Ice Northern locations?

[s2h]

If your looking at a lake overlay map, what type of structure/depths do the Northerns sit in during the winter?

[buckhunter21]

Edge of weedlines, depth depends on the lake. Ive caught them in as little as 4 feet and ive caught them in over 40 feet. I usually will set up in around 6-10 feet though when tip up fishing for them.

[Gordie]

weed lines 6-12 ft and if no weeds I look for points start in shallow and work my way out deeper. breakline off of points can be very produtive as well for early ice pike.

[Zelmsdawg]

How often will pike cruise basins? Does it happen more in shallower lakes without much definition in weeds or other structure than in the deeper lakes? Just starting to try tip-ups this year and trying to get a feel for where to put them. Thanks

Zelmsdawg

[s2h]

Thanks guys! I will see what I can do.

[buckhunter21]

How often will pike cruise basins? Does it happen more in shallower lakes without much definition in weeds or other structure than in the deeper lakes? Just starting to try tip-ups this year and trying to get a feel for where to put them. Thanks

Zelmsdawg

Cant say ive ever tried it before. I have had luck though fishing small reefs on both bigger and smaller lakes, like where it goes from 15 feet to a small hump thats maybe only 7 or something like that. Early in the year I like to fish narrow mouths of small bays on smaller lakes and try to pick off fish cruising from big lake to the bays to feed. Later in the year this doesnt work as well for some reason, dont know if it has to do with lower oxygen levels in the bay or what but they seem to move out.

[Zelmsdawg]

Thanks, I thought I'd ask because i was fishing crappies last weekend in a shallower lake which bottomed out around 15 and keep getting pike in our holes throughout the day...I mean it doesn't surprise me since its fairly shallow but what about the 30 or 40ft holes? I guess I was more curious if anyone ever runs into them out there.

Zelmsdawg

[Gordie]

I have speared in some 20-30 ft hole later in the year most of the panfish and fishermen are there as well.when guys pull up those small pannies and throw them back they dont always make it back down so thwe pike will ride up high and feast on the pannies that are just under the ice. when spearing that deep my decoy is only down 1-2 foot under the ice. works well if you know the pike are in the area.

when I tip up fish I will set one up so it is 2-5 ft under the ice as well.

[Urbanflyguy]

from the first 4inches of ice till the first week of jan i fish 1 1/2 too 3 feet of water and every year i get at least two over 40" in a lake where nobody seems to think holds big pike. after that i target points that drop off both sides into water over 20 feet or mid lake humps that hold a good amount of forage fish towards the end of the season im in the deepest water i can find with big dead baits on the bottom. i have to say the 1 1/2 to 3 foot range is my favorite as the action is normally a feeding frenzy and watching the looks on peoples faces who laughed at me for fishing there when i start hammering them is pricless