Webster’s Dictionary defines insight as “the power or act of seeing a situation” and “the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of a thing…”
Wow, that pretty much sums up the challenges of the universe, huh? Gain insight into any topic and we actually understand the inner nature of that topic.
Years of tough water fishing have given me a few “angling insights,” so let me share a few tactics that I believe reflect the inner nature of tough water fishing.
Tungsten devices
Let’s start with the most critical (or at least most complex) item to add to ice fishing gear over the last decade: tungsten.
Ice anglers associate tungsten with aggressive fish and deep water. However, the undersized profile combined with the added weight of tungsten offers a great tool for detecting non-biting fish, especially when paired with speedy rods and lightweight braiding.
Expect the rod tip to be slightly bent as the bait enters the bite zone. It is necessary to focus on what the bait is doing. Set the hook if your “gut feeling” tells you a bite is coming.
As I always say at seminars, “hook rigs are free.” But what if there was no fish there?
Marching Orders: Understand the Fish
All species receive information about food and survival through their senses: smell, taste, sound, vibration (via the lateral line), and sight. In winter, their reduced metabolism translates into slower reaction times due to less food availability and the fact that their underwater environment has changed dramatically!
We need to recognize these senses along with instinct, habitat, and learning. Then plan and respond accordingly. Patterns may be present on some trips, but it is not uncommon if we cannot find them. Every day is a novel challenge; one day we may catch one fish at a time using different techniques and presentations, and another day one bait will work for 12 hours straight!
Placing the larvae 202
Conventional wisdom regarding wax tips among ice fishing experts is to place them near the head. For wigglers, this is near the cut end.
For a more dramatic look, I thread a wax worm with the hook going under the head and coming out of the center of the body, much like a jig worm for bass in open water. Crush two or three wigglers onto the hook for added scent that will attract crappies and sunfish, especially for stubborn rodents.
Ice braid
Why not exploit braided line? Braid for crappies, sunfish and walleyes will eliminate memory and drag. Whether it’s monofilament or a massive bobber, fish don’t like excessive drag.
In addition, thanks to the skinny diameter of the line, you will see the bait sink faster. The increased sensitivity is another positive aspect not only for switched off or “negative” fish, but also for neutral moods.
We will also achieve more solid hook-ups due to less stretch, but a rod with a cushioned tip is necessary for shock absorption and landing. Finally, braided lines have less abrasion when in contact with the edge of our ice hole.
Vertical Spinner Change for Crappie and Sunfish
Size, color, action, and rod movement are key factors in attracting and getting bites from any species, but especially—in my decades of experience—from panfish. Finish each tine with wigglers or waxies for sunfish and crappies, or try a minnow head on one tine for crappies.
Again, we will achieve a natural profile by running the hook parallel to the dorsal fin point forward. In most conditions, exploit lightweight, distinct vibrations and vary the rod movement until you find a productive connection. Then rinse and repeat!
Sure, hitting the bottom can arouse the fish’s interest, but it can also scare them away.
No matter how you attract the so-called “willing rodents”, strike when the line goes slack; bites do not always come by feel!
Understanding Fish Moods
Fishing pressure and weather changes will dictate the positive, neutral and negative moods of the fish for the most part. So we need to adjust accordingly to the right bait profile, color, bait movement and lures. No single method will produce results every day, or even every hour.
By studying and analyzing the behavior of fish, I created another classification of mood that I called “inactive.” My research showed that these fish exist in this extensive (and often misunderstood) vacuum between neutral and negative.
These fish usually require petite, precise and subtle applications, but concentration, patience and experimentation are necessary! The overall escalate in action and size of the bait can often cause reflexive strikes, but understand that a specific combination of bait and vibration can provide absolutely unstoppable action.
Success: always achievable
There are no excuses for not fishing. Today, you have all the information at your fingertips that makes it effortless to understand any body of water, whether it’s a lake, reservoir or river, what it has to offer, why the fish are there and how they are likely to behave.
Fishing is a process of elimination. Every trip, even if we don’t catch a fish, should be an educational experience that expands our “knowledge.” We become advanced anglers through this escalate in knowledge.
