Early Ice = Great Fishing

The time is here: That wonderful period of ice fishing, when it seems the fish are active, the weather isn’t miserably cold, and people are itching to do something outside!

The earliest ice is usually the best bet for some of the fastest fishing action of the winter. Early ice also is some of the most unpredictable, so safety must be first on your mind. During early ice, I recommend never heading out alone, and a life preserver of some type should always be worn!  An ice “spud” is a handy tool for checking the ice in front of you and ice picks are a final “must have” just in case!  You have to remember that the ice is never truly safe, but this holds especially true for early ice.  Early ice can be dangerous in that it can vary in depth, especially around areas that may have any current and it is also subjected to damage by wind or rain.  You must use common sense before even thinking of heading out.

Traveling as light as possible is the norm this time of year.  A five gallon bucket will hold  your gear and a hand auger is all you need to run and gun these early ice fish.   I grab my Vexilar, set it in a bucket, throw a couple of rods in and I am good to go.  I love using either Vexilars “Pro Pack II” or their “Ultra Pack” with my flasher, simply because both “packs” come with a built in tacklebox and rod holder, allowing me to carry everything I need for the day in one small unit!

When targeting walleyes, I like to use 6lb to 8lb test on a medium action rod.   For tackle, I usually grab a couple of jigging spoons, jigging raps, and some Genz worms.  For Crappies, I prefer a light action rod spooled with either 2lb or 4lb test, and then I will use a variety of Genz bugs, rat-finky’s, small hooks and sinkers, and a couple of ice buster bobbers will round out my collection.  All of this can easily be carried in either the Pro Pack’s or Ultra pack’s tacklebox.

Locating fish during the early ice period is usually fairly easy to do.  Wherever you were finding crappies and sun fish during the late fall is usually the same place you will find them during this early ice period.  If I am not familiar with the lake or haven’t been on it during the late fall, I take a look at the “lakefinder” feature on the MN DNR’s Website http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html   I will then print out a lake map and start looking for areas that look like they should be holding fish.  For most of my early ice action I am concentrating my efforts on areas to target panfish, so I begin looking for weedlines and their bordering dropoffs.  Then, after locating some areas to check out, it’s time to get out there and start punching holes!

I will normally drill 5 to10 holes in an area that I want to check out.  This allows me to actually see the depth changes and know for certain that I have located the depths that I am looking for.  Using my Vexilar I can actually “see” the bottom, allowing me to move until I find an area that looks like it should be holding fish.  During this early period, when targeting sunfish, I concentrate my search on areas that have a steep, weedy break lines in the 6-12 foot range.   It seems that these break areas will hold a variety of fish, and with the first ice still holding a good supply of oxygen the fish are usually aggressively feeding!  When targeting Walleyes  I look for places with larger breaks and drop offs in areas where the fish can move from deeper water during the day, up to shallower areas to feed in the evening and night hours.  When I locate an area that matches that description and my Vexilar tells me I have a good, hard bottom, I get ready for action because the fish should be moving through .

Finally, when targeting crappies and perch, I concentrate my search on the deepest holes the lake has to offer, 30 or more feet deep is not an uncommon depth in which these fish will be moving.  Scan the water column because many times the fish in these areas will be suspended! 
One of the hottest bites I have been in on, was in 34 ft. of water, with crappies suspended all over, only 6 feet down! 

As far as ice fishing goes, the early ice is the time when the fish are active, the fisherman are anxious, and the memories created can be hashed out and added to all winter long!  It can be some of the most productive fishing of the year.  Be sure to be safe, check the local ice conditions and always use common sense!  There isn’t a fish out there worth risking your life for.

Editor's Note: Although being the first one out on the ice is a goal of some, be sure to remember that the ice is never 100% safe.  Always follow the advice in this article and use common sense before heading out on any ice condition.  Picture #1: A tip up set on early ice can be another deadly tactic for icing fish and spreading your fishing party over a bigger area.  Picture #2: The Vexilar “Ultra Pack” with it’s built in tackle box, is a great way to carry your gear onto the early ice.  The tacklebox is small and lightweight, yet plenty big for carrying a variety of your favorite lures.  Picture #3: The author with an early ice sunfish, after targeting a weedy “breakline”. Picture #4:  Scott Debrito poses with an early ice crappie, angled out of the deepest hole in the lake, while the fish were only 6 ft. down!