I use braided line almost exclusively while fishing open water.  For jigging through the ice, I have always used mono-filament line.  Last season, I decided to re-spool my ice jigging reel with Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line.

On the trips that I have jigged with monofilament line, I caught fish.  But, on my first trip with the Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line, I caught more fish than all my previous trips combined!  The Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line is so sensitive, that if a fish sneezes on my jig, I’ll know.

I am not sure why it took me so long to switch from monofilament line to braided line for ice jigging. But, one thing is certain: all my ice jigging reels will be spooled with Berkley Fireline Crystal Ice line during the up coming season!

I have a great pair of lace-up ice fishing boats.  They are rugged, warm, and comfortable.  During an ice fishing tournament with 12+ inches of slush, water started leak into my boots after an hour.  I now use Muck Arctic Pro boots!

Muck boots are made from a flex-foam material in a continuous and non-interrupted design.  There are no openings for water to penetrate.  They are hence 100% waterproof from top to bottom.  The soles have groves that provide traction and stability in snow or slush.  They are easy to put on and take off (no laces).  They are also light, comfortable, and easy to clean.  Their thermal rating is impressive: -40 degrees Fahrenheit.  Bottom line, for ice fishing there is no substitute for Muck Arctic Pro boots.

Modern textile technology has given rise to some purpose-specific fabrics with features like: wind-proof, breathable, wrinkle free, moisture wicking, scent block, and SPF.  As anglers, we now have performance clothing that allows us to fish longer and under a variety of conditions. I exploit high performance clothing while fishing.  But!  For me, there is no replacement for the warmth and comfort of my wool sweater during extreme cold conditions.

I have several wool sweaters from Ireland that I wear while ice fishing and open water fishing in early spring and late fall.  The primary advantage that wool has over modern fabrics is that it’s the only material that will keep you warm when wet.  When in doubt, fish with wool. 😉