Ice Fishing
One of the greatest challenges to the Canadian angler, ice fishing is as potentially dangerous as it is rewarding. From the days of waiting around one lonely hole in the ice, to today’s high-tech sport involving everything from sonar to GPS to groups of people in elaborate fish houses, ice fishing has come a long way. It remains one of the country’s most prized fishing expeditions. Ice fishing can be done at any time of day, in any location with sufficient ice density. Whatever your style, the basic premise stays the same: make a hole in the ice, lower in your equipment, and wait for the catch.
Technique
Whether ice fishing solo or in groups, safety comes first in freezing temperatures. Ensure your fish house or temporary set-up has proper heating and provisions in place. You want to be well-versed in ice fishing techniques before heading out, as this is a highly specialized pursuit. To create a circular or rectangular hole in the ice – 20 centimetres (8 inches) is typical – use anything from an axe, ice saw, chisel or power auger. You will need a slush dipper to remove excess ice and slush from the hole.
Once you hit water, the fishing technique is up to you. Some anglers practice ice jigging, dropping light baited lines that they work up and down to entice fish. Other use tip-ups, which are hand-free structures that pop a flag up when something bites. Set-ups like these allow for multiple holes to be fished at once. You can try your hand at classic methods like spear fishing and clubbing, or venture the high-tech route with the use of a flasher, a sonar system that allows you to track the position of fish almost instantaneously.
Whatever technique you choose, your two indispensable tools will be patience and persistence.
Tips
- When ice fishing in shallow areas, keep some ice shavings in the hole to prevent light from penetrating the surface; this will keep fish from avoiding the area.
- Bounce your bait along the bottom to stir up mud and attract fish.
- Safety first: know the basics of treating hypothermia before you head out!
- Some great underwater structures to target include reefs, humps, shoals, and long, tapering underwater points.
- Most fish feed at dawn or dusk, making these ideal times for your ice fishing expedition. However, different species will prefer other times of day, so make sure to read up on your targeted species!
- Some common fish to target under ice include pike, sauger, trout, walleye, whitefish, crappie, and perch.
