Need to make a gear list

Hey guys, I am planning on doing alot of ice fishing this winter. However I really dont have any of the gear that is needed other than warm clothes. Can you guys post me sort of a hardwater essentials list. My budget for ice fishing stuff is not huge but it surely is enough to get me well on my way to enjoying the season. Thanks for the help guys, and feel free to give me brands of equipment that you guys prefer as well.

I'll tell you what I carry. I just started myself a couple of years ago. I'm sure it will be different from others, I am an "always be prepared" person; so some of what I carry someone else may not or will seem like over kill. You will figure out what you need for what you are fishing for.
First and foremost I think safety... some are obvious but I'll list them anyways...
- Warm clothing in layers
- few pair of gloves and a couple hats
- good pair of waterproof boots
- good set of cleats
- rope at least 50 feet
- set of ice picks
- few bungee cords (you never know)
- tool kit, black tape, blade sharpener and a knife
- garbage bags (you brought it in, you take it out, can hold your catch too.)
- matches/lighters
- Flashlight or head lamp
- bottled water (you can build up a sweat and it is important to stay hydrated)
- I also carry cell phone and camera

The more standard stuff you may need...
- Ice Auger - I prefer Strike Master fairly inexpensive and good quality
- Ice skimmer
- Bait pail with battery powered air pump with air stone (I also have a plug in model at home for left over bait)
- Bait net (keeps your hands dry)
- Gaff Hook
- Rod holders
- Tip-ups - I like HT Explorer 500 or Heritage Lakers...reg allow for using 5, I carry 10 in case of breakage or fishing with someone without gear or I am using different set ups.
- Jig rods...regs allow using 2, I carry 4 or 5 (couple are hand lines) same reasons as tip-ups 
- Variety of terminal tackle..hooks, sinkers, etc. depends on your needs (I don't really jig but I do carry a few jigging lures as well)
- chair or bucket to sit on
- Something to carry your gear. sled, back pack, bucket, etc. I use Jet sled
- Masking tape and marker because tip-ups have to have you address on them and if someone else is using your gear they have to put their name on it.

Some other things that people use (I don't)
- Portable Shanty
- Heater
- Vex or some form of flasher/fish finder
- GPS

I'm sure there is somethings I'm missing or you won't want or need but I'm sure you will get an idea to start making a list of what you want to carry. There are cheap and expensive ways to go and everything in between. I find like in just about everything going with quality will be the cheapest in the long run and quality doesn't always mean the most expensive.
    Tight Lines Mate...Cheers

Hey Duane...  I've got several of my old tip-ups here at the house for you already. 
 
Now that I've got some new gear it's time to pass along the gear that was handed-down to me...
 
I've got at least three all spooled up and ready to go.  Maybe four?
 
They are all yours if you want 'em!!! 

ORIGINAL: Perch Inc.

Tip-ups: I don't use them but do have some, don't like picking them up after fishing all day hands get cold!!! 

That is why I went to whip-ups. Just reel them in like your jig rods.
Whip-up
http://s732.photobucket.com/albums/ww323/X_Wisdom_X/Ice%20Fishing/?action=view&current=WonderWhip2-13-2009.flv

I am going to be getting a Vex for sure, no idea how to use one but I will have one. Any models I should be looking for? Also when it comes to jigging rods and reels what are some good setups? I could go out and just buy stuff but I think it is a much wiser decision to ask the guys who have been doing this for a while and tried it all. Thanks so much fellas.

Duane:
you can spend very little (under $100.00) on Ice gear and be set up pretty good.
you guys & the Vex, yea they are nice but by no means a necessity. A good map will work just as well and besides seeing the fish don't mean they will bite.
Tip-ups, You NEED Tip-ups unless you are looking to just fish for pannies I'll take my 5 tip-ups and 2 jig rods any day..
Get yourself 5 decent tip-ups. avoid plastic (it don't like cold) and avoid those low profile or flat ones. You want to easily see the tip-ups. the bigger the spool the better but basically all a tip-up does is hold your line and trip the flag.
Auger, yup need one... The cheap blue mora auger will work fine. One tip, a 6" hole cuts MUCH faster & easier then an 8".
As for line , I use a black 25# dacron line made by MASON Line. Fly line backing is the same but costs more and usually not black (easy to see on the ice). Avoid those vinyl coated lines, they are like cable and get stiff when cold.
The easiest way to carry your gear is a standard 5gal. pail with a rope for putting over your shoulder. Yup a jet sled is nice.
As for rod, I use a 30" med action jig rod and this year will try braid line on the reel. The longer stiffer rod is for bigger fish, lakers & walleye but also works for pannies. A lighter rod will not work well for the bigger fish.
Everything else said , bait pail, creepers etc, you should get.

good luck .

No one has mentioned the key item!

Mad Bobmer Rabbit Fur Hat!
 
they look funny but are the warmest things ever.
 
 
Also try using a flouro leader on your tipups. It deffinately helps with the numbers. If youre after toothy critters my suggestion is to NEVER use steel leaders.
Aditionally if you plan on spending a fair amount of time on the ice a one man shanty can be a life saver. Ive seen one man clams go for $50 on craigslist.
Never leave home without your ice ladle. it makes for a very very unfun day....

ORIGINAL: Perch Inc.

Tip-ups You don't need no stinkin Tip-ups!!!!!!!!!!!!

The only ice fishing motto I live by

Wow...  Looks like two different camps of fisherman all of a sudden...  Weird...
 
Not to sound defensive- but I wouldn't trade my tip-ups for anything in the winter. 
 
I guess I am much lazier than most, or something.  And poor too... 
 
Hand-lining a fish is my favorite part of winter.
 
 

ORIGINAL: Ship of Fools

How about tip ups and jigging with a vex?

 
Yeah man, that's what I'm talking about...  Maybe it's just my additiction to Northern Pike that has me salivating over the thought of 14" suckers impaled on tiny little trebles hanging through the ice somewhere not-so-secret up in Essex County...   Or the little pike hotspot in Schenectady/Scotia.
 
My buddies on the Finger Lakes that got me started in ice fishing are excatly that way.  They've got the vex, the aqua-vu, and the sweet shanties...  But there is no way they are leaving the traps behind.
 
All of our trout on Otisco and Owasco come on the tip ups too it seems. 
 
But the pannies all come on the short sticks, of course.  I know my buddy Jeremys monster Laker did come jigging too.  I would never abandon jigging by any means (especially when cruising around with guys with flashers) but I think the whole tradition behind seeing a flag fly is part of the fun (for me). 
 
"The Walk" is sweet.  Always wondering what triggered the flag, and if the spool is going to be screaming when you get to the hole.
 
But again, I tend to knock back my share of Busch's out there on the ice compared to more aggressive and 'focused' summer fishing.
 
Maybe having both hands free is a higher priority for some folks

Try fishing PP,Loon,Schroon or Paradox without tip-ups and see what you get. I will say some places are a jiggin lake such as LG but others you can jig till the cows come home ..
I'll take my 5 in the hole and 1 in the hand any day.....

I think Blitz literaly needs to hook his shanty together with someone. given what happened last year...
 

No reason why you can't run tip-ups while jigging, I don't just because I like to stay as mobile as possible

 
Ditto, i like the run-n-gun approach with the portable shanty and heat  ... i hate getting my girly hands
all wet and cold dealing with the tip-ups.
 
 

  358 total lakers on the year.

 
... And that's no B.S. guys  I watched him plucking them one after another one day ... he had like 20 to my 2 !! One reason i upgraded the vex ... poor Lakers are in trouble this year !!
 
 
Don't ask about specifc locations though, i was blind folded onto the water.
 
 
BB
 

As for a vex. FL-18

I love the "friends don't let friends use tips ups"

Mobile Mobile Mobile.

I put over 75 lakers on the ice last year including a few over 10 and a 13 1/2 lber that is at the taxidermist.

358.........  all i can say is  "we're not worthy"" !!!!
 
that is awesome
 
and tuna........so are tip ups and beer pong.......
 
so we need to have a monster outing this year for sure!