Ice fishing in the Moses Lake region of Washington

As the lakes freeze over in the Moses Lake region of Washington, many anglers store their boats until spring and instead load their children’s snow sleds with all the gear they will need for a day on the frozen lake. Blue Heron Park, located about 5 miles outside of downtown Moses Lake, is an excellent place to have a day on a frozen lake. With thick ice, now is the time to safely enjoy the lake during the winter.
There are a few extra pieces of equipment needed for ice fishing which can be easily obtained by as well as a few luxury items that can be a huge help. Warm winter clothing is critical to a pleasant experience; A coat, a pair of gloves, shoes, boots and sunglasses can be the difference between a bitter cold experience and a nice day on the lake. Be sure to dress accordingly. A small plastic snow sled with a small rope attached can be very convenient for transporting tackle, equipment, chairs, food & refreshments etc.
Walleye, bass, perch, crappie, blue gill, bullhead & channel cats can all be found in Moses Lake region. Be sure to bring a variety of baits & tackle, jigs, minnows,  worms and power bait. A fisherman never knows what will be biting under the ice.
A light to medium action rod with 6-8 lb test will handle any fish in the area. The only real piece of specialty equipment needed is a hand ice auger which can easily be found at sporting goods stores. A large soup ladle from the kitchen is useful for skimming ice from the top of your hole without using hands.
When preparing to fish, your pole should be rigged and ready to fish before a hole is drilled. It is common that the first drop into an ice hole is the best chance for a bite, be ready to fish as soon as the hole is done. The light entering from the hole makes fish suspicious and often anglers only get one chance at them. If there has been no action in fifteen minutes move on to a new area and drill another hole. Have patience and remember that most fish bite at dawn and at dusk.
Ice fishing can be a lot of work but preparation is the key to a successful expedition onto the ice.

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