In the northern portions of the US, hard water season is underway and shaping up to be a great season. The last couple seasons have left us Ice Fishermen scratching our heads as it has been difficult to find solid safe ice for angling opportunities. It seems like 2025 will be the year that we can enjoy good, safe, and consistent ice fishing conditions again. Cortland Line offers a wide array of ice fishing products and we've compiled a list of our favorites.
The perfect braid for your Jigging set up! Made in a wide range of colors and sizes, Master Braid is built with premium Spectra fibers that create a ultra-low stretch braid for instantaneous hook sets. Lighter sizes such as 5lb and 8lb create minimal drag when dropping your lure down to the strike zone and provide unmatched sensitivity to pick up on those subtle bites. Available in stealthy colors such as Moss Green and Bronze as well as brighter colors such as white and yellow which allow you to see your line angle when fighting fish, minimizing break offs near the hole. Our proprietary Fiber-Tech coating create a water-resistant braid that resists freezing and minimizes ice build-up on rod guides.
This Fluorocarbon leader material has the perfect balance of abrasion resistance and finesse, to keep your presentation natural without risking break offs. Our favorite sizes to use on the ice are 6 lb for crappie, perch and other panfish. 8-12 lb for walleye, bass and larger species. This is the perfect leader material to pair with our Master Braid.
When the fish are extra picky and when fishing highly pressured areas, Ultra Premium Tippet can provide the stealth and finesse to pick off those neutral fish. With a higher strength per diameter than traditional leader material, having this tippet in your arsenal can be the difference between a banner day or a slow day on the ice. Great for highly pressured lakes and finicky / late season panfish
Micron is one of the highest quality main line options for tip-ups. Available in a wide range of colors which allows you to color code your tip-ups based on targeted species and rigging setups. Micron is built with a high-pick count and a proprietary waterproof coating, shedding water and withstanding freezing. Micron is braided from 12 individual Dacron fibers, the tighter weave makes for better handling when fighting fish in addition to a much better abrasion resistance against ice edges.
Cortland's Stainless Steel Leader material is the ideal bite guard when targeting toothy critters through the ice. It is a PVC-coated steel featuring supple handling characteristics and easy knot tying abilities. Built with a dark green matte finish for stealthy bait presentations compared to other steel and titanium leader material options. The 1x19 steel construction creates an extremely flexible product, designed to provide more natural movement when fishing live bait. Available in 10, 15, 20, 35, and 50lb break strengths.
If you plan to head out on the ice this season, remember that no ice is safe ice and always take precaution. Use the buddy system, always have spikes handy in case of a break through and spud in front of you as you progress through your route.
Photo Contributions:
Drew Sommo
Woozy Fishing
Chris Rotchford
