Ice Fishing Small Rivers?

[tjbassmaster]

I found a spot on a local river that is about 5 to 6 feet deep. This is the deepest I have found in that stretch of the river. The river is some where between 10 to 15 feet wide. I have been catching all kinds of different species in this area. I have gotten tons of perch, some sunfish, crappies, and even a few northerns. And of course the usual small river fish (creek chubs,bullheads,ect.). So my question is do you think the fish will be holding in this spot during the winter? Has anyone ever ice fished smaller rivers with any luck?

[RiverFish]

These areas can and will hold fish in the winter. If you catch fish there in the fall to late fall, they will probably be there through winter.

Any change in current flow can and will weaken ice. Always be careful on river ice.

[CNCMike]

I fish a couple deeper holes and the like on a small river near here during hardwater. Those spots do hold fish. Lots of them in the winter, I have found. But be super careful as the ice will almost always be spotty and sketchy on a river. I haven't gone through yet, but have seen ice vary dramatically from day to day.

[Ed Carlson]

Caution is always wise, rivers make ice but very unpredictable and changing ice. Use an ice bar to check ice before you step on it, use it like a walking stick.

Bends will run deeper, and tend to congregate the fish in winter. You will see a lot of the fish tend to feed more at dusk and at night on shallow rivers, especially the walleye.

The first break where the bank first meets the average depth of the deepest water will see the most fish travel, so concentrate on that and on current breaks and eddy's associated with the contour break.

Current friendly jigs like a Sonar or a Zip Lure often do well on rivers as do Nills Jigging Shads and Chubby Darters. You can tip them with a minnow head or Gulp.

[crappiebuster]

Ive tried finding deeper holes around the smaller rivers here and you gotta remember this. When you find the holes during low water mid summer the water is even lower in the winter. So that 5-6 foot hole turns into a 4 foot hole. And if your outta current you gotta usually contend with a foot of ice. Ive drilled some holes and needed new blades after that. Be carefull.

[RiverFish]

Crappiebuster,

Why did you need new blades? I rarely drill through less than a foot of ice, up to almost 4 feet of ice at times and have not changed blades in 2 years.

[crappiebuster]

Hitting your blades on a rock because its so shallow. Rivers dont like my auger to well

[FishDC]

I gotta hand it to you guys. I have fished on 3 inches of hard ice on a lake. There is no way I would venture out on river ice. I must be a sissy

[Snake River King]

If your going to fish it look for back waters or eddys. Current ice is to unsafe besides I have fished the current area and it sucks to jig or fish all together and haven't ever caught anything in a current. Rivers in the winter time are good for 1 thing and 1 thing only...... water skipping! Whoot whoot!

[RiverFish]

Ice fishing rivers can be fantastic, especially at day light changes.

Some rivers with strong current can be tough to fish. Ice fishing the Dresbach dam (for example) in La Crosse can be tough to fish if you are not use to current, good fishing though.

[JBMasterAngler]

Is there any ice fishing to be had on the croix right above the taylors falls dam? The current seems slow enough for a good amount of ice to form, and the water drops right off, so you wouldn't have to walk very far from shore. Just wondering if anyone has tried it?