand.

The way you fish them can be a bit confusing to the beginner, but to the experienced ice angler, they can be a fish-catching machine. The time you fish them, how you rig them, what bait you choose, and how far away you sit from them will all impact your success level. Although, the most important thing to take into consideration is how you set the hook and pull them in. The truth is, if you fight the fish wrong, you will likely come home emptyhanded.