Ice Fishing Preview North Dakota with NDGFD and my724outdoors.com!
Ice Fishing season will be here soon. Find out how the 2021/22 winter ice fishing prospects are shaping up in this week’s North Dakota Outdoors webcast.
My724outdoors is about Community!! Join the website and Share your Adventure! REGISTER HERE https://my724outdoors.com/wp-login.php?action=register IT IS FREE ALWAYS! Post your pics or YouTube Links to our forums and be a part of the outdoor community!!
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP! https://www.facebook.com/groups/my724outdoors
Drop us an email with your adventure, attach some pictures or a Youtube link to your video. We will share it for everyone to enjoy! Email us at [email protected] today!
MORE PFGFishing fun!
STINK BAIT for Crappie? NOPE!
Southern Illinois camping and fishing trip
Whether you are a die-hard, or just a casual angler looking to broaden your horizons, ice fishing has a lot to offer. Not only does it allow you to catch a lot of fish, it’s also is a good way to catch a true trophy, wall-hanging pig. Pretty much all freshwater fish feed throughout the winter, and forage is in short supply. There are few insects or crayfish to feed on, so the fish get hungry and are willing to take chances they might not at other times of the year. Add to this the ability to set up to five traps per person (subject to state laws), and you have the potential for a fast-paced day of fishing. If you do it right, you’ll spend more time sweating than shivering, and days of catching 30-plus fish will have you begging for more.
Perhaps more than any other kind of fishing, ice fishing should be a social event. The more people the merrier, and more traps leads to more action.
A good day on the ice should also include indulgences in food and libation. A proper “ice camp” contains the following: a portable propane grill, manly food like venison, Pringles, jerky and doughnuts, folding chairs, a couple of dogs, a cooler (to keep beer warm, not cold), hockey sticks, a small fire, a radio (in case you want to dance), and a football.
Over the years I’ve noticed that ice fishermen seem to be the friendliest subset of anglers in our region. Unlike super-secret surfcasters or territorial boat fishermen, ice fishermen tend to be a more outgoing lot and are usually more than willing to take in newcomers. Information is shared, jokes are told, and if you visit another group’s ice camp, chances are good you will be offered food, a beverage, and some solid advice. Don’t be shy when you’re out on the ice.
➤Ice Thickness Chart
Generally speaking, the first safe ice of the season will give you a shot at the best fishing. The fish have been relatively unmolested by anglers for a few months, they’re hungry, and they haven’t yet been educated by the barrage of ice fishermen who will soon be harassing them.
First ice can also mean dangerous ice. In the past, I’ve ventured out on ice as thin as 2 inches and lived to tell about it, but I’m a big guy, and if anyone in our group is going to go through, it will most likely be me. Nowadays, as a good rule of thumb, I like to have a solid 4 inches of clear black ice. Always continue to test the ice’s thickness as you move away from the shore, and if you are the designated ice-checker, wear a life preserver or flotation jacket. Never venture onto the ice alone and always have a long length of heavy rope on hand. Avoid areas with a brook or stream entering nearby, and also stay away from trees or large branches that extend into the water, as they will absorb heat from the sun and weaken the ice.
Different bodies of water will freeze at different rates. This is important. Just because you see someone ice skating on the local cranberry bog doesn’t mean the town reservoir has safe ice for ice fishing. The south side of any body of water will almost always freeze more quickly than the north side since it receives less sunlight. Small, shallow bodies of water freeze quicker than big ones. In a good freeze, I’ve found that ice forms on a pond at a rate of about 1/2-inch per day. So if we have a full week with temperatures near or below 32 degrees, there should be some safe ice to be found.
➤Where to Ice Fish
Ice fishing is an effective way to catch just about any species of freshwater fish. Understanding a particular body of water—and the fish that live in it—will give you a big advantage. For the most part, where you find the fish in the spring and fall will be the same place you’ll find them in the winter.
In my experience, I’ve found that most of the best ice-fishing action comes in water from 3-to-20 feet deep. I like to set up my traps so that they cover a variety of depths. Areas with rock piles, weed beds, or dramatic contours are all good spots.
➤How to Make an Ice Fishing Hole
Since most species of fish will be found near the bottom, it’s important to sound the hole so you know how deep to place your bait. Some species, however, such as trout and salmon, have a tendency to cruise just below the ice, so if these species reside in the pond you’re fishing, it might be wise to set a few baits just below the ice. Always be diligent and check your traps at least every half hour. Baits will disappear or find their way into weeds, and you will often find tangles at the spool caused by a circling bait. Keep your baits fresh, as a lively minnow will almost always out-produce a dead one. You will also want to make sure your holes don’t freeze over, so skim out any ice and make sure the traps don’t freeze solid. It’s also always a good idea to check your traps occasionally to make certain they are set properly and the flag mechanism is working. I’ve lost more than one nice fish due to human error that occurred while setting the trap.
You’ll need a tool to cut a hole in the ice. The most economical choice is an ice chisel, sometimes referred to as a spud. A good chisel can be bought for around $40. The next step up is a hand auger, which can run from $50 to $100. Both of these tools work well but will give your arms a good workout, especially if there is thick ice. If you plan on doing a lot of ice fishing, a gas-powered auger is a wonderful tool that makes drilling holes extremely easy. It allows you to quickly drill numerous holes, which will enable you to move traps around to cover more water. Power augers start around $350.
Rounding out the shopping list, you’ll also want to pick up a hole skimmer, some sort of sled to drag your gear in (a cheap plastic children’s sled has served me well for years), a depth sounder, a pair of ice picks and, perhaps most importantly, a pair of traction cleats for your boots.
➤Ice Fishing Techniques
- Tip-Ups
- Ice Fishing Jig
Just like any other hobby, ice fishing can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Ice fishing gear, for the most part, hasn’t drastically changed in the past 100 years. There are many more gadgets and gizmos available today, but the fundamentals remain the same.
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. If you are just getting started, a set of tip-ups should be your first investment.
Old fashioned tip-ups share many similarities with a mousetrap. Both are constructed of wood and wire, both were invented a long time ago, both have been redesigned in hundreds of different ways, and for both, the original design remains relatively unchanged.
When an angler first picks up a tip-up, it might seem crude and archaic, and it might take a while to comprehend exactly how it works. But, like mouse traps, they are not that complicated. A tip-up consists of a spool with line, a mechanical trigger mechanism, and a flag that pops up when a fish pulls line from the spool. Set your bait on the hook, lower it down, set the trap, wait for the flag, and then run like crazy! When you get to the hole, remove the trap, grab the main line, wait until you feel the fish, and then give it a hard snap to set the hook. You fight the fish “bare-knuckled,” using your hands, not the spool, to pull it in.
➤Ice Fishing Bait
What you use for bait, for the most part, will depend upon what your local tackle shop has to offer. Shiners are the primary bait you’ll find, and they will often be available in different sizes. Stick with small shiners for trout and panfish; go big if you are seeking bass or pike. Some shops will also carry chubs, which make great baits and are often cheaper than shiners. I’ll often buy as much variety as the shop has to sell so I can offer the fish a veritable pu-pu platter of different meal options. Some days, the fish show a significant preference for one bait over another.
The past few years, I’ve been experimenting with nightcrawlers for bait and have had some good results. The lowly earthworm is a delicacy to many fish: I’ve had good success with trout and panfish, and I’ve even caught a few impressive bass. Set them right above the bottom and expect a lot of bites, as just about any fish in the pond will take a stab at them. You might have a problem with bait-stealers, however, so make sure you bring along some minnows as well.
If you are going to be fishing with a jigging rod, it’s tough to beat the classic Swedish Pimple in one of the smallest sizes available. Adding some meat to the jig will always up your odds, so tip the hook with a mealworm, a small piece of nightcrawler, or if all else fails, the eyeball from a kept fish (yellow perch seem to especially like the flavor of an eyeball). When jigging, focus your efforts close to the bottom, and opt for a slow and steady jigging motion.
Ice fishing is a traditional New England pastime, and it’s a great excuse to get outside on a winter day. The next time we enter a deep freeze, take advantage of it, pack up a sled and celebrate with a day on the ice.
This article was originally published online in December of 2020.
