General Ice Fishing Tips

These tips are brought to you courtesy of Dave Genz, or "Mr. Ice Fishing" as he is also known as. As the designer of the world-famous System Tackle® line of ice fishing tackle, Dave brings many years of professional knowledge to the sport of ice fishing. If it's a tip from Dave, it's a tip that works! You may also feel free to print out this tips section to have handy on your next fishing trip. And be sure to check out the new Ice Team website.

#1

After catching a fish, allow some line to unwind before lowering lure back to the bottom. This will remove most if not most of the line twist that occurs as one reels in a fish.

#2

Concentrations of baitfish will show up as a "cloud" on your sonar. You want to fish the "edges" of the "clouds" with your lure to increase catch ability.

#3

Drill lots of small holes and use your electronics to pinpoint concentrations of fish (i.e. perch and panfish). Dave uses a 2hp 7" gas auger-it's lighter, easier to handle, and you'll have no problem getting fish thru the 7" hole. He has pulled 20# northerns and 10# walleyes thru 7" holes.

#4

Fall is a great time to "pre-fish" for ice fishing spots. Use your electronics to locate concentrations of suspended fish- they'll usually be there later-under the ice. On larger bodies of water use your GPS to mark these spots. A GPS is useful for marking spots that produce.

#5

Fish small lakes at the beginning of the ice fishing season and move to larger lakes later in the ice fishing season. This is governed by oxygen in the water.  In addition, smaller lakes freeze sooner thus extending your ice fishing season.

#6

Ice fishing rods are not species rods, (i.e. walleye rod or panfish rod) they are line test rods. That is, they are matched to the # test line you're using (i.e. 2#-4# test,4#-6# test, etc).

Graphite rods work best with 2#-4# test line, while fiberglass rods are best with 4# test and higher test lines. The fiberglass rods can be short yet stiff and the stiffness gives an ice angler more sensitivity.

#7

Dave uses spinning reels with his rods taking care to match the reel to the # test line being used and the species being fished. Deeper water requires larger reels.

#8

Use low stretch mono in the 2# to 6# test line category. In the 8# test and higher lines, stretch isn't as much a factor but softer lines will come off the reels better.

Dave does not use "super" lines because they tend to retain water and can freeze up under harsh conditions.

For "tight line" ice fishing (using no floats) the rod, line, and lure must match.  The lure should be matched to a # test line that it can remove the kinks from and the lure should be matched to a rod whose tip won't bend when the lure is attached.

Even when fishing for panfish, re-tie often to prevent line from breaking at inopportune times.

#9

When does Dave move? When no fish show on the locator. Often, fish have moved only a short distance. Fish other nearby holes or drill additional holes until you find them.

#10

The "mood" of the fish (aggressive, neutral, negative) is a major consideration in successful ice fishing. Good ice fisherman will find a way to trigger neutral fish into biting. The best of them can trigger some negative fish into biting.

When into a concentration of fish that won't bite - downsize your lure/bait.

If fishing a lake with lots of different sized fish, try up-sizing your lure/bait in an attempt to increase your catch of larger fish. The smaller fish will leave the larger presentation alone.

#11

Ice fishermen have to continue "thinking fish" during the winter season. Don't put your "fishing knowledge" away with your boat in the fall.  Most summer fishermen have progressed beyond their grandparent's ways of fishing, however, many of them revert back to their grandparent's ways of ice fishing when they get on the ice.

#12

The bigger fish are away from the fishing "crowds".  Sometimes you can fish the "edges" of crowds. But, sometimes the crowds are so large that the "edges" are in "no- fish" zones.
Dave fishes in a one person portable ice shelter-for portability and privacy from "followers" and crowds. Large houses reduce your mobility-it's similar to anchoring.

If fishing with friends-fish smart-cover the structure with plan in mind and move strategically.
Use lake maps.  Most ice fishermen don't use these important tools. Staying close to a plowed road is not going to produce the number of fish that possessing and using a lake map will.

#13

Pinch down the barb of your sunfish baits. The absence of the barb allows for easier hooking of larvae and they tend to stay fresh longer. No barb?  The hardness of the bluegills mouth and the stretch of the mono normally don't allow barb penetration to occur anyway.

#14

Dave Genz' Ultimate Gem-During the golden hour (when the sun hits the trees) you had better be in the best location (the most likely spot on the spot) setup and ready for a major fish movement.

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