With the exception of the last several days, unusually warm weather and frequent rain have been very detrimental to normal ice formation on regional lakes and ponds. Here we are into early January and a few of lakes still have open water near inlets and outlets, as well as soft spots and thin ice in certain areas.

Maine wardens are preaching caution and restraint until anglers are positive a safe layer of ice has formed on their favorite waterway. No ice fishing trip is worth risking your life over, so heed the concerns of these outdoor experts and spend your time getting fully prepared for that first ice drilling excursion.

Dig out your gear bucket or packsack full of equipment and replenish, refurbish, or replace any missing or damaged fishing gear. Make sure there are plenty of extra hooks and sinkers in several sizes to fit needs from small smelt to mammoth muskie. Check over the bait pail, minnow net, and ice scoop and be sure an extra spool of monofilament and heavier big fish line are on hand.

Crank up your gas ice auger to assure it runs smoothly and doesn’t need a new plug or a tuneup. Whether you own a motorized or muscle-powered auger, take the time to put an edge on the spiral cutting blade, it will save time and sore muscles. Don’t forget to file the chipping edge of the ice chisel while you’re at it. Reduce last-minute pressure by locating the thermos, handwarmers, and all your cold-weather clothes and setting them aside.

Trap maintenance

Last, but certainly not least, carefully check out each and every part of the tip-ups. They are the most important, yet often overlooked, pieces of winter angling equipment. Neglect or poor trap maintenance will eventually cost cold-weather anglers unneeded frustration in setting out or picking up, and perhaps the loss of a trophy fish. Cold weather, ice buildup, and the constant banging about of travel and transport take their toll on ice fishing tip-ups, so constant inspection is required.

Of course, lines need to be inspected for crimps or gouges caused by rubbing or sharp ice edges along the top or bottom of the hole. Hooks, shock leaders used for large, toothy quarry, and monofilament lines should be replaced each season. Reels need to be checked to assure free, smooth movement, and if a drag system is involved, those need to be lubricated. Avoid grease and most thick-bodied lubricants, because once immersed in freezing water, they thicken and bind rather than coat and smooth the mechanisms. Graphite is also a no-no.

Spray on a light coating of WD 40 or a firearm protectant called Sheath or apply a very thin layer of silicone gel or spray to working parts of the reel, spool, and flag release system. Work the flag arm and releasing device to assure a smooth action. If there’s a catch, or too much tension, a smart game fish will be alerted and drop the bait when the reel snags or hesitates on the release arm. If your tip-ups are the type with collapsible arms for easier storage and travel, the wing nuts, bolts, and metal components that control the extension and retraction of the legs, arms, and flag staff need a coat of corrosion-protective lubricant as well.

Tip-up flags are made of cloth or lightweight synthetic material, usually in red or orange for the best visibility at a distance. These flags undergo a lot of wear and tear and often need replacement. This is a simple chore, and while you’re at it, increase the flag size to at least 3 inches by 3 inches and use fluorescent orange or black material to provide an even better contrast against the white ice and snow.

Buying new traps

Neophyte ice anglers set to purchase their first set of traps and experienced ice drillers seeking to replace old, dilapidated tip-ups will find a daunting selection of high-tech rigs to choose from. Don’t be swayed by fancy frames and gaudy gadgets, select new ice fishing traps based on three important qualities: durability, visibility, and functionality. Don’t settle for a bargain basement $5 tip-up that will only last a year when $20 will guarantee a solidly built unit good for at least a decade – unless you drop it down the hole.

Durability refers not only to the material a tip-up is made from, but the construction of the working components as well. Synthetic, high-tech plastics or polymers are very popular for frames and reels the last decade or so. Some are well-designed traps, and very light and compact to pack and lug about, but long exposure to frigid temperatures and ice buildup around moving parts often leads to an early demise for many models. Repeated set up, take down, and adjustments to legs and shafts impaired by ice leads to fatigue in joints that eventually cracks the plastic.

I prefer a tip-up constructed of wood, solid legs, and uprights held together with adjustable metal bolts, and a good-size metal reel with a sturdy and shrouded flag release mechanism. Metal may be colder to handle on freezing days, but it outlasts and outperforms plastic. Wood and metal traps are generally heavier and more cumbersome to pack and carry and generally more expensive, so these shortcomings have to be considered. In the end, quality is more costly but usually longer lasting.

Ease of visibility is another major asset of a top-rate tip-up that actually refers to two attributes. First, and most importantly, once a trap is in place over the hole, the angler must be able to visually locate a raised flag at 100 yards regardless of snow depth on the ice, snow flakes in the air, or background behind the flag. This is when the brightly colored flag comes into play, but sometimes a black flag is even better.

I’ve seen snow cover so deep during late February on an Aroostook County lake that we had to shovel down more than two feet to find ice. Average-size traps and their flags couldn’t be seen beyond 25 yards due to surrounding snow. Tall traps with a long upright mast and an equally long flag arm, such as the Heritage Laker, assure long distance visibility in most deep snow conditions. High flag arms and good-size flags also tend to sway and move about more extensively, which draws the angler’s eye more quickly to a strike.

The second type of trap visibility refers to the actual color of each rig. An orange, red, or even black tip-up shows up well on the ice or when dropped into soft snow, so it’s less likely to be lost or overlooked when packing up. Starkly colored traps are less likely to be stepped on or tripped over as well. Wooden trap manufacturers often use only varnish or stain on their outfits to maintain a traditional look, but recently some companies have begun using stripes of fluorescent tap to highlight their traps. Any addition of color helps tip-ups stand out and be less likely to be forgotten, lost, or stepped on and broken. A hand-written or printed name tag and address taped on each trap isn’t a bad idea.

Functionality covers a lot of ground when referring to a tip-up. It means the trap collapses in one way or another to a slim, compact unit for easy storage and travel. Also, when the tip-up is open and in place over the hole, a truly functional model offers excellent stability whether on ice or in slush or snow. Height and visibility are important assets previously discussed.

Another very beneficial asset to seek when selecting new tip-ups is an action indicator. Such a device can be viewed from a distance and actually registers line movement, showing the angler if the fish is still taking line out and how fast. Often this information is learned only by looking into the hole to view the reel, and if ice or snow has covered the hole, the tip-up must be freed and brought into view.

Polar brand traps have an elevated arm attached to the reel that spins an indicator as line is pulled from the spool. It can be seen from 10-15 yards distant without moving the trap. Tip and Spin traps go a step further, allowing the entire extended flag arm to rotate as a fish pulls out line. To further assist the ice fisherman, Tip and Spin uses a large, dense foam flag, orange on one side, black on the other, that really shows up when spinning. These devices save anglers from icy, 100-yard dashes if the fish has stolen the bait and left, and hurry you along if the indicator is spinning a mile a minute.

One last trait some shoppers will appreciate in a tip-up is its ability to keep a hole from freezing over. A couple of brands, such as HT Enterprise’s Extreme Polar Therm tip-up is a round cover that sets over and insulates the ice fishing hole. The thermal cover has a telescoping flag arm, small built-in tackle box and built in handles. This rig can even be used to cover the bait pail and keep the water from freezing, or spilling during transport.

Time is nigh for that first ice fishing outing, so spend some time locating and preparing your gear, and don’t be afraid to update those old tip-ups. There are lots of great traps available and although I favor Heritage Lakers and Tip and Spins, I own six different makes and styles, each for a particular size of quarry and method of fishing. The right tip-ups will make your cold-weather fishing much more enjoyable and productive. Take a “tip” from me and don’t get “trapped” with poor equipment.

Outdoor feature writer Bill Graves can be reached via e-mail at bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com