Ice fishing is one of the few sports that offers the relaxation of angling, the mental challenge of chess and the adventure of the great outdoors in winter.

Though the surface may be - you hope - solidly frozen, the water below continues to teem with walleye, perch, trout or whatever else is native to the area. Getting them takes different tools and techniques from the standard angling rulebook. But those are easily learned.

The first rule from that book is to be sure you are on solid ice. Four inches of solid ice, in mid-season, is about the best you can get. Late-season ice can be deceptively weak. Air currents, underwater currents, fish schools, repeated melting and re-freezing and several other factors can weaken the ice invisibly. Early ice may not yet be fully solid.

Always test the area you plan to drill into. Look for clear ice with few air bubbles. Test frequently with a spud and/or small rocks. Keep your eyes open and never abandon common sense. You rarely get second chances on the ice.

You’ll need an ice-cutting tool: a spud - a long, heavy chisel - or an auger for thicker ice. Power augers are available and can save you lots of time and effort. A five-gallon bucket to carry gear is helpful and doubles as a seat while you’re fishing.

Thin and supple fishing line works best for ice fishing. Your standard summer spool won’t do. Berkley sells Cold Weather Trilene that works well. For small trout or panfish you’ll need one to four pound-test. When fishing for walleye or bass a heavier line is needed, six to ten pound.

Dawn and dusk are prime feeding periods for fish in winter, so pick the time that suits your interest and schedule. Crappies and walleyes are most active at those times, but you can still expect to have to exercise patience to get a bite. If you don’t get anything after a half-hour, you will do best to cut another hole elsewhere and try again.

Variations in pole movement will help test whether you are at a dry hole, or whether you’re just not using the right technique. Fish are cold-blooded creatures and less active in the winter. You may feel only a slight tug that could be a random underwater current. To increase the sensitivity use a short, thin, flexible rod.

Try being still for a while, then gentle, random jerks. Changes lures occasionally. Ice fishing requires the mind of a chess master. Outwit your opponent.

Waxworms are a popular bait for trout, panfish, bass and other critters likely to be found under the lake’s frozen surface. They serve well for bluegill and yellow perch, in particular.

Ice fishing is popular in many parts of the globe from Utah and Alaska to Finland and Norway. Try to go with an experienced ice fisherman on your first adventure. At minimum, do your homework before venturing out. But don’t miss out on cold-weather angling. It’s a winter adventure.

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