What makes an exceptional ice fisherman?

[superseal]

What makes some guys just a little bit better than the good ice fishermen? You know...the guy that manages to find and catch fish fairly quick. Or the guy who's fishing a half dozen holes in the middle of 30 other fisherman and out-fishing them five to one. Assuming we all have the same equipment...what enables him to consistently put more and better fish on the ice? Thanks.

[Duffman]

Experience, confidence, and luck.

[polarsusd81]

Duff...you were almost correct...

Experience, Confidence, and Persistance, along with staying under .10

Out of those 30 other fisherman, how many are going to be actively jigging, and paying full attention to what they are doing? How many are going to be using a plain red hook and crappie minnow under a float? (I realize both methods are effective and have their time and place.) How many are going to understand what the flasher is telling them? How many have several beers in the gullet and more on the way?

The last one seems to be the biggest seperation of all. Its hard to go fishing on a metro lake without finding beer cans on your way out to the spot and on your way back to the access. I am not one who cares to drink on the ice much, even in the boat for that matter. I pick up the cans I find and say thanks, hoping they left fish in the lake as a result of cans on the ice. If I sound like I am bashing on the guys that enjoy a beer or two on the water, that is not it, I am bashing on the guys who go out just to get wasted though. If I stir the pot, so be it. Just seems to be one of the common trends I observe out there.

[gopher_nation]

Exactly what Duffman said. A lot of people that have poor luck seem to drop two bobbers down their hole and wait, bobbers have a time and place but I always have one jigging rod and watch the flasher, if fish come in and don't bite, its time to switch. Sometimes it's a vertical/horizontal issue, other times it's a size or color issue, or combination of all. In experience you need to move around, hole-hop, or make a big move to completely different structure. Having a game-plan for what you are targeting and how you are going to do it also helps a lot. People who work hard out on the ice are usually rewarded.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Knowledge of fish movements and weather atterns, time on the water. The right gear and knowing how to use it.

I'm with polar on this one.. I seldom drink while fishing... after fishing, while cleaning fish.. then I'll open one or two.

[CrappieNut]

Dedication to preserving the outdoors

and not leaving beer cans on the ice

[metrojoe]

Don't fish angry now. I know it seems that the fishing is secondary to the beer drinking for some, but as long as they're not leaving a mess I'm not going to begrudge a guy for having some beers on the ice.

 Quote:

What makes some guys just a little bit better than the good ice fishermen? You know...the guy that manages to find and catch fish fairly quick. Or the guy who's fishing a half dozen holes in the middle of 30 other fisherman and out-fishing them five to one. Assuming we all have the same equipment...what enables him to consistently put more and better fish on the ice? Thanks.

Assuming we are all using the same equipment, the exceptional fisherman would be paying more attention to detail. Jig size, color, presentation, water depth, structure, etc. But I really don't think you can assume we are all using the same equipment. I think that is where you'll see some of the biggest differences. Everyone of us has fished with that neighbor, coworker, relative, that shows up for a day of panfishing with his fishing pole rigged up with a 30lb steel leader, a #4 hook and a bobber the size of a small orange. This is how some people fish all the time.

I think "Desire" could also be added to the list above.

[Walleye #1]

All very valid points guys. I agree with all the points that have been given. I truly believe it takes a person who is persistent, and willing to think outside the box. Too many people go to the old stand bys and will just sit there. The biggest thing I have discovered in my times fishing, is don't be stubborn! Be willing to change your presentation, location, or even sometimes if the walleyes have lock jaw, go chase something that may actually be biting.

2. It takes detail!! Whether it be color, size, or a simple thing as making sure that the knot you have tied is not slipping and causing your lure to sit vertical when it is supposed to be horizontal. Paying attention to the minor things can truly separate the avg. fisherman from the experienced one.

3. This characteristic is probably overlooked by many, but I think touch and feel is huge. I have fished with a gentlemen for the last 10 years. He has a ton of experience and there have been times we have been fishing the exact same set up, and he will out fish me 3:1. The thing that seperates him from me is his touch and feel for the fish. Granted in today's day and age things such as spring bobbers have really increased the success rate for ice fisherman, but there are days where the fish won't even budge the spring bobber, but rather you have to be able to feel a tick in the line or a slight movement in your line while it is down in the hole. this is huge and can sometimes be the difference between being skunked or pulling some fish up the old hole.

Thats my two cents

Walleye #1

[fiskyknut]

Golly I thought all it took these days was one of those fancy blue suits!!!

Seriously though I think there is no substitute for experience, add a dose of patience along with your confidence, and always bring a horseshoe or a Rabbits foot!

fiskyknut

[superseal]

Yep, I'm guilty of trying to feed the fish what "I" want them to eat unstead of changing jigs and trying to "give" them what they want.

[fishinJohn]

When I can find fish I can catch them most times so my vote goes for those who understand how conditions affect fish. I think the expert is more of the person who catches big fish rather than more fish although sometimes they go hand in hand. Focusing on what your lure is doing and how the fish are reacting seems most important. As much as I like a buzz I won't ever drink and ice fish. I would much rather drink to celebrate a good day of fishing. However if I were in a permanant for the weekend it might be a different story but even then I think I would be busy trying to make the most of the trip.

[DTro]

I truly think that some people are more in tune....almost one with the fish.

I know it sounds crazy, but I believe it.

[Jim Almquist]

There are a lot of good points but I am with Walleye#1 on this point especially:

 Quote:

This characteristic is probably overlooked by many, but I think touch and feel is huge

I have fished with so many people that catch very little because they just don't get the concept that the fish are not biting. They will come up and momentarily inhale and almost as quickly exhale so you will have to feel that you have less weight or a different sensation then you have to set the hook right then and they are usually lip hooked. I know that this is part understanding your flasher and the mood of the fish and the lake you are fishing but it is way more fun when they just smack it.

[polarsusd81]

Jim, good point. I saw that first hand one day fishing On North Lindstrom lake a few years back with my aqua vu. I was catchin pannies, and then a bass came in. Just eased up to the bait flared its gills, pulled the lure in and out just as fast as you could blink and eye. Never felt it on the rod, then the fish swam off a few feet and came back, I played the game with the fish 4 times before I could get a hookset, and it was not only one fish. I had 5 bass do the exact same thing to me that day and never felt it at all. There is an art to detecting bites, and some fish, especially bigger ones are very deceptive. A spring bobber may have helped that day, but even then it would have been tough.

So yes, touch and feel are definitely on there too.

[BobT]

I agree with all of you but I think you all missed one possibility.

My brother-in-law is one of those guys that seems to have knack for finding fish on just about any body of water. Doesn't matter whether he's been there before or not and it doesn't matter whether he has seen lakemaps or not. I think some people are just born with a certain ability to think like a fish or perhaps they have a certain ever so slightly different way of working a lure.

I've been with him walley fishing and he'll be outfishing me. I'm using the same brand and weight line, the same size, color, manufactured 1/4oz. jig tipped with the same fathead minnows and yet he's out catching me. I've even checked to make sure I'm using the same gender fatheads. I suppose we're not using the exact same rod and reel combination but that doesn't seem to matter. I've even tried to imitate his presentation method but that's where I think we part company. I believe he has some subtle difference in the way he handles his jig. Maybe he rips it just ever so slightly faster or slower, longer or shorter, sharper or lazier, who knows but whatever it is it's effective. Maybe he just has a better sense of feel than I do and can tell when he's had a pick up.

That's my theory.

Oh, but then for the seven years we have been going to Canada in June and fishing our little tournament I have taken the trophy home more often than he has so he doesn't always outfish me.

Bob

[Shack]

All of the above and a couple I have found over the years.

1: Failure

One learns from failing. This is what nature has given humans the upper hand in. Back in the time of the "missing link", the homospaioatius (I think that is right) did not get his/hers food for the day, they did not eat. So, they learned from this and got their game/food the next time out and learned how to do it with success. Failure started the drive in any species on the planet earth. It plays out in today’s world the same and quams down to our little sport called fishing. The quest to bring home the most/biggest game we can and we will not stop until this has been achieved many, many times over. Or until our human minds go on to others things. Failure is the key to winning.

2: Attitude

Dtro had a great post going last summer about how ones attitude can affect the end result of fishing. Being a cat fisherman, looking for the 50lber 2-4 times a week, failure is the end result of most (all of mine) trips. Attitude can lean towards the negative side, which I feel bleeds it self into that night's catch. Correct you feeling/notion of failing on the ice, you will be that much closer to catching fish.

3: Equipment

This does have a huge factor, but is not all that big of a deal. To put this into prospective, the Cool Cats trip of 2006. I have read over and over the guy (I think LFC or Annrude) on a bucket with a barrowed pole caught the most and biggest fish. He had minimal equipment and had the best results.

4: Luck

This has a bigger factor in a days catch, more so then most will admit.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

[JigginIsLife]

Although im probably half the age of most on here (no pun intended) i think there are things that dont make a fisherman, but rather what fishing makes a man. being a patient person and going out fishing is good but going out fishing and learning to be that kind of patient is something else. sitting on the lake not catching a thing all day long and still sitting out there for another 4 hrs "just in case" something is going to bite.-thats how a fisherman is made. hours on the lake.

Altough sometimes over looked as well is the way someone hooks their bait, or ties thier hook. different ties can give different presentations, as well as different motions when the lure is jigged. And this has been touched already but being willing to ty on multiple different colors, sizes, shapes of lures while out there and trying it all if it isnt working is another big one.

[cjac]

Hi all,

I like shack's list but think eqiupment helps a lot more than stated. 8 inch hole with a line straight down vs. how many acres? Equipment helps a TON, but you need the knowledge to leverage the benefits. If I forget my Vex (which I have), I'm tempted to turn around and go home! It's not just all the top-dollar equipment either. Little things make the biggest difference, a good spring bobber can man the diff between fish caught and not. So can 2lb test line over 4 or 6.

That knowledge I mentioned comes from: Being on the water and not a PC like I am currently! TOTW, time one the water is tops for me. Then, thinking while fishing and keeping a log has helped me a ton, moreso in open water as I do that more, but it carries over to the ice. Keep records of when, where, weather, tackle, methods and reference these records often. I've learned as much from what worked as what didn't (see Shack's Failure point #1).

Patterns do come out and you have a good idea of what to do instead of the "bait shop" word of mouth.

One more, let your partner run the auger and have the gas smell on his/her hands and not yours! I honestly think it makes a difference, maybe just in my head, but that in turn gives me confidence!

Chris

[Tom7227]

All interesting points. The part I don't understand is how you get to the point of figuring out which presentation to make. I have a tackle box like most of you - dozens of different jigs, hooks, whatever. I can have crappie minnow, shiners, waxies - whatever else. How do I know when to put on the one that's light green and white, or light green and orange, a minnow head or a 1/2 minnow? How much time do I spend fiddling with stuff, or do I need a dozen rods all rigged differently? Is the time of day the control, or depth, or weeds, or what? I can sit there in a frenzy changing things, or not.

As for how fast a fish can take it in and spit it out - put one in an aquarium and watch. See what they eat or don't. I've done that, but I still don't know if I should go with a horizontal 64th ounce horizontal or a 32 ounce veritcal.

[Jim Almquist]

No problem in running the auger or even filling the tank but I will NEVER eat Frito's without washing my hands before i pick up my pole.

[Fish&Fowl]

Experience. (different lakes, depths, structure, weather, time of year, species of fish)

Confidence.

Patience.

Good equipment. (and knowing how to use it)

Willingness to change/learn.

And of course a little luck never hurt.

[Shack]

 Originally Posted By: jimalm

No problem in running the auger or even filling the tank but I will NEVER eat Frito's without washing my hands before i pick up my pole.

I drink beer once or twice a year out fishing. At home I like my beer. I figure I spend to much time and money planning a fishing trip to obscure the trip with alcohol, which it can (except in the perm on Mill Laces).

But!!! When out fishing and handling bait, having a snack during this time is a must. Clean hand go out the window. Chips, crackers or peanuts, the hand goes in and will grab the pole as soon as the fish pops the tip .

I had another good notion, but the beers I had tonight obscured my thought. I will think of it later .

Good luck!!!!

[PerchJerker]

I think the things that set an exceptional fisherman apart are:

1. Attention to detail, including watching your electronics and understanding what's going on.

2. Willingness to experiment and try new things and new locations

3. Experience - knowing how to find fish, knowing how to detect bites, etc. I think experience breeds confidence.

As for drinking while fishing, I do it frequently. I think it's important to have fun, and although I take my fishing seriously (sometimes more seriously than other times) I think it's more important to have fun than it is to catch fish. That doesn't mean you NEED to have beer along to have fun, but I don't think you need to leave the beer on shore to be an exceptional fisherman.

[hanson]

 Originally Posted By: Tom7227

All interesting points. The part I don't understand is how you get to the point of figuring out which presentation to make. I have a tackle box like most of you - dozens of different jigs, hooks, whatever. I can have crappie minnow, shiners, waxies - whatever else. How do I know when to put on the one that's light green and white, or light green and orange, a minnow head or a 1/2 minnow? How much time do I spend fiddling with stuff, or do I need a dozen rods all rigged differently? Is the time of day the control, or depth, or weeds, or what? I can sit there in a frenzy changing things, or not.

As for how fast a fish can take it in and spit it out - put one in an aquarium and watch. See what they eat or don't. I've done that, but I still don't know if I should go with a horizontal 64th ounce horizontal or a 32 ounce veritcal.

Sort of a combination experimentation, experience, and confidence.

I typically start out aggressive which means larger, horizontal plastics while panfishing and jigging spoon and minnow head for walleyes. I'm a hole hopper.... I move around and try to find the active fish. If I am finding fish but can't get them to commit, thats when I slow down, downsize, switch lure styles, etc.

Seams like a lot of people are just afraid to try stuff. But thats what you have to do. Try different locations, try different lures, try different baits, try different jigging patterns and the fish will eventually tell you what they want.

If you stare at a flasher screen long enough, you'll know what its telling you. You'll know what the fish are telling you.

It takes experimentation. It takes practice. And through years of experience and time on the water, you'll gain an understanding of why things happen.

[Jim Almquist]

shackbash I have no problem eating anything on ice but I have seen first hand someone completely kill a bite while fishing for perch by not washing his hands after eating Frito's.