Ice Fishing

First and foremost, safety is key. A frozen lake can be dangerous if the conditions are not ideal. You need to make sure the lake is sufficiently frozen, and of course that there are fish in the lake. Different anglers have different ideas on how thick the ice should be in order to safely fish on it. We tend to err on the side of safety and will wait until the ice is at least six inches to a foot thick. Make sure to dress for the trip. Snow boots that are waterproof and have good tread will make walking across the ice much easier. Warm pants, thermal shirt with a t-shirt over it, hat, and gloves are essential too. You will of course need a coat that is lightweight but warm. It is important to wear layers especially if you are fishing in a shanty or hut because you may need to remove some layers while fishing and the put them back on when leaving the lake.

There are a few tools that will also make your trip easier. An auger, manual or automatic, is a must have. You can’t fish if you do not have a hole in the ice. Fish finding sonar and depth finding sonar can also make things much easier, but they are not a necessity. A skimmer is absolutely necessary. You need to be able to periodically skim the slush off the hole to ensure your line does not freeze. A Sled will make your trip much easier as well. You can pack all of your fishing equipment and other necessities onto the sled and simply pull it behind you across the ice instead of carrying everything.

When determining where to go a good tip is to go where fall fishing was the best. A lake that produces well in the fall will typically produce well in the winter as well. Remember that no matter what the season, fish like cover. Having a contour map if you do not have sonar can make finding good spots that much easier. You will have to be ready to move around a lot. A spot that yields great results in the morning may not be as productive as the day continues. Do not get stuck on staying in one place. Fish move around, so you need to as well.

Line and hook maintenance is key when ice fishing. Make sure your hooks are sharp and in good condition. Watch for snags in your line and ice buildup. There is nothing more frustrating than losing a fish because you could not reel in the line because of a snag or because it was frozen. Make sure you are skimming your holes periodically to prevent slush and ice buildup. Make sure you maintain your reels as well. If your reel is not spinning freely and causing too much pressure, the fish will more than likely drop the bait. Keep your line off the side of the hole. If your line freezes to the side, it can not only hang you up when trying to reel in a fish, but it can cause your line to break. Simply adding a small split shot weight to your line can keep it from moving around too much and can keep your line nice and center in the hole.

If you find yourself not getting many hits, there are a few tips you can use to change the game. Most anglers use vertically hanging jigs. While these jigs can be highly productive, they can also be slow producers because the fish become accustomed to the movement. Try switching the vertical jig for a horizontally hanging jig. They have different movements and can usually catch some attention. You can also try twisting your line instead of the typical up and down movement. All you have to do is place your line between your thumb and index finger and twist it back and forth. Again, this creates a different motion and can catch the attention of the fish. Looking down the hole and watching fish take the bait can teach you how fish respond to different methods and bait. Bouncing your jig off the bottom can also liven things up. This causes debris to stir up and gets the attention of the fish that are feeding close to the bottom. If all else fails, change your bait or lure. If you have been using jigs only, switch to bait and vice versa.

Ice fishing is yet another adventure where you will learn new tricks that work well for you. Just be sure to be safe, have plenty of variety in your bait, stay warm, move around, and as always have fun!

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