Making the best of midseason ice fishing
As winter progresses, fish under the ice are going through changes. If you keep up with their movements, you can still be successful. If you don't, you will likely get skunked.
Ice fishing is a challenging sport. There are so many variables that it's hard to keep up, sometimes. You have to learn to notice the most subtle changes and capitalize on them immediately. The pattern that you relied on the day before can be completely ineffective the very next day. Focus on following the fish as they migrate, and keep track of these movements for future outings. Locating where the fish are is the first part of the battle, while figuring out what they want to eat and what presentation they want is equally important.
As the season progresses, oxygen levels in the water begin to drop. This forces the fish into deeper areas of the lake, which tends to make them harder to catch. As mentioned before, locating the fish is the first part of the battle. There are several methods used to find them, but they all have one thing in common. The bait you choose can be more important at this time because the fish are becoming more lethargic. The way you rig, jig, and the size of bait used can make a big difference in your success level.
Finding fish can be made easier through the use of electronic devices. Before electronics, everyone used the same basic technique. The truth is even if you have electronic tools, you will have to get them through the ice. Here's the common thread: The more holes you drill, the better chance you will have at finding fish.
This means your best bet is an electric or gas auger. You can only punch so many holes by hand before your arms wear out, so a motorized auger is your best choice. I have chosen an electric auger for a few different reasons. The first is it is safe for the environment, and many lakes don't allow gas-powered equipment because of contamination issues. I also like that they are quieter than gas augers, and you don't have the chance of getting fuel on your hands.
If you happen to get fuel on your hands and touch your bait, I'm convinced that the fish smell it and won't bite as well. I also like the fact that there is no exhaust, which means you can drill holes inside your shelter without stinking it up. There are many people out there using cordless drill auger attachments. They are good, but your battery life limits the amount of holes you can drill. I chose to get a larger version that allows you to use a deep-cycle marine battery. I can literally drill over 100 holes with it. The only drawback is the weight of the battery, and it also helps to have two people. One to pull the sled with the battery in it, and one to drill the holes.
Once the fish migrate to deeper water, you have to start this routine. The problem is there is little or no structure in deep water. This causes the fish to move constantly, and will likely force you to do the same to keep up with the school.
The schools tend to be suspended. They will likely be at the same depth range across the lake, so pay attention to it. You can be fishing 40 feet, and the fish will be 30 feet down or 10 feet off the bottom. At 20 feet, they will likely be at the 10-foot mark, also. If you get lucky, the fish will not be moving much and will stay around for a while. I recommend chumming up the hole every few minutes to keep the feeding frenzy going. This is now legal in our state.
Play around with different sized and colored baits. I have found downsizing at this time of season works well. On a few occasions, I have had fish refuse a larger bait of the same design and color, while they destroy the smaller ones. This is why it's important to stock up on different sized baits.
Your jigging technique is also of great importance. Sometimes fish want a heavy flutter, while at other times they prefer a dead stick. It's usually somewhere in between, though. I find if you keep lifting the bait as if it were trying to outrun the fish, they bite it best. Sometimes they want you to just slowly lift it, while others, a fast lift works better. The fluttering jig while lifting trick over the jig less lift, is another technique to try.
Don't let the mid-season lull keep you off the ice. Make a log and keep track of seasonal movements, punch lots of holes, fish hard and try different presentations.
Good wishes and find those mid-season fish.
Questions or comments may be emailed to Sheldon sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com.
Ice fishing is a challenging sport. There are so many variables that it's hard to keep up, sometimes. You have to learn to notice the most subtle changes and capitalize on them immediately. The pattern that you relied on the day before can be completely ineffective the very next day. Focus on following the fish as they migrate, and keep track of these movements for future outings. Locating where the fish are is the first part of the battle, while figuring out what they want to eat and what presentation they want is equally important.
As the season progresses, oxygen levels in the water begin to drop. This forces the fish into deeper areas of the lake, which tends to make them harder to catch. As mentioned before, locating the fish is the first part of the battle. There are several methods used to find them, but they all have one thing in common. The bait you choose can be more important at this time because the fish are becoming more lethargic. The way you rig, jig, and the size of bait used can make a big difference in your success level.
Finding fish can be made easier through the use of electronic devices. Before electronics, everyone used the same basic technique. The truth is even if you have electronic tools, you will have to get them through the ice. Here's the common thread: The more holes you drill, the better chance you will have at finding fish.
This means your best bet is an electric or gas auger. You can only punch so many holes by hand before your arms wear out, so a motorized auger is your best choice. I have chosen an electric auger for a few different reasons. The first is it is safe for the environment, and many lakes don't allow gas-powered equipment because of contamination issues. I also like that they are quieter than gas augers, and you don't have the chance of getting fuel on your hands.
If you happen to get fuel on your hands and touch your bait, I'm convinced that the fish smell it and won't bite as well. I also like the fact that there is no exhaust, which means you can drill holes inside your shelter without stinking it up. There are many people out there using cordless drill auger attachments. They are good, but your battery life limits the amount of holes you can drill. I chose to get a larger version that allows you to use a deep-cycle marine battery. I can literally drill over 100 holes with it. The only drawback is the weight of the battery, and it also helps to have two people. One to pull the sled with the battery in it, and one to drill the holes.
Once the fish migrate to deeper water, you have to start this routine. The problem is there is little or no structure in deep water. This causes the fish to move constantly, and will likely force you to do the same to keep up with the school.
The schools tend to be suspended. They will likely be at the same depth range across the lake, so pay attention to it. You can be fishing 40 feet, and the fish will be 30 feet down or 10 feet off the bottom. At 20 feet, they will likely be at the 10-foot mark, also. If you get lucky, the fish will not be moving much and will stay around for a while. I recommend chumming up the hole every few minutes to keep the feeding frenzy going. This is now legal in our state.
Play around with different sized and colored baits. I have found downsizing at this time of season works well. On a few occasions, I have had fish refuse a larger bait of the same design and color, while they destroy the smaller ones. This is why it's important to stock up on different sized baits.
Your jigging technique is also of great importance. Sometimes fish want a heavy flutter, while at other times they prefer a dead stick. It's usually somewhere in between, though. I find if you keep lifting the bait as if it were trying to outrun the fish, they bite it best. Sometimes they want you to just slowly lift it, while others, a fast lift works better. The fluttering jig while lifting trick over the jig less lift, is another technique to try.
Don't let the mid-season lull keep you off the ice. Make a log and keep track of seasonal movements, punch lots of holes, fish hard and try different presentations.
Good wishes and find those mid-season fish.
Questions or comments may be emailed to Sheldon sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com.
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