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Q:
So Im new at the whole ice fishing thing, during the summer me and my friend pike fish all the time now that we got our lisences. But last year we trid ice fishing for pike and had absolutly no luck. I think we might have been too deep in the water, or using the wrong bait but i'm not sure. Do we use minnows, sucker minnows, hard baits, worms or what? And how deep should i go. Also I'm not sure because i don't have a depth or fish finder. Just a pole, some tip-ups and a auger. So if you would help me out a little i'd appreciate it. Thanks.
Question by eddie21. Uploaded on November 12, 2009
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Answers (9)
Sorry not much "ice fishing" going on down here in Ark.
I have heard that spoons work well though.
Good Luck and Good Fishing !
eddie21
If your fishing in the open, cover your feet and legs in a pile of snow, you'll keep much warmer. Snow is 32 degrees even at sub zero temps. I learned this in Alaska!
Drill plenty of holes, and fish them for 30 minuets with live bait and jigs. Look for weed beds in 6 to 10 feet of water.
you going to have best luck if you know anything about the water your fishing on, you should focus on dropoffs, underwater humps, and the deepwater side of large weedbeds.I wouldnt fish anything under 6' deep during the winter.Tip ups with live or dead 6-8" long suckers hooked behind the dorsalfin and fished near bottom works well.Jigging with spoons works occasionally but pike can be sluggish in cold water and most times wont chase anything moving too fast.
Ice fishing is a lot of fun but it is different that summer fishing. The fish are relatively dormant and will not chase fast moving baits nearly as much. They also tend to inhabit the depths of the lake. You may have to use cut bait or tiny red worms in the winter and just leave it sit. If you are going for northerns, you can use live bait but they will typically be deeper in the lake. I have found one of the most important tools in ice fishing is a good ice auger that will allow you to quickly drill new holes if the spot you are fishing is not producing. Once you find a honey hole, you can fish that location all winter but it usually takes a lot of drilling to find where they are congregating.
Set up on a drop off or a point. I tie a knot in my tip up lines at 5 foot intervals. That way I always know how deep it is and how deep i am fishing. If i am in 20 feet of water I set up at 10-15 feet. For pike I woould use a 6-8 inch sucker. Drill 4-5 holes in a line from the shore out. starting in 10-15 feet of water. Set up tip ups at different depths let them sit for 20-30 min. I usually set up so I can have a jig stick too. I have second holes about 4-5 feet next to the tip ups. I jig those holes back and forth. Once you find the depth the fish are at set more up around there down the shore line. Have a buddy who uses whole hot dogs when ice fishin for pike. Crazy is he catches them on the hot dogs too!
use a larger bell sinker on your jig pole to find the depth first.
i usualy go about 6' under the ice with golden shiners
thanks everyone
Post an Answer
you going to have best luck if you know anything about the water your fishing on, you should focus on dropoffs, underwater humps, and the deepwater side of large weedbeds.I wouldnt fish anything under 6' deep during the winter.Tip ups with live or dead 6-8" long suckers hooked behind the dorsalfin and fished near bottom works well.Jigging with spoons works occasionally but pike can be sluggish in cold water and most times wont chase anything moving too fast.
Set up on a drop off or a point. I tie a knot in my tip up lines at 5 foot intervals. That way I always know how deep it is and how deep i am fishing. If i am in 20 feet of water I set up at 10-15 feet. For pike I woould use a 6-8 inch sucker. Drill 4-5 holes in a line from the shore out. starting in 10-15 feet of water. Set up tip ups at different depths let them sit for 20-30 min. I usually set up so I can have a jig stick too. I have second holes about 4-5 feet next to the tip ups. I jig those holes back and forth. Once you find the depth the fish are at set more up around there down the shore line. Have a buddy who uses whole hot dogs when ice fishin for pike. Crazy is he catches them on the hot dogs too!
Sorry not much "ice fishing" going on down here in Ark.
I have heard that spoons work well though.
Good Luck and Good Fishing !
Drill plenty of holes, and fish them for 30 minuets with live bait and jigs. Look for weed beds in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Ice fishing is a lot of fun but it is different that summer fishing. The fish are relatively dormant and will not chase fast moving baits nearly as much. They also tend to inhabit the depths of the lake. You may have to use cut bait or tiny red worms in the winter and just leave it sit. If you are going for northerns, you can use live bait but they will typically be deeper in the lake. I have found one of the most important tools in ice fishing is a good ice auger that will allow you to quickly drill new holes if the spot you are fishing is not producing. Once you find a honey hole, you can fish that location all winter but it usually takes a lot of drilling to find where they are congregating.
use a larger bell sinker on your jig pole to find the depth first.
i usualy go about 6' under the ice with golden shiners
thanks everyone
eddie21
If your fishing in the open, cover your feet and legs in a pile of snow, you'll keep much warmer. Snow is 32 degrees even at sub zero temps. I learned this in Alaska!
Post an Answer