Ice bass?

[Slyster]

Here's a newbie-to-ice fishing question. Do people target bass ice fishing? Or mainly panfish?

I really want to try it this winter.. not sure how to start.. especially without a snowmobile and only having a rear wheel drive Firebird that can't even get up my driveway in the winter... (and it's NOT that steep)

[Ralph Wiggum]

I don't really know of anyone who targets bass in the winter. They are pretty dormant. You'll catch a few unintentionally.

[Mn Walleye 1976]

Caught a few with my dad when I was younger, on long lake near Hawick. Just put down a set line with a fathead under a bobber. Watch the line though, cause they would pick up th minnow and swim to the bottom of the ice. Caught 15-20 that winter.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly dude, bass can be caught through the ice, however, its not easy. I myself give the bass lips a rest during the hard water months. I tend to go after the eating fish, panfish, norther, walleye. I normally do not keep a fish during the open water, however, have been known to keep a few for the table during winter months.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Most bass I get in the winter are caught while fishing panfish. Occasionaly I get one on a tipup, too. The Chisago area lakes usaully put out a few each trip.

In all reality though you're probably better off targeting another species and enjoying when you catch them by accident.

[Wayne Ek]

During first ice we get a short window of activity on a couple of lakes in the area, where you will commonly catch LM's while targetting panfish. This bite lasts for about two weeks, then nothing. It has to be first ice, which is not always SAFE ICE. I do not know if the cooling water temp finally moves them out of the shallows or the increased activity on the ice as it gets safer and more anglers are drawn to the area for the good panfish bite. But for the last 5 years it has been a regular occurance.

[bucketmouth64]

last year some friends invited me to go to Lindstrom to fish for panfish. Everyone except me was catching bass using minnows. Largest one was about 2.5 lbs. Can't remember what month, but I remember that the ice was not not quite thick enough to drive cars.

[Slyster]

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In all reality though you're probably better off targeting another species and enjoying when you catch them by accident.

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OK... Bass are out as a target.. but you mention "Other species"... as in??? Panfish only?... is that what all of you go for during ice season? Any chance of walleye or pike? Or are they pretty dormant as well and not targeted...?

Total summer newbies here.. ONLY experience for us in the HOT summer sun in the boat! Remember the days of sunset at 9:00PM? SO sad... but I'd sure like to keep fishing since I keep hearing about it even after the lakes freeze over!

[Maximum12]

I mostly fish northern & walleye during ice. After season closes in February, crappies seem to heat up during late ice, which is the only time I'm smart enough to catch them.

Bass are pretty much the only fish that I don't target at all. I remember reading about a study done (Outdoor News maybe?) that bass only feed a handful of times during the winter months & do not move about much at all.

I started ice fishing alot only a few years ago, the first time a northern came flopping up through the hole. That's pretty much all it took! It can be as fun as summer fishing since there's less gear involved (at least for some of us) & one can access smaller lakes that don't get much pressure at all due to lack of access/boat ramps.

[Bobb-o]

the lake my cabin is on near brainered we are able to target bass rather successfully in the winter. We probably catch just as many bass as we do crappies and they taste aboot the same coming out of that cold of water. Only keep the ones between 1 and 2 lbs though

[TurnUpTheFishing]

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OK... Bass are out as a target.. but you mention "Other species"... as in??? Panfish only?... is that what all of you go for during ice season? Any chance of walleye or pike? Or are they pretty dormant as well and not targeted...?

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You have just as good a chance at catching northerns or walleyes in the winter as you would in summer. The only species people dont really target are bass and muskies, as both become less active.

The best thing about ice is putting out a tipup or deadstick for pike/walleyes while killing time catching panfish.

[Slyster]

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The best thing about ice is putting out a tipup or deadstick for pike/walleyes while killing time catching panfish.

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Does that mean you can use TWO lines on the ice?

[Deitz Dittrich]

Yes Sly- when ice fishing you can have 2 lines out.. It can be two tip ups, or two rods or one tip up and one rod.