One Ice Fishing Tip

[Got_Ice]

I thought it might be helpful if we just shared a few tips. I know I need all the help I can get but I'm sure I'm not the only one. My first tip might be fairl obvious but when I'm fishing pike I don't always set my bait right on the bottom I tend to use the upper portion of the water column. Yes it's a stupid tip but maybe one person can take something from it. Maybe others will join in.

[Jim Hudson]

The new age of ice fishing upon us, and the best tip I could give anyone is to stay mobile...

With all the new technology in the ice fishing realm, it makes it much easier for us to find the fish and not have to let the fish find us!!

[Seeker of Clayface]

Have confidence in your approach, presentation, bait, etc.

I used to think this was a bunch of baloney, but now truely believe it does help.

[berke99]

I would say if you have a good auger, then get a good flasher! A flasher has really improved my icefishing and made it a lot more fun.

[Dan Thiem]

Here's another good tip.

When using a flasher and you see a column of fish stacked underneath you, target the top fish first. That way catching the ones below won't scare away the fish above them when they a hooked and going crazy.

[goodyy7]

Dont be scared to experiment with lures/techniques.

One big problem I see (and have done myself) is getting into a rut of using the same things all the time. If you are on active fish experiment with other lures and techniques to see what else could work for you. If you are having a dry spell, try some new or off the wall things. Some fishing techniques that seem "standard" now were accidently ran across by experimenting at some point in the past. Try new things!!!

goody

[Big Pine Walleye]

I think one of the most important tips to fishing is to have good friends to go fishing with. Fishing solo is fun sometimes--but nothing is better than when the fish are on and you can share the joy! It is also nice to have people around to help set up and take down and to share fishing spots!

[augernaut]

Some good tips here - I'll add mine:

Don't feel that you have to carry 6 bajillion jigs in every color under the sun. 99.9% of the time, the standard colors will do the job - much more important than color, is the action you put on the jig (or, inaction). Get a core group of baits that you like and have confidence in. Practice with them, learn how they react to different jigging motions. The guy sitting there changing baits every 2 minutes to dial in the perfect color will not catch more fish than you - I guarantee it.

[outdoor ran]

Take a kid ice fishing, not sure if thats a tip though

[shamalex72]

I made some hole covers out of styrofoam to put under my tip-ups. It keeps them from freezing in.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Don't forget the beer.

[Ortlo]

I'll second the mobility. I spend way too much time "waiting" for fish or plop myself down and get ready for the nite bite.

No more. I'm going get off my duff and move more for fish.

Orty

[CrappieJohn]

Goodyy7 has hit the nail on the head. You can own every new contivance on the market, but if you are stuck in a rut while the fish are not biting you need to be inventive. Look at it this way, what are you going to miss by trying something a bit off the wall when nothing is happening anyway. You might get a mild surprize out of experimenting.

[minnowhead]

when jigging, i used to move my pole up and down like a foot or so just to get my bait to start looking active. Since I bought a camera, i can see all i have to do is just twitch the line, really has made a differnce in my technique

[Captain B.R.K]

You come to the lake and you say, "well everyone is fishing over there, we should fish there too" don't expect to catch a lot of fish or any fish at that.Noise/Commotion actually hurts your chances. Search out a spot after doing your homework and you'll find it more rewarding after you catch that first fish!

[Jeremy airjer W]

The Captain already touched on my tip but I'll have a go anyways.

I like to try spots that may not be a classic or conventional, or even ideal key locations.

For example, I used to fish a local lake that has really exploded in pressure the last few years. The first time I went out I did my homework only to find out that everyone else had done theres also. So I took out the map and found spots that maybe would have been overlooked if the other spots weren't already crowded. I always caught fish on these spots even when the other guys fishing the prime spots weren't catching anything. Last year I went out to the same lake and now those spots are crowded. It doesn't take us long to figure things out!

[Dennis Steele]

DOn't drill if theres no fish.

I like to use my Marcum to shoot through the ice to find fish before I drill. I typically can "see" through up to around 3 feet of good ice. You may have to turn up the gain a bit when the ice gets on the thick side.

When I find fish, then I'll drill lots of holes around the school. If the fish are relating to structure, I make sure I have covered all depths and features of the structure.

If they are on a break line, I'll have holes on the top of the break all the way down to the bottom of the break.

If its a point, I'll drill around both sides and cover various depths.

Once you get that ice out of the way its just a matter of following the school.

[Bobberboy]

Understand the lake. Springs and bars can create thin ice conditions.

Be Safe!

[Turkeyhunter10ga]

If you're shooting through the ice with your locator , instead of bringing some water or god forbid - anti-freeze ( which is toxic), take along a propane torch which is light and easy to use especially the trigger lighting ones to just melt a little puddle in the ice and place transducer in puddle to use.

[Big Dave2]

If you like to fish with a bobber, I suggest an ice buster bobber if you have never used one. Try it you will like it.