Ice Fishing Quick Tips

By Jeff Matura

Color Does Makes A Difference - Even under the ice color still makes huge difference whether it's walleyes or panfish. I always carry several colors of my jigs and lures on the ice. Once I start catching fish or see them on my Vexilar I will experiment with different colors to see which color the fish want the most.

Dont Setup Yet - If your fishing new water don't set up your ice fishing house and get settled in until you find some active fish using your flasher or camera. I've drilled up to 30 holes and watched below with my flasher for a minute or two to determine if fish are present or not. This is just one example of many to make your electronics work for you.

Fish Feed Up - Whether it's panfish, walleye, or northern, all fish will strike a jig or bait above them, but never below. If your fishing without a flasher try starting 2-3' of the bottom and jigging down. I've caught crappies over deep water (26 feet) that were only 15 feet below the ice. This is why flashers are so important when fishing deeper water.

Light Line Catches More Fish - Use the lightest line you can when ice fishing. One or two lb. test is all it takes for bluegills and crappies. 4 or 6 lb test is plenty for walleyes. By using lighter line your jig will have more action and you will be able to detect lighter strikes. When jigging down and using hi-visibility fishing line you will often see your line go slack, which is cause by a fishing holding your lure versus an aggresive strike.

Check Before You Drill - By spilling some water or windshield washer fluid on the ice and placing the transducer in the puddle your flasher will display the depth of the water without you even having drill a hole. This can save alot time when fishing new water or exploring existing water.

Keep Your Waxworms Healthy - Keep your waxworms lively and plump by storing them in a cool place. For food sprinkle some plain oatmeal in the container.

Try Jigging Down - By lowering your rod slowly while jigging you can catch those fish that simply hold the jig versus striking it. Just watch your line for a slight bow while lowering and jigging, and then set the hook. Using hi-visibility fishing line will also make it easier to see when the line goes slack.

Fish The Peak Hours - Dawn and dusk are the best times to be on the ice, especially during the winter months. This includes all species except northern pike which are most active at dawn and mid morning. When targeting crappie fishing mid day is most often a waste of time.

Stay Mobile - Success on the ice can oten mean staying on top of active fish. I've been fishing backwaters of the Mississpi river before and had to move about every 10 minutes to keep catching nice big bluegills. Basicly we kept moving between about 20 holes.

Fish Minnows For Big Perch - Perch will take both waxies and minnows but most often the bigger perch perfer will want minnows or part of a minnow versus waxies.

Keep Your Bait Moving - Fish will rarely take a bait or lure that's sitting still in the water. Keeping your bait moving to attract and trigger more fish.

Choose The Right Spring Bobbber - The type of spring bobber used can make a big difference in the way your able to jig your lure. A pen type spring bobber is best for small light-weight lures, while a flat spring bobber will work better for heavier lures. A pen type spring will also indicate a lighter bite than a flat spring bobber.