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Where'd the bobber go?
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When I was young my cousin Mark Hirschey used to joke that; “having to pay capital gains tax is the second worst thing that can happen when investing.” Over the years I have changed his saying a little to match my ice fishing adventures; “not catching any fish is the second worst thing that can happen when ice fishing.” I like to relate ice fishing to investing simply because either you are on the spot and catch a lot of fish; or you lose and do not catch a thing. When ice fishing you can move around, but ultimately you have to put all your chips on a single spot.
In my experience the worst thing that can happen while ice fishing is losing something valuable down the hole. This could be anything ranging from a cell phone to a bottle of expensive booze. Of course, injuring yourself while playing touch football or having your vehicle go through the ice would be a disaster as well. For these reasons, the thought of ice fishing for me has often not included actually catching fish.
There is something eerie about walking across a lake in the winter. Especially when you are very familiar with the lake and spend a lot of time on it when it is thawed. Driving and sleeping on the ice are also experiences that I believe everyone should have. In the winter I enjoy spending time on the lake, regardless if I am catching fish.
So far, the winter of 2005-2006 has not been very kind to ice fishermen or their valuable possessions. With temperatures reaching the low 40s in mid-January ice conditions during what is supposed to be the coldest time of the year are more like the spring. “The ice on Red Lake was yellow and honey combed. I wouldn’t even drive my snow mobile out there.” Said Nick Manderfelt after returning from Red Lake on an early January trip.
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For many, ice fishing is just as social as anything else
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Ice conditions on many lakes have weighed heavily on the minds of ice fishing contest organizers. For the first time in years anglers may not have the option to fish during the Eel Pout Festival in Walker, MN held in mid- February. The Eel Pout Festival is my kind of contest; catching fish takes the back seat to the festivities. With several ice fishing contests being cancelled in January it will be interesting to see what happens. My bet is that regardless of ice conditions Walker will be the place to be in mid-February; just leave your auger and rods at home.
If you do make it on the ice I have a few suggestions to help your fishing success. One thing that anglers often ask me is what is the best time of the day to ice fish. The best time to ice fish depends on many things but as a rule I start by looking at the water clarity where I am fishing.
On clear lakes, which receive plenty of light, even when they are covered by ice, I have found that the best time to fish is sunrise or sunset. On lakes with low water visibility I have found that the best time to fish is noon to one pm. On lakes with low visibility it is even harder for the fish to see with ice blocking out sunlight. Mid-day provides the fish with the best visibility and offers the most light changes in murky water. Light changes trigger activity of all fish, especially Northern Pike, Bluegills and Perch.
Another thing that anglers typically overlook in the winter is water temperature. When I ask my fishing buddies what the temps are the most common answer is “cold.” It is true that it is difficult to measure the water temps in the winter but there are a few simple rules to follow to increase ice-fishing success.
Water temps are the warmest closer to the bottom of the lake. On shallow lakes, that do not get deeper than 20 feet, I start by fishing the deepest holes. This is where you should find the largest concentrations of all fish. On deeper lakes I start by fishing drop offs about 10-15 feet during first ice; then move deeper as the weather gets colder.
With the winter of 2005-2006 being mild I find myself looking forward to the spring. Before we know it the Spring Conservation Season for Snow Geese will be begin, the sloughs will thaw and the migrating birds will come back to the North. You know what the second worst thing that can happen in the spring? Burying your pick-up in a sloppy field.
