As a warm weather bass angler, how do you find a spot to fish when the whole lake is frozen over? That’s the challenge that a lot of people will experience their first time on the hard water.
Do you go out there and start drilling wherever and hope to strike gold? Is there a process to determine the best spots to fish? Can technology help?
When it comes to ice fishing, you’ll apply a lot of the same principles you would during the warm weather season. You’re still looking for:
Drop-offs
Structure
Vegetation
The same rules apply. The only problem is these things are a little harder to find when there’s ice covering everything. So, you have a few options.
Option one is to fish familiar water. Your first time ice fishing shouldn’t be to a lake you’ve never fished before. You’ll want to go somewhere you’ve fished a few times because you’ll know where the fish hide out, where the stumps and docks are, and any access points.
Option two is to have some technology. If you have an ice fishing fish finder it will be a lot easier for you. Using the GPS and navigation features will display contours of the bottom. This will help you figure out where the drop-offs are so you can drill in those areas.
Option three is to drill a hole and hope for the best. If you’re not fishing familiar water and you don’t have a fish finder or flasher then you’ll have to wing it. Fish the hole for 30 minutes or so and if you’re not getting any action, move on.
When To Ice Fish?
The best time to ice fish is right around sunrise and right before sunset. This is when the fish are most active so they’re most likely to feed heavily during this time. Bear in mind that you don’t need to hit the lake right before sunrise. They’ll be active for the first few hours after sunrise and the last few hours before sunset.
Sunrise
If you’re like me, you prefer fishing in the morning. There’s something exciting about getting up before the sun, having all your gear packed from the night before, and grabbing a coffee on the way.
You’ll want to arrive a little before sunrise so you have time to navigate the ice, find your spot, drill your hole, and get yourself situated. This will allow you to cut off the fish on their route to the feeding areas. You don’t want to be moving around, banging things, and drilling holes while the fish are relocating because it will scare them away.
Sunset
Sunset is a popular time to ice fish for most people because plankton and other microorganisms make their way to the top when the light isn’t shining on the water. Fish like to feed during this time because it’s easier for them and it’s still bright enough for them to see.
Keep in mind that fishing into the dark is also a possibility. Make sure you have ice fishing cleats and bibs to prevent you from falling or getting too cold out there at night.
Best Time to Ice Fish: By Species
For all of you out there targeting specific species, here are the best times to fish based on the type of fish you’re after:
Perch – Perch are one of the easiest fish to catch and can be caught throughout the day. You’ll have the most success around sunrise and sunset though.
Trout – The best time to catch trout is in the morning because they can’t see well in the dark. You’ll find them in the shallow water and be sure to get to the lake early because too much noise will scare this finicky fish away.
Walleye – Walleye is one of the most targeted ice fishing species and the best time to catch them is in the evening. These guys have excellent night vision and they feed during periods of low light so expect to fish into the dark if you’re after walleye. When the panfish, bass, and trout have gone away, these fish will continue feeding.
Pike – Pike is another popular ice fishing species and they feed most when the water temperatures are coldest. This means that you’ll have the best chance of catching pike in the early morning right around sunrise.
How to Drill an Ice Fishing Hole?
One primary area that makes ice fishing different from the rest is the fact that you’re fishing through a small hole. There’s no casting involved and the methods you can use are pretty limited.
To wet your line, you’ll need to learn how to drill an ice fishing hole.
You need an ice fishing auger to do this. Choosing the best ice fishing auger will require you to understand the various options:
Gas-powered auger
Electric auger
Hand auger
These are the three most popular options.
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