Search Results for ‘crappie ice fishing’

by Bob Jensen I was going through one of my ice-fishing lure containers the other day and said to myself "I'll be putting this stuff away before too long." It seems I talk to myself more and more lately. Anyway, too much of the time we get locked into ideas that some lures are made for...

by Bob Jensen Ice-fishing and open water fishing are very similar in some ways and very different in others. The differences are obvious; the similarities are much more subtle. One of the things that open water fishing and ice-fishing have in common is the importance of the line you're...

by Bob Jensen It's not here, but it's near. Ice-fishing that is. It's November. Many hunting seasons are in full swing. Those are an ice-anglers reminders that it's time to start thinking about ice-fishing. Depending on Mother Nature, we could be ice-fishing in just a couple of weeks in the...

Our Outdoors - By Nick Simonson I had promised to take a coworker, Dane, on a number of fishing trips this past year, but it seemed as if fate was aligned against the idea of getting him exposed to the different niches of angling he wanted to learn about. Our muskie adventure in August was...

Our Outdoors: 180 Ice Holes By Nick Simonson 180 ice holes make an area about the size of a football field look like a giant slice of Swiss cheese. 180 ice holes feel like a P90X doubles workout day followed by a lactic acid soak for the shoulders, back and triceps, even with a lightweight...

By Nick Simonson There's an old Irish proverb that wishes good luck to the traveler by stating "may the road rise to meet you." For anglers, especially those on the ice, it should be more like "may the fish rise to meet you." Presentation is one of the key factors for consistently catching...

By Jason Mitchell When you look at some of the best ice anglers, there often is some strategy in how and where they drill holes. Ice anglers might not be able to drift or troll but they can drill holes in a pattern and discipline themselves to fish the holes in a set time to cover water...

By Nick Simonson As the seasons pass and I have become more adept at ice fishing and technology has bolstered my ability on the ice, I have drifted away from those species I once pursued primarily in winter. Walleyes and northern pike, though tops on the food chain, take a back seat these days...

By Jason Durham Bluegill fishing is about balance. Each trip is a constant trial and error to figure out if the fish want a tiny speck of an ice jig - the flash, vibration and, meaty profile of a jigging spoon, or any presentation that falls in between. Each presentation has its strengths and...

By Nick Simonson It's the evening of the first day when the temperature has stayed well below freezing and I'm sitting in the not-quite-bright-enough light of the living room, squinting as hard as I can in an effort to thread a wisp of one-pound test through the eye of a 1/64 ounce Genz worm in...

Our Outdoors Nick Simonson On a recent fishing trip to a small, virtually featureless lake, save for one giant point that separated the body of water into two halves, I began to wonder where to get started. It was a sunny day with unseasonably warm temperatures and a slight wind. My friend...

By Brian Brosdahl A system is only as good as the weakest link. That's a profound statement and applies to everything from a football team to stereo systems. Think about it. Well, in fishing, it also pertains to the freshwater shrimp - or scud as they're referred to on the ice...

Our Outdoors Nick Simonson I cannot recall how many times I have watched fish rise up on the Vexilar as I work my lure in the water column only to have the fish pause at my offering then head back to the bottom. Be it a small jig with a wax worm or a spoon with a minnow head, it is...

By Mark Strand During ice fishing season, the sun often sets before you can wrap up the workday. Because of this, an awful lot of people don't even think about going fishing except during daylight hours on the weekends. If you can miss the boat when lakes are frozen over, you are missing the...

By Mark Strand Depending on where you live, 'early ice' can be a brief period right after the ice forms or an ongoing phenomenon as fishable ice comes and melts, comes and melts. In general, bluegills are good biters during this time, but you must locate them to be successful. No matter what...

Crappies are one of the most frequently-chased winter fish. So it's no surprise that the subject of crappies comes up constantly when the Power Sticks gather at sports shows. We put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) when it comes to crappie fishing, followed by solid answers...

By Chris Hustad I really don't care where you live in the upper Midwest, you're in driving distance of a quality crappie fishery. I've caught crappies in small ponds, large lakes, rivers and variations of the three. But finding and catching crappies on these systems can vary, especially during...

By Jason Mitchell More ice anglers are discovering that the tip of the rod we are using has as much influence on our presentation as the actual motion we put on the rod while fishing. A rod with a fast tip for example will give the lure a distinct flash and pound that is more abrupt, perhaps...

By Mark Strand Depending on where you live, 'early ice' can be a brief period right after the ice forms or an ongoing phenomenon as fishable ice comes and melts, comes and melts. In general, bluegills are good biters during this time, but you must locate them to be successful. No matter what...