How to target trophy fish through the ice
Perch, bluegill, crappie and other panfish are familiar, fun targets for ice fishing traditionalists. There are also the big-game ice anglers that are breaking away from the familiar - and pulling out some solid fish to boot.
To many, ice fishing has always evoked a certain image: small rods, small jigs and frankly, small fish. The image doesn't pay respect to the quality of panfish that can be had through the ice, and it also gives the impression that bigger targets like northern pike, walleye, bass and catfish are not able to be caught during this time of year, which isn't true.
Not only do these species remain active throughout the winter months, they can become voracious eaters during certain windows of the day, making them beyond fun to pursue. With a few alterations and additions to your ice fishing arsenal, you'll be able to target personal-best caliber fish before spring.
If rod and reel is your preferred ice fishing method, you are going to need to make sure your rig is strong enough to stop a big fish in its tracks. A medium-action outfit should be considered the baseline for walleye, bass and catfish. I recommend using heavier lines like Berkeley Fireline or Nanofil when using higher-weight setups.
On lure selection, keep in mind that if you're targeting larger fish don't be afraid to scale up your bait. Spoons are the best example on this front. While Swedish Pimple spoons are great for panfish, a bigger spoon like the Dardevle or Johnson Silver Minnow tipped with a piece of shiner or sucker is deadly on bass and pike.
If you are looking to draw walleye or lake trout strikes, try the more traditional open water baits like the tube jig or marabou jig to get results. These baits worked slowly off the bottom are perfect for enticing neutral fish. If you're having issues in getting fish to commit to these slower moving baits, switch back and forth with louder, more active attractions for contrast.
If jigging is not your thing, you can still target bigger fish by using a tip-up. A tip-up is a set line that allows you to present baits at different intervals within the water column. Bites are indicated by a small flag that disengages when a fish pulls line off the spool. The beauty of tip-ups is you can set up multiple lines at different depths to cover more water.
Choosing your bait for a tip-up has a lot to do with the target. Generally speaking, a shiner or golden roach of any size is good forage for all species. If you are shooting for bigger pike, musky or catfish, a small to medium sucker can be effective. When fishing with these kinds of baitfish, be sure to use an appropriate sized treble hook relative to the offering.
One other technique that is gaining popularity is the use of deadbaits. As it sounds, it's dead baitfish that's been cured with salt, colored dyes and/or brines and are usually presented frozen. Bouncing a deadbait off the bottom is a sneakily effective way to fish for prey like catfish and bowfin.