Small tackle boxes with minimal tackle are all you need for ice fishing success, and Tom Berg has some tips on how to keep them organized.

There’s nothing worse than trying to untangle your gear when the fish are biting, and your fingers are half-frozen. The good news is, you don’t have to. If you spend a little time getting organized before your next outing, you will have more time to catch fish and the trip will be more pleasant. Here are a few hints:

Divide and conquer

If you divide your tackle into different groups (hooks, plain jigs, jigs with rubber legs, miniature bobbers, sinkers, etc.) and then store them in separate compartments, you will be able to conquer the disorganization problem. It’s not hard to do at all.

I like to use small plastic boxes with lots of compartments to store all my ice fishing terminal tackle. Boxes with adjustable compartments can be handy, but I prefer the versions with fixed compartments for ice fishing. Tiny wire hooks and micro-sized jigs seem able to escape from one compartment to the next when there are adjustable divider walls.

Easy access

Once everything is stored, you need to make it easy to get at your gear. Just being organized is not enough. You should not have to dig through a ton of gear to find what you are looking for. Besides being aggravating, it wastes precious fishing time!

One simple way to carry certain small things is to put them on a string around your neck. You can’t get easier access than that. I started carrying a pair of line clippers around my neck a long time ago. Things stored around your neck are always within easy reach and you don’t have to worry about dropping them, misplacing them, or losing them through the hole in the ice. Believe me, it happens.

It’s also important to have easy access to your bait. The traditional thin plastic containers that hold live waxworms and mousies are notoriously fragile. They are crushed easily, and once they crack, they usually leak sawdust (and wax worms) into your pocket. So, some people store the bait where it can’t get crushed—and can’t be accessed, either! A better idea is to use the StrikeMaster Bait Puck to store your live bait. These bait pucks are the size of a hockey puck, and they are nearly indestructible. Keep the puck right in your parka or snowmobile pocket where it’s easy to grab and you won’t have to worry about crushing it. It’s insulated to keep the bait from freezing and it is vented so the critters can breathe, too.

Although you can have some of your gear hanging around your neck, you can’t have it all there. Some things still need to be stowed in a sled or a 5-gallon bucket. The key is to keep tackle boxes and other gear at the top or within easy reach. Don’t put it at the bottom and pile stuff on top of it.

Just the basics

More is not better in ice fishing. Keep it simple. Carry a few ice fishing rods. I bring two for jigging and two spares, a compact tackle box and some tip-ups (if you like to use them). That’s all that you need for most outings.

Of course, don’t forget the ice auger, the skimmer, the bait, plenty of clothes, a thermos full of your favorite hot drink, and a 5-gallon bucket for carrying everything. The bucket serves double duty as a seat, too.

Once organized, you’ll never need to untangle a wad of hooks, line and lures on the ice again. You’ll especially appreciate it when your fingers are cold and the fish are biting like crazy!

Learn more about the best tactics for successful ice fishing in the winter issues of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.