Ask Fish and Game: Ice Fishing

Q. If I can have five poles for ice fishing, does a two-pole permit mean I can have 10? A. No. Ice fishing rules are slightly different than general fishing for public safety and general crowding. Fishing is allowed only through a hole up to 10 inches in diameter. This reduces the risk of someone falling through holes. (The only exception is on Bear Lake in Southeast Idaho where anglers can dip net cisco through any size hole.) There are no restrictions on the number of holes, but an angler can fish with up to five poles or lines at a time, and up to five hooks per line. A two-pole validation does not allow more than five lines while ice fishing. All lines must be attended by the angler. Anglers also should check the rule book for regional restrictions.