There’s more to planning an ice-fishing trip than cutting a hole in a frozen lake and sticking a fishing line in. These tips for planning an ice-fishing trip will help you make the most of winter fishing.

Choose a location. The beauty of an ice-fishing trip is that you get to enjoy the outdoors and avoid crowded tourist traps. Find out where the good spots are by asking an experienced ice-fisher, talking to a travel agent, or doing research.

Check the weather. You’ll probably have chosen your location well in advance of the actual days of the trip. As the trip approaches, check the weather. Although it’s supposed to be cold, it’s shouldn’t be so cold that you can’t enjoy yourself. Sub-zero temperatures and rain or hail can ruin an ice-fishing trip in no time.

Pack the right clothes. The first order of business is to bring the right clothes. Although enduring cold could be part of any ice-fishing adventure, enduring frostbite shouldn’t be. Pack warm clothes. Pack extra. There’s a difference in cold endurance between walking to your car while it’s snowing and remaining outside on a frozen lake with a fishing pole for a few hours.

Bring the right supplies. There’s no sense enduring the cold if all you do is watch fish swim underneath your baited hook. Make sure you have the right fishing supplies for the area. If you’re part of a guided ice-fishing trip, these things will be taken care of for you. If you’re on your own, ask experienced ice-fishers in the area for advice.

Bring food. Bring enough food and drink to last the entire fishing trip. Having to eat night crawlers to stave off starvation lessens your bait supply and could make you seriously ill.

Scout the area. The second most important consideration when ice-fishing is where to find the fish. (The first most important consideration is to not fall through the ice and drown.) Ask locals where to go. Check it out for yourself. Inexperienced ice-fishers should strongly consider hiring a guide.

Reserve transportation. Ice-fishing locales often are located in hard-to-reach areas. Plan your transportation in advance. Make yourself aware of refund policies in case of inclement weather.

Let someone know where you’re going. Since ice-fishing takes place in locales with unpredictable winter weather, it’s important to make sure someone knows where you’re going. Nothing ruins an ice-fishing trip faster than a sudden blizzard, a dead truck battery, or an accident and no one being able to find you.

A little bit of planning can save you a lot of trouble and provide a lot of fun on an ice-fishing trip.