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 Ice-up
Diversity by Ron Anlauf
First ice is made for
hooking up with more than walleyes. Sure it can be good
(even great), but a little diversity might round out the
perfect plan. Walleyes are notorious for turning on during
low light periods, especially when fishing shallow water
early in the season. Activity during the day can be almost
nonexistent Rather than pressing the daytime issue you
might have more fun by switching target species and chasing
down a bunch of jumbo perch.
 Let
the Good Times Roll by Ron Anlauf
It’s time to get back on the ice and get after a few
walleyes, maybe a bunch of fast action perch, or even some big
slab crappies or hefty bull bluegills. Whatever the case; let
the good times roll. However, before you grab your gear and go
charging out to make history, it might be a good idea to take a
little time and make sure you’re prepared. There are some basic
items besides the obvious that you really couldn’t get by
without, and if overlooked or forgotten your first trip might
not be what it could have been.
Bridging the Seasons
“Wherever there’s a culvert, or trees hanging in the water,
there’s a cast worth making.”-- Brian ‘Bro’ Brosdahl It is the
truest of transition times, that period when very late winter
becomes very early spring and even risk-takers think hard about
using planks to get from open water along the shoreline out to
theoretically fishable ice. In most households, serious anglers
are out in the garage getting boats ready. But it’s a season of
opportunity if you choose to seize it, a time when you can
bridge the seasons between ice and open water. |
 |
Hot Tactics for Icing Monster Walleyes
There's nothing like
the feeling you get when you stick a big walleye in deep water
and it can really be exciting. First you see it, then you entice
it, then you hook it, and then you hope like heck that you can
work it to the top and get it through the hole, or at least get
it close enough to get a good look. The whole process is
exhilarating and makes the work of finding the right spot, being
there at the right time, and using the right bait all
worthwhile. |
 |
Mid Winter Slabs
The time for putting a bunch of big slabs on the ice is here and
now. While early ice can be good, the action after the first of
the year can be even better and is something you really don't
want to miss out on. Somewhere between first ice and mid winter
crappies can be a little hard to pin down and even a bit
unpredictable, but not now. Now is the time when solid patterns
set up that are custom made for taking advantage of.
Down But Not Out for Mid Winter Panfish
If you can find them
you can catch them, plain and simple. Mid winter sunfish and
crappies will usually bite as long as your bait is in the right
neighborhood, and location then really is the "final answer" to
hooking up with a nice bunch of panfish. One of the hottest mid
winter patterns to set up is no where near anything you might
consider "classic" (at least when compared to open water), and
could be as a basic as the middle of the lake. |
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Fishing the WildSide ON ICE TV
Debuts October 2nd. - For the first time ever in the
history of television, there will be a fishing show dedicated
solely to the rapidly growing sport of ice fishing. Who better
to bring that to the world than Chip Leer, Jeremy Smith and the
rest of the Fishing the WildSide crew?
The Crappie Slide - By Ron Anlauf
Early season crappie location eventually gives way to what the
middle of winter can bring, and often varies greatly from whence
they came. The sharp shoreline breaks and deeper points and
humps that held so many slabs early in the season typically dry
up by late January, and the next hot spot may have no
resemblance at all to early season honey holes. |
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The Crappie Slide - By Ron Anlauf
Early season crappie location eventually gives way to what the
middle of winter can bring, and often varies greatly from whence
they came. The sharp shoreline breaks and deeper points and
humps that held so many slabs early in the season typically dry
up by late January, and the next hot spot may have no
resemblance at all to early season honey holes. |
|
Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest - Forest Lake - Minnesota
The Hopkins Area Jaycees are proud to bring you the 23rd Annual
Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest on Forest Lake. That's
right, we've got ice and this year will be better then ever!
The Devils in the Details
- By Rick Olson
It keeps growing and growing and growing, with
no end in sight. Devils Lake in North Dakota has
ballooned up into a real monster, which has created
serious hardship for property owners and an
incredible angling opportunity for perch and walleye
fisherman.
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The Hunt is On for Mid Ice
Walleyes
- By Ron Anlauf
The first ice period may have already come and
gone but what’s up next is nothing to sneeze at. The
following stage of the frozen water period can
actually produce some of the most consistent walleye
action of the entire season. Instead of waiting
impatiently for hungry ‘eyes that may or may not
show up just before dark on the shallow bar or reef
that you bet the house on, ... |
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Technical
Walleyes on Ice - By Ron Anlauf
It’s time to make a bold move, a move that could take you
into the great unknown, where no man has gone before (at least
not this year). Walleye anglers working early ice had better be
ready to make major moves, especially if the hot action takes a
sudden turn for the worse. They say that when the going gets
tough the tough get going, and with that being so the question
arises; Just exactly where do the tough go? When the hot spots
of the early ice season dry up the “tough” could be well served
by taking a hard look at deeper water.
-
 Slab
Jam 2005 - by
Ron Anlauf
The time for getting in
on some hot early ice slab action is at hand, and it’s there for
the taking. Tying into monster pole bending crappies is a whole
lot of fun and is an experience shared by far too few. Once
you’ve had the pleasure you’ll want more of it, as it can be
rather addicting. Getting your share isn’t all that tough and is
a simple matter of finding them, and then enticing them.
-
First-Ice Walleyes -
by Adam Johnson
All it takes is a
bucketful of shiners, a six-inch hand auger, a stout ice-fishing
rod and a three-eighths ounce jigging spoon and you’re ready for
those first-ice walleyes. Later you can add an ATV or
snowmobile to the program and a gas-powered ice auger is nice
when the ice gets thicker, and there’s nothing like a portable
shelter when the wind is blowing. But come first ice all I take
out is the minimum amount of gear so I can stay light and
mobile.
 Lightweight
Aluminum Fish House Frame
From EZ Roll Lakeshore Equipment: Being in the heart of
Minnesota ice fishing country, we have seen a great many fish
houses ranging from the mundane to the very extravagant; also
varying in weight from heavy to next to impossible to move! So,
we decided to market a very lightweight aluminum frame that
allows the fisher-person to let their creativity take over and
finish the fish house any way they like. We have built simple
bare bones 5'x8' frames to huge 8'x24' frames with 4'x4' storage
areas.
 Get
a Jump On First Ice Jumbos
- Ron Anlauf
The most important key to cashing in on early season perch
action is location. The fact is, you can’t catch them where
they’re not. If you’re doing everything right but in the wrong
place you’ll come home empty handed. On the other hand, if
you’re doing everything wrong but in the right place you can
still catch a few. Fortunately for us finding perch at first ice
is a relatively easy task and is as simple as following the good
ice. The first place to develop good ice is the shallows
(especially the shallow bays), off the main lake.
Hammer
Time for First Ice Walleyes
- by Ron Anlauf
 Great things could be happening right below your feet right now,
if only your feet were in the right place at the right time. The
“right place at the right time” is the key and isn’t all that
hard to pin down, especially if you understand a couple of the
basics to early season walleye behavior. The basics include
shallow water rocks or even weeds, depending on what’s
available. Rocky reefs and bars can be the hot ticket in cold
water and may be your best bet for finding active first ice
walleyes.
Go
Shallow and Light for the Hot Spring Ice Bite
By Fishing the WildSide’s CHIP LEER: Decisions,
decisions. Aren't they great?Paper or plastic? Cash or credit?
Fine-dining or small-town cafe? It's the same in fishing.
Panfish or walleyes? Live bait or hard baits? Deep water or
shallow water? Make mine panfish and walleyes on live and hard
bait under shallow late ice. It's a narrow window of fishing
opportunity when unbelievable things happen in unbelievable
places -- unless you've been there before.
Spring is
shoving winter aside. Temperatures are rising, and it's
comfortable outdoors. The snow has melted, but not the lid of
ice that caps the lakes across the upper Midwest. Atop that ice,
the fishing shacks are gone, as are all but a few anglers.
 Dropping
Those Mid-Winter Ice Fishing Blues
By Fishing
the WildSide On Ice with Chip Leer:
WALKER, Minnesota -- Mid-winter
got you singing the ice fishing blues? Are you ready to fold up
the Otter, store the StrikeMaster and curl up in front of a
crackling fire because your last ice fishing outing didn’t
provide you with a torrid bite? When the going get’s tough…..the
tough get dropping. “Dropper rigs”, that is. Let’s consider the
ecological changes that take place as winter's grip tightens
across ice fishing country. At first ice, oxygen levels are
high because of the mixing that takes place throughout a body of
water in late fall and the presence of vegetation.
 Fishing
With a 45
by: Fishing
the Wildside On Ice with Tommy Skarlis:
It's January, and the frozen
hardtop of many a midwestern lake appears as peaceful and
inviolable as a quaint country estate. Perhaps a few anglers are
frolicking about on the ice tossing a football or simply being
social. Perhaps a Coleman Road Trip Grill teases the nostrils as
the aroma of burgers or steaks wafts through the air. Perhaps an
angler and his son share a laugh as they tug an Otter Sled
filled with gear toward a promising part of the lake. Don’t be
fooled by this false sense of serenity. Inside those tents and
icehouses, a darker world exists where anglers are frequently
the victims of muggings and robberies that can occur at any time
without any warning. Some are gang-related. Others are random
acts of debauchery.
22nd Annual Golden Rainbow Ice Fishing Contest
February 7, 2004:
The Hopkins Jaycees bring you the 22nd Annual Golden Rainbow Ice
Fishing Contest. That's right, Minnesota's "Original" is back
with a prize package worth over $100 Thousand Dollars. The 22nd
Annual Golden Rainbow Contest hits Forest Lake on February 7th.
-
A Winter Walleye Experience
- By Adam Johnson
The ice was 12-inches thick. Thick
enough to drive on for some anglers whose cars were parked next
to their stationary shelters. I wasn’t yet comfortable knowing
that I would be heading to a spot about a hundred yards farther
out, that just a month earlier had been open water. When I
drilled my holes I realized my caution had paid off. The ice
was only eight-inches where I set up in my portable shelter.
 Tackling
Late Season Perch by Ron Anlauf
It ain’t over till it’s over, and if you’re a perch
fisherman, it ain’t over! In fact, the best of the best is yet
to come, and is something you really don’t want to miss. Jumbo
perch are what we’re talking about, and the action is never
better than it is during the late, late, ice period. It’s not
that big eye poppin’ perch suddenly turn on and go on a mad
rampage, as there are some good catches made all season long.
It’s just that by late ice they’re more likely to be bunched up,
and the odds of finding at least a few that are in the right
mood greatly increases.
 Burning
the Midnight Oil
for Big Crappies
-
by Rick Olson
They say timing is
everything and that certainly holds true when it comes to icing
late season crappies. If your timing is on you can fill a pail
full of big slabs in no time flat, but if you’re off you may
completely miss out. Missing out isn’t much fun and is an
occurrence that can be avoided if you apply some basic late
season principles. The first and most important is location and
will depend on the body of water you happen to be fishing, but
there are a few rules of thumb that can help you get pointed in
the right direction.
 South
Dakota’s New Frontiers - by Rick Olson
When is a duck slough not a duck slough and when does it
become a primo crappie, perch, walleye or northern pike lake? It
happens when what was a duck slough fills up and overflows it’s
banks and keeps filling until it’s deep enough to carry fish
throughout the winter. The process is certainly not common, but
it has happened and rather recently in fact. The site of this
natural phenomenon is North Eastern South Dakota and South
Eastern North Dakota.
A First-Ice Primer - Decoying Panfish: By Brian Brosdahl
 Ten
degrees is not a bad place for the mercury to level off in the
thermometer when you’re planning a day on the ice, unless the
wind is blowing. Gusts up to 25 miles an hour were
reported so I knew this wasn’t going to be one of those days
when I could stand over the hole unprotected. When I
pulled up to the lake access I could see I wasn’t the only one
who thought this as I looked out over a white and gray landscape
dotted with blue. The ice was still too thin for the
stationary shelters to start showing up, but that didn’t stop
the anglers with their portables from resting in comfort over
the most productive bay on the lake.
Ice Fishing Feeding Frenzy
 by:
Fishing the Wildside On Ice with Tommy Skarlis
Fish have a brain about the size of a pea. They have a
stomach that's roughly 20 times that large. Fortunately
for those of us who love to fish through the ice, one feeds the
other. While a crappie or perch isn't capable of figuring out
where to find a meal when the pickings get slim in the middle of
a Midwestern winter, sustenance is survival, and instinct drives
those fish to feed. In the aquatic world, that means reacting to
visual, audio and olfactory (sense of smell) stimulation.
Ice Fishing in a Parking Lot?
On-Ice Olympic Trials Teaming up with Mills Stores:
WALKER, Minn. - The Olympic “torch” will be burning brightly
over the next few weeks as Fishing the WildSide’s On-Ice Youth
Olympic Trials visit selected Mills Fleet Farm stores in
Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
 High
Time for Bluegills by Ron Anlauf
January is custom made for catching pan-fish, especially big
bluegills. They say there’s a time and place for everything and
if so, mid winter has to be custom made for icing gills. For one
thing , by now you should be able to safely get to anywhere you
want to go. For another, bluegills stack up in areas that are
relatively easy to find. Throw in the fact that they have a
propensity to keep eating and eating and you start to get the
idea that something good is about to happen.Making a Case for Glow - By Adam Johnson
The crappies were biting, but not on what I had tied on.
They were biting on a bait that had a glow option. You¹ve seen
these lures. You give them a blast with a little blue LED light
and they emit a colored glow that is supposed to last for about
30 minutes and attract every fish within the confines of the
lake over to the lure for a closer look. My partner who was
sitting right next to me was using a red-glow jigging spoon that
he had tipped with a minnow. I dug in my box and found a
green-glow lure that didn¹t come close to resembling what he
had. Did it work? Even better.
-
 Targeting
First Ice Oahe Walleyes
-
by Rick Olson
Serious hard water walleye anglers live for first ice, and
for good reason. First ice walleyes are never more active than
the present and the sooner you can get to them the better. As
the season progresses the action can only deteriorate as active
walleyes become much harder to find, and to catch. That doesn’t
mean they can’t be caught because they can, it’s just that the
very best is the very first and if you wait too long you could
easily miss out. One of the top hot spots in the entire country
for taking advantage of first ice walleyes is the Mobridge Area
of Lake Oahe.
 The Low Down on Low Light
Walleyes
by Ron Anlauf: As
the sun begins to sink in the western sky good things start to
happen, especially if you’re an ice fisherman looking to hook up
with a few walleyes. When the last bit of the daylight
disappears the action can really heat up, and is one of the best
times for finding good numbers of walleyes with a serious nackin’
attitude. By design a walleye’s eyes provide them with
exceptional low light vision, allowing them to herd up and scarf
down minnows and baitfish that aren’t as fortunate. Walleyes
instinctively know that a low light situation is custom made for
fulfilling their basic need to feed, and when they can do so
with the least amount of energy expended. It’s all part of a
natural scheme, and is where anglers in the know come into the
picture.
 Reactivating
Panfish - By John Peterson
with Noel Vick
The season opened with
a bang. Walleyes were spanking, so too were the pike, perch, and
‘gills. And the annual crappie massacre at first ice went off as
scheduled. (“Massacre,” of course, is used metaphorically to
illustrate hot and heavy action. Only a few eaters were held over,
the rest released. Just so you know.) Yeah, those were the good
old days. Back when sunfish would swallow a spoon and perch
preferred minnows to maggots. But that’s all changed. The “funk”
is underway.
 Perching
in the Present Tense
By Jeff Beckwith: This
winter’s been different… Fair enough, I’ll be the first to admit
that there’s no such thing as “normal” when it comes to wintertime
in the North Country. Heck, averages are really just the means of
extremes. But having said that, I’m hanging onto the belief that
this winter’s been especially weird; so peculiar in fact that I’ve
had to change the way I fish.
I’m a “percher” by
trade. Through the ice, there’s simply no better game. Perch are
willing and able, abundant, and pleasing to the palate. Plus, they
continue mauling baits and baitfish into the deepest, darkest and
deadest epochs of winter.
Last Chance Jumbos -
By Jeff Beckwith
Soon, it’ll be rotten out there. Not rancid like spoiled produce,
but soft and dark nonetheless. I’m talking about the ice. It’s
thick and resolute now, but it won’t last forever, actually,
scarcely longer than a few weeks, less in some areas. Fortunately,
though, ice fishing’s swan song is a cheery tune; one fraught with
foraging fish and wonderful weather. And lead vocals are belted
out by my favorites, jumbo perch.
 Smile,
You're Pouting!
On-Ice Tour - WALKER, Minn.: As fish species go, one will always
stand apart in the northland. It challenges anxious anglers with
its ability to play hide and seek. Its lean, mean physique gives
it the strength to break your heart when it breaks your line with
a sudden but determined surge toward the depths of a northern
lake.
It rewards
successful anglers at the dinner table, and it captures the fancy
of thousands who flock north each year to celebrate its existence.
Okay, so the eelpout isn’t often mentioned in the same breath with
the precious walleye.
 Ice
Fishing tips – Two that will prepare you for success!
By the On Ice Tour Pro Staff: Tip # 1 Be prepared to Ice Fish. -
You can probably apply the
old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” to
just about anything. When it pertains to ice fishing, it could be
worth numerous pounds, of fish that is.
 ELECTRON-TRICKS
By The On Ice Tour with Doug Newhoff: Give an angler the
best equipment available today, and you've got an angler with the
means to catch a lot of fish. Give that same angler the knowledge
and creativity to get the most out of those tools in a variety of
situations, and you've got an angler who is always the envy of
everyone else on the ice.
 On
Ice Olympics Another Big Hit
Drawing on last year's successful debut, the On Ice Tour Youth
Olympics was again a big hit with kids on Jan. 18 at the 13th
annual Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza.
The record crowd of over
14,000 contestants, (mostly adults) were on Gull Lake fishing and
hoping to catch the largest fish and drive home a new Ford Truck
at the extravaganza.
Ice Conditions Dangerous in some areas
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources -
The warm winter weather and lack of
snow have brought many people out to enjoy winter sports on the
ice. But, above normal temperatures also mean ice conditions are
not uniformly safe. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) and local sheriff’s offices urge people to use caution when
out on the ice to fish, ski or snowmobile.
2nd Annual On Ice Olympics for Youth on Gull Lake, Brainerd MN
It’s fun, exciting, educational and free! -
Returning by
popular demand to the largest ice fishing contest in the world is
the On Ice Tour’s “On Ice Olympics”. The On Ice Olympics is
an activity and contest that was developed by the On Ice Tour
specially for youth as a way to introduce young people to the
sport of ice fishing.
Anglers Looking North for Ice Fishing Opportunities
DES MOINES –
The warmer than usual weather over the past week has removed ice
cover from a number of lakes and caused the remaining ice to be
unsafe. Anglers should call their area DNR fisheries office or
local bait shop for the latest information on ice conditions
before heading out.
 Exiting
Stage Wright with the Rings
Ice Team crowns victors at the
first ever North American Ice Fishing Championships -
Alexandria, Minnesota – The rumor was truth and its
contents held throughout the day. The early word from
observers was that a twosome got into ‘em at the opening
bell. And the fish, as reported, were chunkier than anything
sloshing around in anyone else’s bucket.
 The
Great Perch Search
By Rick Olson -
It happens every
year, and when it does it would be so easy to just stay home and
forget it; But what fun would that be? Besides, when the going
gets tough the tough get going, and where they’re going is ice
fishing. However, even the toughest eventually see the writing on
the wall and the wall is saying that a little change may be in
order. A little change like targeting a different species can be
the big ticket to enjoying some quality time on the ice. -
Dec 26, 2002
 Eating
like a Pauper, not a King
By John Peterson with Noel Vick - Just when you think
you’ve got it all figured out, nature pulls a fast one. The deck
gets reshuffled. What was patent and understood now barely
resembles itself. Take the walleye. As ice anglers, we’ve come to
recognize the moods, customs, and characteristics of winter’s
premium fare.
To Spoon, or not to Spoon
By Jeff Beckwith: There’s
no argument, the vertical jigging spoon is ice fishing’s dominant
lure. Fish have surrendered to hammered metal and forged lead
since, well…since folks decided that ice could no longer separate
them from quarry. I’m talking eons. In contemporary times, spoons
are linked to the pursuit of walleyes, lake trout, and perch,
although, when given a chance, flashing hardware will swindle
crappies, whitefish and tullibee (ciscoes), bass, northern pike
and bluegills too. And yes, I said bluegills.
Kidding Around With Perch
By the On Ice Tour Pro Staff - Catching Perch through the
ice can sometimes be like taking candy from a baby. Cut a dozen
holes, drop an underwater camera down, find a school of perch,
drop a minnow or a lure down, watch the lines come together on the
Vexilar, feel the bite, reel ‘em in – one after the other.
Suckerrrrrrs (unintelligent perch, that is).
 Hot Cure for the Curious Crappie Fever
By the On Ice Tour with Gord Ellis
- We outdoors types are
fond of big things. We like big trucks and boats. Our boots are
big and many of us hunt for big animals. When it comes to fishing,
well, bigger is also usually better: Musky, pike and largemouth?
They're all pretty big, or can be.
A State of Readiness
By the On Ice Tour Pro Staff -
The ice is
inviting, and the mood is exciting. It's winter in the northland,
and the fish are biting. Are you ready? Nothing ruins the
prospects of a great day faster than an auger that won't start, a
flasher or an underwater camera with a dead battery, an ice tent
with a broken pole or a reel filled with brittle, weak line.
The Preservation of Life
By John Peterson with Noel
Vick -
The popular rock band U2
dared to write and perform a song titled, “Even Better than the
Real Thing.” Obviously, Bono – the quartet’s eclectic front-man –
intended the ditty for some drop-dead gorgeous maiden; certainly
not ice fishing paraphernalia. But unlike rock and roll, in the
icy world of bait buckets and jiggle sticks, nothing’s
better than the real thing.
Calvin Christopher -
It’s politically
correct and nearly clichéd, the term “multitasking”. In the
hustle and bustle work-world it means engaging two jobs at once,
say tooling widgets and managing idiots in chorus – or at home,
changing a diaper while disciplining other offspring. On the ice,
multitasking suggests catching one species while, well, catching
another. And the best example involves walleyes and perch.
Lakes Will Soon Begin Freezing, Ice Anglers are Urged to Use
Caution
Iowa Department of Natural Resources -
LEWIS – The recent warm spell may
cool hopes for an early ice fishing season, but winter weather is
not too far away. As the lakes begin to freeze, ice anglers will
be itching to get out.
Women and Ice Fishing
On Ice Tour pro
staff member Ineke Leer is featured on the cover of In-Fisherman’s
Ice Fishing Guide and has become the first women ever on the cover
of this major publication. Traditionally ice fishing is thought
of as a male sport, the decision to put a female on the cover of
the In-Fisherman Ice Guide is proof that ice fishing is growing
and enjoyed by everyone, not just “the guys”.
If
you want to catch more fish through the ice, you can "Stick It!"
By the On Ice Tour Pro Staff - A
growing legion of anglers has one thing to say when it comes to
many bodies of water across ice-fishing country. "Stick it!"
DNR
warns of early season snowmobiling dangers -
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources -
The early October snowfall over much of
Minnesota is a reminder that another snowmobile season is
approaching.
Avoid Falling Victim to Hypothermia
Iowa Department of Natural Resources -
LEWIS – Getting the chills in November is nothing
new to folks living in the upper Midwest, it goes with the
territory.
Hot
and Cold Reservoir Walleyes
By Rick Olson -
The “hot” is the level of intensity at first ice and the
“cold” is well, first ice. First ice action on big reservoirs can
be white hot early on, and the big impoundments can offer some
fantastic ice fishing opportunities. That’s the good news.
Top Tactics for First Ice Walleyes
By Ron Anlauf -
Either you’re in
or you’re out. If you’re in, you’ve already gone through the
preparation period of re-rigging and rearranging all of your gear
and making sure that everything is up to the task. If you’re in,
the fun is just beginning. If you’re in, you’ll be on the first
safe ice that develops doing you’re best to put a few walleyes on
the ice.
Introduced to
Exotics -
By Tommy
Skarlis
These
are the fishes, which find their way onto the hooks of anglers
favoring other breeds. Walleye pedants catch them while jigging
and toss ‘em aside. Panfish partisans bring them up,
unintentionally, and seem agitated by the encounter.
Walleyes with a Taste for Form & Structure
By Tommy Skarlis -
Structure. It’s a broad term that often gets tossed out in
conversation with little thought. But in order to catch walleyes,
especially during the winter months, structure is often the key.
There are really two types of winter walleye anglers.
Overcoming Zippered Lips - By Tommy
Skarlis and Chip Leer
Too often,
anglers believe that winter is its own disadvantage. Near
freezing water temperatures slows fish metabolism, resulting in
diminished dining. Lessened appetites demand that we concentrate
on peak feeding periods; present smaller baits with more realism;
offer more meat than metal, and so on. Surely, these are truths,
but we angle anyway.
Bottom
Dragging for Perch: A new method in an age old game
By Jay Weinecker -
Ice anglers continue to refine or adapt tackle and
techniques to fill a wide spectrum of situations that dictate
adapted presentations. The traditional ice fishing presentation is
a vertical affair where the lure or bait is brought to life by
jigging.
Secrets to Icing Walleyes
By Jason Mitchell -
Half the bottom
appeared to rise and separate from the bottom so fast on the
Vexilar that I practically flinched when the rod buckled. There
was no question about getting hit, the fish was on and the game
began.
Overcoming Obstacles to Ice-Fishing Success
By Dave Genz -
In the past
several years, I¹ve found myself using the word Œefficiency¹ more
often, whether I¹m talking to somebody out on the ice or answering
questions at a seminar. There are some inherent obstacles to
overcome in ice fishing, and you¹ll catch way more fish if you
learn to be efficient in everything you do.
Southern Style Panfish
By Doug Newhoff with On Ice Tour -
To many outdoor enthusiasts, winter in the Midwest
means statuesque whitetail bucks and colorful ringneck pheasants.
To a growing number of hard-water fishing enthusiasts, it also
means panfish, and plenty of them.
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Hunting
Hardwater Wolves By Chip Leer
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Pike Through the Ice
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