Competitive Ice Fishing FAQ Thread

[Lawrence Luoma]

The goal of this thread is to grow competitive ice fishing. UPL, NAIFC, Team Extreme or any other circuits are fun and exciting events that allow anglers to have fun and learning experiences. I want to use this thread to bring questions you may have about competitive ice fishing.

If you have been thinking about competing but have some questions and/or concerns that keep you from doing so please ask!!

If you have questions about tactics, strategy and basically anything you could think of please ask!!

These events will be the biggest learning experience you'll have on the ice. Let's start the learning here and make sure your first try is a fun one.

Please bring any topic you would like but try to keep it tasteful and about competitive ice fishing.

[Rod Woten]

Great idea, Lawrence!!!

-Rod

[S. Thompson]

I'll second Rod. Awesome forum idea Lawrence!

Lawrence,

Let me throw out the first question. I returned to ice fishing last winter after a 5 year hiatus (kids winter school/sports activities) and am interested in ice fishing tournaments. I've fished a lot of summer walleye tourneys, but never ice fishing tourneys.

What are the names of all the various leagues, circuits, and/or tournaments and do they have websites? Where would a person find a list of these websites? What about a websites that post the various tournaments?

Rod,

Last winter at Ice University, you talked about some of the things you've learned fishing tournaments and the importance of being mobile. What would you say are the most important things to an ice fisherman about being mobile.

*See you next week in Sioux Falls at Ice Institute.

~Steve Thompson

[Lawrence Luoma]

Steve, I'm not sure I can post these websites via forum policy but I'll give you some keywords you can search for. I also believe each one of these all have Facebook pages.

Team Extreme Ice Fishing Tournaments (also check out Ice Federation on their page)

NAIFC

Ultimate Panfish League (which also had a main forum here)

MN Pan Fishing League

[Craig Oyler]

Steve, Dakota Angler there in SF used to hold a league. I can't remember if it was going on last year or not, but a few years back when I was working there, I fished a couple. You might want to look into that.

Seeya in a week!

[Scott O.]

Regarding mobility in tournaments, does anyone have any suggestions for the best ways to move around or what to look for when one does not have an ATV like myself. To walk across some the lakes in the Hills would require a lot of time, so usually the day before, I find a few places that are within a couple of blocks of each other to eliminate the time factor. And another question--I tend to hang out in a location for a while and wait for fish since I have to walk on the ice to the lcoation. Any suggestions for how long one should hang out in a particular area when not graphing fish for 30 or so minutes?

[LakeDocktor]

Regarding mobility in tournaments, does anyone have any suggestions for the best ways to move around or what to look for when one does not have an ATV like myself. To walk across some the lakes in the Hills would require a lot of time, so usually the day before, I find a few places that are within a couple of blocks of each other to eliminate the time factor. And another question--I tend to hang out in a location for a while and wait for fish since I have to walk on the ice to the lcoation. Any suggestions for how long one should hang out in a particular area when not graphing fish for 30 or so minutes?

In your situation, I would put the miles on prefishing. Find an area that is holding good fish and concentrate on fishing that area during tournament time. I rarely sit in a location very long. I will use my electronics to locate fish, drop down on them, and move when they move.

When you locate that particular area you plan to concentrate on, drill, drill, drill! The same fish you found during your prefishing are more than likely, relatively close. Use your electronics and locate them. With enough holes drilled out, you should be able to stay on top of them for the majority of the time. You can also pattern their movement and may need to expand and drill more locations. A good lake map in combination with electronics and punching holes should give you a good idea on their movement patterns.

[Rod Woten]

Rod,

Last winter at Ice University, you talked about some of the things you've learned fishing tournaments and the importance of being mobile. What would you say are the most important things to an ice fisherman about being mobile.

*See you next week in Sioux Falls at Ice Institute.

~Steve Thompson

One of the most important things is to keep it simple. Some folks bring the kitchen sink with them to the launch on tournament day. I have evolved my system over the years to be as light and mobile as possible. I only usually take 4 or 5 rods with me. Each one will be rigged with presentations that worked best for me during pre fishing. This is also one of the reason I'm such a big proponent of smaller 1-man shelters. Not only are they lighter and easier to drag, if necessary, but they usually allow me to leave my heater in the truck, because I can sufficiently warm the small space with only my body heat. Since these smaller shelters also have limited storage space, it also forces me to be very selective about what I bring and what I leave behind.

I like to talk about the 3 pile method I learned as a Scout and I firmly believe in it because it works. After every trip, sort your gear into 3 piles...the stuff you used a lot, the stuff you used occasionally and the stuff you didn't use at all. On the next trip, leave everything in the 3rd pile at home. This method has allowed me to refine my system form a "kitchen sink" angler to the minimalist I am today....and my system continues to evolve every season.

Tournaments have also given me ample practice in looking at lake maps, theorizing where I think fish will be found, and then getting out and testing those theories. It's a practice makes perfect thing, and I'm far from perfect yet, but the time it takes me to analyze a lake has significantly decreased. It's something you can only learn with time on the water, but it is definitely one of the most impactful things I have learned by fishing tournaments.

-Rod

[Scott O.]

Thanks LakeDocktor. I appreciate the information. I do believe I will try to employ those techniques this year. I don't have a GPS, but can use printed lake maps easy enough. And I do believe that I do not drill enough holes and appreciate the recommendation on doing more drilling. I got a nice Jiffy. That's what it's for right

[S. Thompson]

Quote:

I like to talk about the 3 pile method I learned as a Scout and I firmly believe in it because it works. After every trip, sort your gear into 3 piles...the stuff you used a lot, the stuff you used occasionally and the stuff you didn't use at all. On the next trip, leave everything in the 3rd pile at home. This method has allowed me to refine my system form a "kitchen sink" angler to the minimalist I am today....and my system continues to evolve every season.

Rod, this one I do recall you talking about. That was one of the first things I did when I got back from Leech Lake. Amazing how much stuff I left at home the last few time out last season.

Quote:

Tournaments have also given me ample practice in looking at lake maps, theorizing where I think fish will be found, and then getting out and testing those theories. It's a practice makes perfect thing, and I'm far from perfect yet, but the time it takes me to analyze a lake has significantly decreased. It's something you can only learn with time on the water, but it is definitely one of the most impactful things I have learned by fishing tournaments.

When it come to lakes, I spend a lot of time reading the SDGFP Lake Surveys, Fishing Forecasts and Netting Sampling results. A lot of great information can be found in the reports. Put that information together with a good lake map and I feel I'm well armed each time I hit a lake.

Quote:

Steve, I'm not sure I can post these websites via forum policy but I'll give you some keywords you can search for. I also believe each one of these all have Facebook pages.

Craig & Lawrence. I did some web searching and found a lot of clubs, circuits, league, and tourney informational websites.
Family

Quote:

Steve, Dakota Angler there in SF used to hold a league. I can't remember if it was going on last year or not, but a few years back when I was working there, I fished a couple. You might want to look into that.

Craig, remind me to ask Todd this weekend about a DA league. See you in few days.

~Steve

[rundrave]

Craig, remind me to ask Todd this weekend about a DA league. See you in few days.

~Steve

There used to be a Sd competition league called "true ice" but it is no more. I thought it may start back up but never did.

[S. Thompson]

Quote:

There used to be a SD competition league called "true ice" but it is no more. I thought it may start back up but never did.

rundrave, I've been watching the Ice Federation HSOforum. They posted Clubs Forming Soon for South Dakota. I started ice fishing back in the late 80's but have off the ice for about 5 year until getting back to it last year(...Kids! are growing up leaving me free time now). I'm looking to start with some smaller local events this year and then go from there.

[Lawrence Luoma]

Some good posts so far so lets keep it going. You know mobility is always a great subject. It's funny when I look back that mobility has been the main reason my fishing style, equipment and attitude has changed towards ice fishing. My mobility has brought me to the point I don't even fish in a Fish Trap (unless a sight bite is going) anymore. Fishing outside has changed how I dress, how I detect bites and how much it is easier to move to active fish. A wise man by the name of Dave Genz said "If it's easy to move you'll will." or he said something like that.

With that said I remember the first time I saw Myron Gilbert drill by us at the NAIFC Championships and check every hole with his Attack Bucket to pull up fish in almost an impossible bite. That next day I made my own with a Ram Mount and my Vexilar. I haven't looked back. There is not faster way to fish.