Newbie fishing with no electronics

[Down to Earth]

Once this really cold weather backs off a bit I'm hoping to expand my fishing a bit this year and try some hard water fishing. I did a FM outing last year in Wabasha(no fish), which is the first time I'd been out ice fishing in probably 15 years. Even then that was while I was in high school and all I did then was punch some holes in the backwater Wisconsin River Slough and fish for northerns via tip ups.

Anyways my real question is what kind of progression should I take when ice fishing? I have no electronics to "mark" fish as I see many people mention. I realize I probably have to rely more on luck than the more electonically advanced angler, but I'd like to go about it with some kind of game plan.

Thanks.

Andy

[dwag70]

Hate to say it cause i hardly ever do but follow the crowd fish where every one else is. I have answered many questions on the ice about depth and where I am marking fish. Start on the bottom and slowing work up in 3" intervals is how I used to do it when I started without electronics. Good Luck

[so haaad]

Down to Earth,

Fish have no biases and don't care if you have electronics or not. Remember that you can check depths the old fashioned method using a weight. Go out and have fun. That's what fishing is all about.

[efgh]

The first thing to do is buy maps of the lakes or rivers you plan to fish,might just as well buy gps maps if you can get them because sooner or later you will probley own a gps. take the map of lake or river you plan to fish along whn you go, orintate your self on the map by using points or bays on the map,look for inside or outside corners, steep dropoffs or sunken islands, in otherwords look for structure fish will be at. fish these areas shallow to deep water. In the winter time it is not hard to find where you had the best luck, look for your own holes, summer time you have to use land marks like the old guides did. or do like mentioned above follow the crowd, I never liked that option myself.

[Farley]

Yep, get yourself a map first thing and pick out spots you want to try. Then like efgh said, orintate yourself, dirll a bunch of holes and try to find the structure. Take the time and find the spots, dont just say to yourself "Close enough" find what you are looking for even if it takes an hour or two. Then if you are by yourself, drill a hole every 20 yards or so around the structure you are fishing and if you dont get a bite for say 20 minutes move to the next hole. Since you cant see the fish down there with a vexilar, you'll have to go by the bite. If you have a tip up, all the better, set it up in the next hole down the line. And if you do end up hammering them, do like efgh said and mark the spot by using landmarks. Use as many landmarks as possible (tallest or broken trees, radio tower, points, buildings, obviously dont use fish houses or any temporary fixtures) the best way to do it is make an X using 4 landmarks, but you need at least 3 to be accurate. Or just place a stick in your hole but once someone puts their house right on top of your stick, you're screwed.

Have fun.