Shadows under the ice

[foulpole18]

Have any of you guys given any thought how you approach a hole may or may not make a difference. The reason I ask is that last week before the rain, we had the camera out and you could see a shadow if you walked between the sun and the hole. Now we had a bunch of slush and snow on the ice and you could see it clear as day.

Does anybody think this would make a difference when fishing? Has anybody thought about which direction you approach a hole from before?

[Random guy]

Shadows play a huge role when it comes to shallow water ice fishing. We have noticed differences in where we place the house in the area we cleared on the ice during snow years; you can almost predict what side of the house will get the most hits. We have looked at where the lighting is located in the shack due to holes and even how the ceiling fans could cast a flickering shadow onto the ice all in attempting to prevent shadow movement.

I have also seen on the underwater camera where guys have walked up to my portable and the fish where fine until the shadow came across them and then they bolted. Another deal that always sticks in my memory is walleyes around the minnow traps. When I trap shiners the walleyes will hover around the hold boxes; this of course makes perfect sense as the boxes are filled with food they can see but not get to. Often times when the sun is right I will sit for long periods and watch the walleyes try to figure how to get in or get the minnows out however one bird flying over or even a small stray cloud they boogie in short order.

Now it makes perfect sense to me as everything from birds to mammals have been trying to attack you from above your entire life I bet shadows would freak you out.

[foulpole18]

I pay attention to shadows in the summer but never gave any thought about it in the winter. With a 12" of snow and slush plus 3-4" of white ice, I never thought about a shadow being cast underwater. I should have thought about it before seeing as I never scoop out my holes. I alway make a little spot just big enough for my jig to make it down so that I don't have a 8"circle of light shooting down onto my bait.

[slurpie]

Yep experienced this a couple of weeks ago,even with the bad ice as already stated. I thought it was just me walking up to the hole but after awhile it seemed it had more to do with what way i walked up to the hole.

[gr82fish]

Yep, it gets you thinking(too much) why they aren't biting better in the shallows after you've setup, given it some 'settle down' time after cutting the holes(trying to be 'quick and quiet'), and you wait...and move to the other holes(s), not necessarily thinking that your shadow may be as disruptive to them as anything else. Hmmm...one more thing to think about...

[Northlander]

When Im fishing shallow I always try to be quiet and set up on a snow pile. If there is no snow to be found there isnt much you can do. Quiet, keep light low in the house during dark periods and try not to drop things and bang around.

I also have found that these shallow fish will often times not like a camera down the hole.

[harvey lee]

Ditto on what Northlander stated.

If I am tip up fishing for pike on clear ice, I will never run to the flag as it does spook the fish. One has time to walk to the flag.

I do not worry about this quite as much on snow covered deeper water.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

That's how I approach things, too.

[Tom7227]

seems that there are two different things being discussed, both related to shadows.

One has to do with movement. A shadow created by movement apparently impacts fish. The predator/prey thing makes that pretty easy to understand.

The second has to do with dark environments/areas. Fish seem to like to be in areas that are less bright in my experience. They hide under docks, under lily pads and such. There have been times when I have better luck fishing off the 'shadow' side of my pontoon.

Does my distinction make sense?