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11/27/2001
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Article/Press
Release
Ice
Fishing Strategies
By Joe Wilkinson · Iowa DNR Information Specialist
That skim of ice across the
lake is tempting. Hold on to your ice auger, though, it’s still a
couple weeks away from safe ice fishing weather.
“I was working on the lakebed
on Tuesday (Nov. 21) and saw a couple spots where it might be 2
inches thick,” notes Patrick Scheetz, from Lake Macbride State
Park. “Otherwise, it hasn’t even reached all the way across the
lake yet.”
Ice 2 or 3 inches thick is
generally the absolute minimum for “hard water” fishing. With
warmer temperatures possible, that early ice cover is just a hint
of what’s to come.
“Typically, that early ice is
best. That’s when the fish are biting, but it’s a dangerous time
to be out on the lake,” cautions Jon Christenson, DNR fisheries
technician at the Lake Macbride Station, which covers 10 counties
in east central Iowa.
Once the ice sheet can bear
angler weight safely, anglers can pick up fish on a late season
feeding binge. As the water temperature drops another degree or
two, fish head into their winter slowdown and it’ll be longer
between bites.
From there, it’s a matter of
finding the fish. That may be on your favorite lake, river
backwater or pond.
“Usually, farm pond fishing
can be very productive,” offers Christenson. “Most ponds are
small. You want to look for the deeper holes and find some cover.
If you have been fishing at all in the spring or summer, then you
know where the cover is located. That’s a good place to start.”
That underwater
cover—vegetation or “introduced” structure such as trees, stake
beds or other habitat is the place to look for panfish in Iowa
lakes, too. If you’re fishing water with good walleye numbers,
you’ll want to “go deep.” Water near the bottom is slightly
warmer. That means a little more activity from the winter-sluggish
fish. There should also be better oxygen levels on the bottom than
during the hot-weather months. For river fishing, again, the key
is deeper holes. Panfish prefer to stay out of the energy-robbing
current, but near the fresh oxygen moving water offers. Bigger
rivers, particularly on the Mississippi, have good winter crappie
haunts.
High technology has helped
find those fish in recent years. New generations of electronic
equipment range from sonar-type locators indicating how many fish
and their depths to actual underwater cameras.
“Anglers are advanced,
technologically, with some of the equipment they’re using now,”
agrees Christenson. “That’s giving them the upper hand. It’s
another tool. Still, the fish have to bite. If they’re not biting,
you’re not going to be productive.”
To get them to bite,
Christenson advises the “cold fingers” crowd to think small and
slow. With ice-cold water, the metabolism of fish and their
reaction time is dramatically curtailed. Their appetites also go
into the deep freeze.
“Go to smaller baits,”
suggests Christenson. “Tip it with a wax worm or a wiggler.
They’re good for panfish. Walleyes are more minnow feeders.”
He suggests a jigging wrap,
with the head of a minnow on the bottom treble hook. He also
recommends hooking a minnow in the tail or below the dorsal fin to
keep it a little more active in the cold water.
And, as with any fishing trip,
knowing the hotspots ahead of time sets the scene. Sporting goods
stores, or area parks or DNR fisheries office can provide a
“heads-up” for areas that are getting more attention. |
