I have not been ice fishing in along time, this thread makes me want to get out the gear.

Getting started ice fishing
February 1, 2009

Some would argue you're not a real fisherman unless you're an ice fisherman.

Certainly, enduring temperatures below freezing, baiting hooks with numb fingers, cutting holes through thick ice, and pulling gear in a sleigh puts ice anglers in a special category.
"They're hatched not born,'' said Dave Grabenstatter of East Aurora, Erie County, when asked to describe an ice fisherman while fishing recently on Irondequoit Bay. "It's a rare breed. You'd have to be to come out here and sit in this stuff.''
Fishing hard water isn't hard but there is much to know.

Hooking up: There are two basic methods to catch fish through the ice — lightweight jigging rods and tip-ups. Tip-ups are devices that suspend the bait and signal a strike with the release of a flag or tipping motion. The simplest poles and tip-ups cost under $10 or can be homemade.
Cut the hole: It's a necessary task and if the fish aren't biting, you'll want to move and cut more holes. The crudest tool is a "spud'' bar (about $15) to chop through the ice. A wise investment is a hand-powered auger ($40 to $80). Today's models are extremely sharp, lightweight and make a nice clean hole. Make sure it's a minimum 6 inches.
Bait and tackle: Use minnows under tip-ups for larger species such as Northern pike and walleye. Suspend just off the bottom and near weeds. Use No. 10, red treble hooks on braided line with a leader. For panfish, jig with spoons, wax worms, spikes and mousies. When releasing a fish, get it down the hole quickly before its eyes freeze.
Electronics: Increase your odds with flashers and underwater video systems.

Dress: All the winter rules apply. Dress in layers with a rugged outer layer. Bring extra gloves, because the pair you're wearing will get wet.
Going in style: Sitting on a 5-gallon pail works fine for a short outing on a pleasant day. But for longer trips in bitter conditions, consider an ice shanty. Portable models for two ($300 to $500) come with padded seats. Add a propane heater and it's downright cozy.
Ice safety: A minimum of 3 to 4 inches of ice is needed to support a small group of people and up to a foot to support vehicles, experts say. Snow-covered ice can hide slush or re-frozen patches that can be 50 percent weaker so exercise extreme caution. Don't fish alone. Pack a long rope, a flotation device and ice picks.
Regulations: In New York, each angler is allowed two jigging poles and five tip-ups, each identified with your name and address. Everyone 16 and older needs a fishing license. Go to www.dec.ny.gov.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090201/SPORTS0103/902010348/1007/RSS02