As the cold weather moves in, many anglers get excited for the upcoming ice fishing months. This is a great time to prepare for the ice fishing season, and here are five simple ice fishing tips to help you have a more successful season!
1. Use a Depth Finder
Most anglers have a depth finder and using it while ice fishing can lead to much more success. Just like from a boat in open water, use the depth finder in order to find the best areas to drill a hole and fish. Just like other times of the year, fish will concentrate on certain areas that you can look for and target. Once you have a hole drilled, you can continue to use the depth finder and sonar in order to keep an eye on any fish that may have moved into the area.
2. Keep Moving and Stay Mobile
If you are fishing in an area where you are having little success, do not be afraid of moving areas. Many novice ice anglers fall into the trap of staying in the same spot for hours on end and not catching anything. Simply moving a little distance can drastically change your success rate!
3. Keep Your Jig Moving
Many anglers will simply drop their bait or lure down into the water and leave it alone, or rarely move it. In order to keep nearby fish interested, do not be afraid of moving your jig or lure continuously. This will keep the movement and vibrations throughout the water and attract hungry fish to the area.
4. Travel Light
In order to stay mobile and cover as much ice as possible, do not overpack with unnecessary gear or items. Keep it as simple as possible and only bring what is absolutely necessary. You do not want to carry all of this gear all day, and the more lightweight and simple you keep things, the more easily you can change areas. And the more ice and area that you cover, the more likely you are to find a pocket of hungry fish to catch.
5. Stay Safe
While ice fishing is a lot of fun, you must always think about your safety first. Ensure that the ice that you are going to be fishing on is thick enough to support your weight and that of all your gear. Don’t forget that the ice on a river or lake can vary in thickness, so continue to check it.
Final Thoughts
Ice fishing is a great time to get out and enjoy the outdoors during the winter months and is a ton of fun. Don’t forget these simple tips on your next ice fishing trip and you are sure to find plenty of success!
Interested in checking out more information about the fishing gear you’ll need for the biggest catches? Look no further than our articles on:
Want to Start Fishing? Here Is the Basic Gear You’ll Need
The Best Rod and Reel Combo to Make Fishing Easy
Going Fishing? Here Are Our Basic Knots for New Anglers
For more great ideas on how to fish and hunt from the experts, check out the awesome articles on our Bradley Smoker Hunting & Fishing Blog for more great tips & tricks.
