Ice fishing for bass

[Stick in Mud]

So my favorite bass lake has some skim ice on it, and it got me thinking....Does anyone specifically target largies under the ice? This lake is loaded with some big fish and great numbers of small to medium fish. I've never been out there targeting them specifically, though I've caught a few accidentally while fishing for panfish.

Does anyone do this? I've always thought that they are too hard to catch under the ice to fish specificall for them, but I'm wrong all the time (ask the ex-wife), so I might be wrong about this, too. It seems like a fun way to spend a nice afternoon on the ice, but I'd hate to have to deal solely with the million and one hammerhandles that also live in the lake? Is there a way to focus for bass without spending $100 on sucker minnows for 12'' pike? Do folks jig for them the way we do walleyes? I

Carmike

[reinhard1]

i dont target bass but i do get my share of them on hard water. mainly on tip ups with fatheads, shiners, or suckers. i have also got some on panfish baits as probably many have. i use quick strike rigs for my tip ups for pike so, so far i havent injured any bass using those rigs. years ago i read somewhere that bass go dormant or dont bite often during hard water, but i sure seem to tag a few here and there. especialy here in the metro area. good luck.

[hookncook]

I use small shiners (in WI) with a tip up, same rig I use for northern pike.

I fish the cranberry marshes of Warrens, and Lake Onalaska weedbeds for bass.

[BrandonJ]

I did some experimenting last yaer in shallow water sight fishing. Found a pretty decent bite for bass in about 7-9 fow. I was using a 1/16 silver lindy rattlin flyer spoon loaded with euro larvae and waxies. That sure was fun watching them come in, some timid others I didnt even see them coming. Very suttle jiggin worked to much turned them off. Ive also caught them alot fishin tip-ups for pike mostly on shiners. Very fun to fight under the ice plus when they get to the hole theres no teeth to deal with.

[fishuhalik]

ya, that theory's bunk. they slow way down but they'll definitely still bite. the last 2yrs i've kinda pegged down what to look for in the winter. had to try a handful of lakes before i figured it out, but there's a definite pattern. i really like diamond jigs with waxies. look for small lakes with high electrofishing numbers and tons of little sunnies. the sunnies'll drive ya nuts til you find the bass. i look for lakes with very little structure, cuz if you can find a small lake with one or two deep weedy points chances are that's where they'll be. never done well on dark lakes, clearer water always seems more consistent. seems like they don't really turn on til late ice but first ice can be good too. i'll cover said point with holes from the first to the second break, & i keep bouncing until i find a big red mark. on one lake up by grand rapids i've really narrowed em down & have gotten into a couple big schools. another lake in the west metro is usually good for a half dozen or more most evenings. man is that fun! broke off a few, kinda hard to get a 4lb+ largie in the hole with 3lb test! one time i spent 2hrs catching them as fast as i could drop it down. that's about as much fun as you can have on ice. just make sure you're harvesting responsibly if you do keep any. i don't keep bass, but i coulda cleaned that lake out in a hurry the way they were bunched up.

[Raider4ever]

I've got a spot where I can catch SMB all winter. They hang around an isolated rock pile that tops off at 13 fow and I drill holes from 16-23 fow off it for crappies and sunnies (I'll put one on top for NP if I get REAL bored). The bass seem to like a larger crappie minnow about 6 inches-1 foot off the bottom on a float. A 3.5 lb SMB takes awhile on those flimsy little perch rods and 4lb test.

[Raider4ever]

Do I keep them-No.

Do I intentionally fish for them out of season-No.

Are they a P.I.T.A. in March and April-Yeah, sometimes.

[th64]

Clear lakes-cabbage-bring your aqua view

Not only are they not scared of a camera they are actually attracted to it.

Good luck all-harvest responsibly

[CrowWingBasser]

For most of us bass fisherman casting is a big part of our game - o.k. pitching & flipping - and a very small percentage that troll!! So, how does this all work for you on hard water????? I rest my case.

[reinhard1]

Bass are not different than any other fish. they are still predator's. i dont target bass at all on hard water and if i catch one i would release it right away. however they do bite in winter and people do catch them just like any fish in season. the methods you use are for open water and would not work of course. but other methods work, even by accident. good luck.

[scott b]

On a lake like that I would try The largest golden shiners I could find. Keeps off the small Northerns while attracting the big bass. First ice is a must if you are targeting them. They all but shutdown mid-season.

[Stick in Mud]

I should've mentioned that, like most on this board, I don't keep 'em.

Will the pike be in the same water as the largies? I've taken the little bro out on the lake looking for some tip-up action, and we had some fun chasing flags, but 18'' pike only offer so much fun, and that was an expensive trip in terms of sucker minnows. We fished where I catch a lot of bass in the summer (but not in the fall), so maybe I should've been looking a bit deeeper?

And I'm not sure casting and flippin'/pitchin' aren't relevant here.....What are my chances if I bust out a rod and practicing my flipping by chucking a jig and pig into an 8'' ice hole?!?

[carpmanjake]

i get a few nice bass everywinter. some on tip ups and shiners/ suckers. others on the smallest jigs tipped with euro larvea. anything with eat anything when given the opportunity. ive even watched 5-6lb walleyes come up and inhale my euro larvea in 4-5 feet of water.

[popriveter]

I catch them all winter. Last year, i got 5 out of one hole in the middle of January. I take a few on tip-ups, but mostly, I catch them on the swedish pimple I'm working for panfish. I release 100% of my open water bass, but they are so good through the ice. In the winter I keep some bass under 14". It helps me come to grips with releasing my largest sunfish and crappies.

I mostly catch them near the bottom in the basin. Simple.