ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR ICE ANGLERS

KITS, SHARPENERS, FILLET KNIVES, AND WAYS TO KEEP YOUR FISH FRESH

BY: KRISTINE OSTERTAG

The heart of the ice fishing season is upon us. Whether you are chasing flags, hole hopping, or enjoying the warmth of a hard house, a set of quality tools will help to make your adventure on the ice successful. I am always on the move, rarely sitting in a shack and fishing the same hole. Being on the move requires me to pack light, keeping the tools I need with me. These are some of the essential items I keep nearby when I’m on the ice. 

Smith’s Ice Fishing Tool Kit 

This tool kit has all the essential tools needed when out on the ice. It comes with pliers for getting hooks out of a fish, a jaw spreader for unhooking those toothy critters, scissors for cutting line, a clipper, and a 4-inch folding fillet knife that is perfect for any panfish. It also has a marine-grade mesh bag to keep it organized and in good condition. The scissors are stainless steel and have a serrated edge for cutting mono and braided lines. The clippers come with a line pick for getting knots out of your line, a lure tuning tool, and a knife. So not only is this a great tool kit for ice fishing, but it is also helpful for open-water fishing. Smith’s Ice Fishing Tool Kit: $84.99

Mr. Crappie Fish Pick 

When you have hard-to-reach hooks, this tool will help improve the survival probability of the fish. It always stinks when you pull a fish through the hole, and the hook is buried in its mouth. This tool is handy for getting small tungsten jigs out of a small panfish mouth or a toothy mouth of a walleye or northern pike. This tool also has a diamond hook and knife sharpener. It can sharpen any hook size and standard edge knife and has a non-slip handle for maintaining grip. Increase your odds of a successful hookset by keeping those hooks sharp. Mr. Crappie Fish Pick: $28.99

Insulated Bait and Fish Kill Bag

These bags are great for many reasons. You can use these bags as a way to keep your fish fresh, or you can use them as a bait cooler. It has an aerator mount and a drain port to quickly drain the water out of the bag. It is made of heavy-duty marine-grade tarpaulin, which is washable. It comes in four different sizes. You can choose between 30, 36, 48, and 60 inches. I prefer the 30-inch bag for ice fishing, as it’s easier to pack and carry. I will put my catch in this bag to keep them fresh and keep them from getting frozen and slimy. This makes cleaning them at the end of the day easier. Replace that 5-gallon bucket with one of these bags, and you won’t regret it. Smith’s Mr. Crappie Chiller Bait and Fish Kill Bag: $169.99

Mr. Crappie Slab-O-Matic Electric Fillet Knife

After a long day on the ice, the last thing you want to do is spend hours cleaning a pile of fish. If you are me, you are tired, cold, and just want to snuggle up on the couch in a warm blanket. So I don’t mess around when it comes to fish processing – I like the job to go fast. An electric fillet knife always gets the job done faster. I prefer to use the Mr. Crappie Slab-O-Matic Electric Fillet Knife. It comes with an 8-inch stainless steel blade and, unlike other fillet knives, also includes a rib cage blade. I usually will get all the fillets off the fish, then change the blade and remove all the rib bones. Mr. Crappie Slab-O-Matic Electric Fillet Knife: $59.99

I know I will be prepared for anything on the ice if I have these tools. So grab your friends, family, or dog and venture onto the ice this winter. You won’t catch fish at home on the couch, but you will catch them – and an unbeatable good time – with help from these tools from Smith’s Consumer Products.

About Smith’s Consumer Products:

Smith’s Consumer Products is an Arkansas-based company that traces its history to 1886. Smith’s produces the broadest line of knife and scissors sharpeners available, ranging from simple, fixed angle pull-through sharpeners for consumers that want quick and easy sharpening to sophisticated Precision Kits designed for the knife sharpening enthusiast. Our offering includes both manual and electrical sharpeners that incorporate many different abrasive materials, including diamond, carbide, ceramic, bonded synthetic abrasives, and of course, natural Arkansas stones. The Edge Experts at Smith’s Consumer Products also design and manufacture a wide range of tools for outdoor enthusiasts as well as knives for everyday carry, tactical, shop, kitchen, hunting, and fishing needs.