Open Water Tactics on Ice

Open Water Tactics on Ice

By Ben Leal

The ice fishing season is upon us…a time of year where anglers and iceheads across the state have been itching for since the ice left area lakes last spring. Countdowns were posted across social media in anticipation of walking out of first ice…January means, hopefully, we are in full ice fishing mode.

There’s no doubt that every angler has a way of preparing for the ice fishing season. Many of us concentrate on gear, what’s new that we “need” (just don’t tell the Mrs.) and what needs to be recycled. Fishing line, jigs, spoons, bait, rods, bait buckets; bait pucks are just the small potatoes. Then we move on to sleds, quads, ice houses and all the important stuff we need to get out on the ice. Oh and let’s not forget the all important auger…electric, gas, hand, whatever your method, that too needs to be prepared.

So we’ve spent countless hours preparing the gear and making sure it is all good for the ice fishing season. But what about the lake you’re getting ready to walk out on? How much prep time have you put into figuring out where you’re going to fish and more importantly, do you know or think you know that the fish will be there? Sure…we can rely on fishing reports that will offer some guidance, but there is nothing like having that knowledge first hand.

This month we’re going take a look at what we can do before the ice covers local area lakes to help improve our chances during the hardwater season.

“One thing that I like to do is to find these areas that have good weed beds and underwater features like a drop off, bend or hook while fishing with my boat”, notes Dave Genz, also known as “Mr. Ice Fishing” and credited for leading anglers into the modern era of ice fishing. “It’s a lot easier to find them while you’re out in a boat than when you’re walking along the ice”. Some fishfinders, like the Humminbird 385ci also have ice fishing modes and have optional transducers. Equipped with GPS and a Lakemaster or Navionics chart, you can locate and mark good active weed beds and features creating waypoints for use on the ice.

At the time of writing this article Iowa has been experiencing some above average temperatures and anglers continue to get out on open water even in to mid November. This is a perfect time to get out and take advantage of late season open water days. “Usually, water that is fishing well in the fall will typically fish just as well into winter. If you can brave the elements in the fall and find good fishing, you are one step ahead come ice”, said professional hunting and fishing guide Jason Mitchell. “Water is also much easier to learn from a boat in regards to finding weeds, structure and really learning the spots. Fall fishing will really compliment your ice fishing game and help you learn the spots”.

What to Look For
I think that every article that I’ve put together on ice fishing, early or late season; the key has always been to find good green stands of weeds. These almost always hold fish. Depending on how much snow fall we have, weed beds will remain viable for quite some time as long as plenty sunshine that can get to the weeds.

We’re going to do a bit of chemistry/biology here for all us anglers on the importance of sun and light on weed beds. Photosynthesis is a chemical process that occurs in many forms of bacteria and virtually all plants, including aquatic plants and algae. Using just three simple ingredients (carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight) plants and bacteria are able to make their own food. Fortunately for all animals, including humans and fish, oxygen is a by-product of this process. As long as photosynthesis is occurring, oxygen is continuously being released into the air and into Iowa’s lakes, ponds and waterways.

When snow covers the ice weeds begin to die and decay which will do exactly the opposite of what photosynthesis does, and this is deprive the area of much needed oxygen. When this happens fish move off and will search for healthier weed beds to hold in.

Wind can also have an adverse affect of fishing especially prior to or during ice up. “If the wind really blows before the freeze up, the water gets really turbid and it kills the fishing”, said Mitchell. “When you can’t see to the bottom of a six inch hole and the ice is jagged, you’re better off loading up and moving to another lake or at least a different part of the lake. Some of knowing what to look for is also knowing what to avoid”.

Tech that Helps
For most of us, electronics are more the norm than the exception. We have locaters and graphs on our boats and we can chart and plot where we want to go and place a waypoint where we’ve found fish. Or the fish aren’t there yet, just some excellent structure that you know will eventually hold fish depending on time of year. Taking these same tools and applying them to hardwater can be a bit tricky since in most cases you’re mobile, but not impossible.

“What I recommend is taking the GPS out of your boat and mounting right to your ATV or snowmobile”, advises Mitchell. “If you are on foot, mount it to a blue Genz box, you will definitely like the bigger screen and better function. Stay away from the touch screens if possible for ice fishing.”

Another option for those that don’t have a boat mounted GPS system that can be removed is a handheld GPS unit. Do a bit of research and you’ll find a unit that will suit your fishing needs. Garmin by far (author’s research) came in as one of the top sellers of handheld GPS systems. At the top of the list is the Garmin® Legend H Handheld GPS Navigator. A couple features include high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver in a rugged waterproof case for peak performance in any environment. Built-in basemap shows lakes, rivers, cities, roads coastlines and landmarks.

Mobile phones can also be a part of your arsenal when it comes to managing time out on the ice. “There are mapping apps for your smart phone that will work and even Google earth has a time and place”, says Mitchell. “But for the most part, you can’t zoom in as well with the smart phone apps and your phone isn’t going to stand up to the cold well.” Using a smart phone application is better than nothing but these do have limitations.

Open Water to Hardwater
As you spend time on open water you hone your skills, searching after your preferred quarry. Bass anglers spend countless hours refining the art of chasing after those largemouth bass or the feisty smallmouth. The same holds true for anglers that prefer panfish; it’s all an art and a skill that we try to master.

“I think the attitude and mentality that many great open water anglers have is carrying over to ice fishing”, notes Mitchell. “Terms like power fishing might have originated on the bass scene but ice anglers today are also focusing on eliminating water and fishing through as much water as possible.”

Bass are bass regardless of the water temperature and whether or not you’re throwing a spinner blade at them or downsizing and offering them a jig tipped with a minnow. Fish metabolism will slow down certainly but they, like every predator that swims in Iowa’s lakes, will quickly take an easy meal when it’s presented to them.

Don’t leave your open water attitude in the boat when you put it away for the winter. Take the same attitude, remember where the fish were biting before the lake or pond froze up and you’ll find them there. Down size your gear, change your physical tactics hook into some nice panfish and put em on ice! Tight Lines All!