:Wave:

In this other post I discuss that I may overwinter on Moose Lake. I have limited ice fishing experience from my youth though nothing like the BWCA. I have a small amount of ice fishing gear in storage though finding it in my storage unit would be a bear so I’d likely be getting a new, modest kit. Any advice on gear/tackle/general ice fishing advice for in BWCA, I’d greatly appreciate it. I’m guessing an icehouse would be a necessity?

Thanks!

If anyone can do this it would be you. I would suggest you get a canvas tent with a wood burning stove. You will also need a good ice hand drill to drill holes for fishing and water. Mora makes a good drill, get the ice drill extension too because the ice is thick up there. Then you will need a good hand saw an an axe. I have no idea how you are going to get enough wood processed to keep you alive. You would need many cords of wood put away to survive. Moose has lots of walleye, pike and panfish in areas. I would suggest you get two tipups so you can return to your hut to warm up. You will be out in the wind and you ice hole is going to freeze up in a hurry. Get a good ice scoop to keep the hole clear of ice. Freezing ice holes are another good reason to use tipups instead of rods. Get a wood stove that has a built in box with a drain to process snow into water. Buy lots of wool clothing, hats, socks, pants, sweaters. Get a good pair of boots and choppers or leather covered mittens. Get a cast iron pan for your cooking needs. Get an aluminum snow shovel, not plastic. The kind that looks like an old coal shovel. I use a otter sled for towing my fishing gear on the ice. I made a sled underneath it with two downhill skis so you can pull heavy gear over snow and ice. Maybe a toboggan would work better for you. An heated ice shelter for fishing is what I use. It is a insulated nylon pop up one from Eskimo. I use a propane tank with a big buddy heater to keep warm. I have seen guys use a wood burning stove in these nylon tents too. Just pop out one of the windows and make a hole in some fireproof fabric.

Savage Voyageur: "[Great Advice] "

Thank you for the vote of confidence, Savage Voyageur, & for these great tips. I will process them & may come back to you seeking more wisdom, as it seems you have much of it :). Spoke with Bruce from CCO today, he is into ice fishing & recommended the same brand for icehouse & the buddy heater - we guesstimated ~6 20-30 lb tanks for the winter. I was planning to buy a cord or two of wood to get me through, processing enough wood was a big concern & reason for choosing to basecamp at outfitter's campground where i could lay in a good supply. How much would you guess for a winter? Two cords?8

I wouldn't bother with a fish house unless you would be staying in it for extended periods. Get a Nils Master hand auger and some tip-ups. It might be cool to leave a line in while you live on the ice.

Hi JohnGalt,

All good advice thus far. Although I do not fish Moose Lake, my personal favorite ice fishing in northern MN is for rainbow trout- simply a small flipper with a waxie/eurolarvae has been absolutely easy pickins in the past. I normally limit out before noon. And boy howdy, they are tasty!

As an aside, let me know if you need any firewood to last you through the upcoming winter. Had a few trees come down years past and the firewood is super dry and ready to go.

I will be up there a few times throughout the winter, would be happy to help out.

WanderingWoodsmanMN: "
As an aside, let me know if you need any firewood to last you through the upcoming winter. Had a few trees come down years past and the firewood is super dry and ready to go.
I will be up there a few times throughout the winter, would be happy to help out."

Howdy WanderingWoodsmanMN!

Thank you for the tackle tips & wood offer. The gentleman who runs the CCO campground most days, Bruce, has a bead on a couple of cords for me though if my stash looks like it could use another infusion I may take you up on that offer (I’d give you some silver coins in exchange :) ). That said, I’d be happy to meet you if you are up this way. We can rendezvous in town for a hot meal/beer or I can give you the Cribs tour of my winter abode.

Have a great Friday & weekend!

lundojam: "I wouldn't bother with a fish house unless you would be staying in it for extended periods. Get a Nils Master hand auger and some tip-ups. It might be cool to leave a line in while you live on the ice."

At least to start, I think the fish house is off of the gear list. It can always be added to the outfit partway through the season & it isn’t something which is necessary. Tip-ups would be convenient as they could be set up & I could hunker down in the woods to monitor them, a couple of those will make the cut. I’ll give the Nils Master a look, thank you for the tip :).