For many lakes, the best depth to start ice fishing is in the 8 to 20 foot zone. However, depending on the species, time of year and underwater structure, depths less than 5 feet or more than 20 feet might hold more fish.
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How do you ice fish thin ice?
Can you catch fish in shallow water ice fishing?
Ice anglers are finally coming around to the idea of fishing shallow during winter months. Especially during early and late ice, skinny depths of eight feet and less can hold large numbers of actively feeding panfish, walleyes and other species cruising weed-mottled flats.
What is the best depth to ice fish?
On clear lakes, the best depths are usually in the 10-foot to 20-foot range. However, fish movement does vary and depths as shallow as 2 feet and deeper than 20 feet can often be very productive as well. Live bait is most often used on tip-ups.
What weight should I use for ice fishing?
In open water, line of 6- or 8-pound test may qualify as “light,” but ice anglers commonly scale down to 4-, 3-and 2-pound test with 1-pound line a serious option as well. Fish below the ice are sluggish, and they will not put up as hard a fight as they will in warm water conditions.
What time of day is best for ice fishing?
The best time of day to ice fish is during the first couple of hours after sunrise, and for about 2 hours both before and after sunset. These are the times when most fish are heading to their feeding grounds, and when most species are active. What is this?
Do you use a leader when ice fishing?
In order to be able to safely land your ice pike, you either need a strong fluorocarbon leader of about 50-60lb or a titanium wire leader of about 25-30lb. Both leaders have excellent abrasion resistance and will be able to handle the ice hole’s sharp edges, even under hard pressure.
What is the trick to ice fishing?
How do you find fish under ice?
- Use a GPS or charts to find gradual drop-offs.
- Drill holes in the ice.
- Hang your ice transducer in the water (if you have one)
- Setup ice fishing tip-ups and/or start jigging.
- If you don’t catch fish, move until you find them!
Is ice fishing good after dark?
Most anglers are active during the day, so fishing at night will mean fewer anglers hovering over that hot brush pile or creek channel. The reduced the number of anglers crunching across the ice and the potential fish disturbance won’t hurt either.
What is the best bait for ice fishing?
For ice fishing live bait, try wax worms (bee moth larva), maggots, spikes (fly larvae), wigglers (mayfly larvae) or minnows. You can drop your bait and leave it alone, or you can slowly jig to attract the fish. Ice fishing jigging also works with artificial ice fishing bait.
How deep will walleye go?
Walleye are generally caught between 10-40 Ft. A typical mid-sized lake in the Midwest would likely hold Walleye between the depths of 10-15 Ft. during the Spring, 15-25 Ft. transitioning to Summer, 25-40 Ft.
Do you use a sinker ice fishing?
Why are ice fishing rods so small?
Ice fishing rods are so small because they are designed specifically for use in ice. For ice fishing, you need to be close to the hole, so a standard open-water pole will be too long. You also need a more sensitive rod for ice fishing, so the small size of ice fishing rods helps with feeling the fish.
Can you use regular braid for ice fishing?
Nanofil works great. You can use it outdoors in sub freezing conditions. Much better than any of the ice braids I have used.
What is the best weather for ice fishing?
Cloudy days are preferred by most ice anglers. Light levels are more subdued and fish feed more actively throughout the day. Match the clouds with a falling barometer and you’ll hopefully have yourself a good day of fishing.
How do you catch a big fish in ice fishing?
There are two ways to catch fish through the ice: use ice traps called “tip-ups” or use a specialized jigging rod to deploy your bait through a hole in the ice. Most ice fishermen set out all their tip-ups, and if they get a hot hole, remove the trap and start using a jigging rod.
What size line should I use for ice fishing?
In open water, line of 6- or 8-pound test may qualify as “light,” but ice anglers commonly scale down to 4-, 3-and 2-pound test with 1-pound line a serious option as well. Fish below the ice are sluggish, and they will not put up as hard a fight as they will in warm water conditions.
How much line should I put on my ice reel?
Ice fishing line is often sold in 50 to 110 yard spools. This means a 50 yard spool can be used on two reels. That’s 25 yards each. Just start spooling with your leftover braided line you used in the summer, then finish it off (with a GOOD knot!) with 25 yards of some decent ice fishing line.
How long should an ice fishing leader be?
To get the maximum number of bites, the author recommends using a short fluorocarbon line as a leader at the terminal end. For panfish I recommend a high visibility main line made of monofilament and a zero visibility fluorocarbon leader about 24-inches in length.
What part of a lake is best to ice fish?
Look for points, breaks, weed lines, and underwater humps. During first ice fish the points and bars that extend from shore and the weed lines. Midwinter look for fish around the deeper structure like mid-lake humps and rock piles.
Where do fish go late ice?
How do you stay warm in ice fishing?
How do you ice fish like a pro?
- Get moving. Mobility, no matter what, where or when you’re fishing, is key to success.
- Stay in the loop.
- Come prepared.
- Don’t overdo it.
- Be one with your lure.
- Keep an eye on things.
- Go easy on ’em.
- Lighten the load.
What month is best for ice fishing?
March is the best month of the winter for ice-fishing in most of the Ice Belt, but anglers are never sure how the ice conditions will impact access to the lakes.