In addition to the gear that you need to stay safe, you may be able to get by with layers of warm clothing, warm socks and boots, and a five-gallon plastic bucket to sit on. But if you are sensitive to the cold, consider an ice shelter with a stove to add some heat and cook your lunch. You can pass the coldest days in relative comfort.
One of the working parts of the sport involves cutting holes in the ice. If the ice isn't too thick, you can use a hand auger. With really thick ice, the better alternative is a power ice auger. You are also going to need an ice skimmer, to keep the hole open and clear of ice. You may also want to invest in an electronic fish finder specifically designed for ice fishing. They make it much easier to determine if you are in a good spot, so you will spend less time and effort cutting holes.
Since no casting is involved, the tackle used for ice fishing is surprisingly simple. If you are chasing panfish, all you need is a very small jigging rod. Some have nothing more than a spool attached for storing line. You can also move up to a miniature spinning rod and reel. In either case use monofilament line specially designed for cold weather. For pan fish very light line, nothing more than two to four-pound test is best. Tear drop jigs baited with wax worms, minnows, or bits of night crawlers, are very popular. With natural bait, you will need a bobber. With a float, set the hook with any movement. A spring bobber is attached to the end of your rod. When it bends even slightly, set the hook. In winter fish are lethargic, so their bite will be extremely light.
If you are pursuing larger prey like walleyes or pike, a tip-up is best. It consists of a pedestal that fits over the hole in the ice attached to a mast that extends down into the water with a spool of line. Above the water, a spring with a flag is set in a release. You bait the tip-up with a decent sized minnow, shiner, or chub. When a fish takes the bait, the flag is released and you pull the fish up, hand over hand.
