Timing the Bite for First Ice

Timing the Bite for First Ice

When ice season arrives, it is important to be prepared. Some of these preparations include

getting out your gear, charging batteries, opening up shelters, spooling reels, and most

importantly, making sure you have all of your safety gear. Before I get into timing the first bite, I’d like to go over safety, ensuring that everyone has a safe and successful season.

Prioritize Safety

Safety should always be the main concern when the first ice of the season comes. While new

ice is usually the strongest ice; it can be more susceptible to changing quickly with

unpredictable fall weather, especially wind and rain. Always bring a friend if possible, and safety

gear is a must.

Before ever venturing out, I make sure that I have a float suit, ice cleats, spud

bar, ice picks, measuring tool, and my cell phone in an upper chest pocket. The spud bar is one

of the most important tools to have if you are an early icer because it gives you the ability to

reach out and test the ice in front of you while you walk. It’s vital to remember that not all spud bars cut the same. It’s important to get familiar with yours in particular so you know how many hits it takes for your comfort zone. For safety reasons, I suggest 4” and over as a general rule for a day’s worth of fishing on foot with gear. We all have our own comfort zones for first ice minimum thickness, but I’m gearing this more towards the average weekender in an effort to keep everyone safe.

Predicting the First Ice

With the way our weather patterns seem to be changing, predicting first ice is getting harder

than ever. Here in NW Iowa, we diehards could usually count on getting on the ice by the last

week in November, but lately it has been anywhere from the first week in December to the last

week in December. Just a few years ago, I had my boat out on Brushy Creek up until the last

week in December, which was just crazy. Of course, this varies according to the water body

depending on size, depth, and shape, which affects the cooling partially due to the prevailing

winds.

While one shallow body of water may be locked up with ice growing, another body may

skim overnight just to get broken up the next day by wind. Putting some time behind the wheel

with your safety gear and some understanding of how new ice works will get you drilling that first hole to scratch the itch.

Timing Fish Activity

Now as for timing the bite. It is important to understand fish patterns throughout the seasons,

because they could be in a late fall pattern or a winter pattern depending on when and where

you find “safe” ice. (I’m treading on thin ice using that term). If the first ice is early, look for

panfish in shallower water near weedy structures, especially standing weeds.

Fish will be heavily foraging on young-of-the-year hatches and aquatic bugs. It is important to keep the noise to a minimum when fishing this shallow as the fish can easily spook and swim away. If you think this has happened, hold tight, as they usually will return shortly. If you are targeting walleye, look for sharp breaks near mid-depth to shallow flats as they will slide right up on these flats to feed during low light periods.

If the first ice is a bit later, expect the panfish to be a little deeper, often suspended off of the main creek channel or in the main basin of the lake, depending on how late in the season it is. The walleye can be a little more unpredictable at this time, but they are going to be feeding during those same lowlight periods. Sometimes I’ll find them on the bottom of a deep flat, and other times they will be suspended in the deepest water in the lake.

One thing I do know is that when it is time to eat, they will usually head shallower than where they have been hanging all day. Bluegills and perch are usually caught during daylight periods, while crappie and walleye are more frequently caught during low-light periods, so changing target species throughout the day can make for a successful day on the hardtop.

What to Use

Keeping a variety of jig and plastic sizes and shapes can be helpful when putting a pattern

together for ice fishing just like open water. I’ll keep it short and sweet. For jigs, at minimum, 3

shapes. Whether lead, tungsten, or steel, make sure to have a variety of vertical and horizontal

presentations. Plastics have been taking over the ice industry more and more each year. Find a

couple of styles that you really like and keep a variety of colors on hand.

If you are more of a live bait fisherman, no need to worry, as live bait is and always will be available and just as effective until the end of time. Using plastics is more about convenience and maximizing the time your line is in the water, which in turn greatly increases the chances of catching more fish during the trip. In the ice tournament world, this has some great advantages.

The Best is Yet to Come

So, whether you are a seasoned veteran or a little green behind the ears still, Iowa has some

great opportunities to get out on the ice and have a great day. If you have some extra gear and

the ice is thick enough for a group outing, grab some family and friends on a nice 32-degree

winter day and show them what it’s all about. Make sure everyone is dressed accordingly, has

ice cleats, follows safety precautions, and don’t forget the hot cocoa. Some of the best memories ever made are on the hard top. It’s not always about the catching; sometimes it’s about the experience. Play safe and God bless!