In a previous blog, I described the basic equipment required to catch fish through the ice. Today’s article is the first of three blogs about tips and tricks that will enhance your ice fishing experience.
Ice safety: Ice in southern Maine is at its thinnest in late December-early January when it sets, and by the end of March when it starts melting. I like to see a minimum of 3 inches of solid black ice in early winter, plus people fishing or their traces (e.g., footsteps on the snow, ice-fishing holes). If so, I will check the thickness with my ice spud before venturing out and make it a point to stay over shallow water close to shore. Late-winter ice can be tricky too. Typically, the ice will still be 1 to 2 feet thick, but the edges right along the shorelines may already have melted and refrozen, thereby creating dangerous breakthrough conditions. If unsure, always check to avoid falling through; I know from personal experience. When unsure about the conditions, I place retractable ice picks around my neck. I fortunately have never had to use them but they could one day save my life in an emergency situation… Finally, make it a point to wear cleats on your boots when walking on glare ice to avoid slipping and causing a severe back or head injury.
Check the regulations: I recommend checking the Maine fishing regulations before visiting an unfamiliar pond or lake to determine if it is open to ice fishing or has special rules. Laws about open season, number of traps allowed, use of live bait (or not), or species-specific minimum keeper sizes, among others, can vary greatly across water bodies. The bottom line: know the law in order not to break it.
Check the stocking reports: The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) publishes its salmonid stocking reports on-line. That information is like free gold for salmonid anglers like myself because it identifies which bodies of water were stocked with what species, how many fish per species, and of what size. I study these data closely to identify which ponds or lakes I would like to visit over the winter. That involves calculating the stocking density (i.e., total number of trout stocked in the fall divided by the pond surface area). The surface areas are available from the depth maps discussed in the next section. After all, my odds of catching fish increase exponentially if I visit a pond stocked with 50 brook trout per acre instead of 5 brook trout per acre!
Obtain a depth map: The MDIFW has depth maps on-line for hundreds of Maine ponds and lakes. That information is more free gold because it allows one to identify potential target areas and suitable depth ranges before setting foot on the ice. I study these maps thoroughly before every ice-fishing trip, to find shallow or deep areas, drop-offs, peninsulas, islands, bays, etc. In addition, when combined with the salmonid stocking reports discussed above, these maps can help identify water bodies that only support a “warm-water” fishery (e.g., yellow perch, white perch, smallmouth bass, or largemouth bass) where the action can be faster. Keep in mind that stocking or salmonid fisheries information provided on those depth maps can be outdated.
Select your target species: I never ice fish without knowing my target species! I use specific fishing strategies depending on what I aim to catch. The target species will determine the size of the baitfish or jigging lure, fishing location, fishing depth, and other variables. For example, brook trout fishing occurs in water 2 to 8 ft. deep right along the shoreline using small minnows placed halfway down the water column. Landlocked Atlantic salmon fishing occurs offshore in waters 40+ ft. deep using medium-sized minnows or smelt placed from right below the ice to halfway down the water column. Bass fishing occurs in water from 10 to 40 ft. deep using larger minnows or jigging lures placed a few feet above the bottom. Do not get me wrong: I still come home skunked occasionally but I greatly increase the odds of catching fish if I know what I am fishing for!
Do not bother ice fishing after a low pressure: A Nor’easter just blew through the Gulf of Maine and dumped 15 inches of fresh powder over the region. As the storm moves north into the Maritimes, howling winds at the backend pull in frigid arctic air under a harsh sun. Ice fishing simply does not work for a day or two after a storm moves through and I will cancel a planned trip under those conditions. The only way I can explain it is that the fish sense the rapid changes in light levels and air pressure, and simply stop feeding for a while. On the other hand, fishing can be hot 12-24 hours before a winter storm moves through and I will gladly change my plans to be on the ice then!
I hope that these suggestions are helpful and will enhance your ice fishing experiences. Click here for the next installment of ice fishing tips and tricks.
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