ICE FISHING 2009

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Most of the fishing guides write about what happens during the open water season. They are all very good and really are accurate and honest in their reporting. All of us scribblers really like to tell it as it is and what transpired in the boat. I like writing about ice fishing. Last ice fishing season from December 8th, 2007 to April 15th 2008 was not the best mobility period here in the North Woods. Snow came early in December and ice making was slow to develop. Snow insulates the cold air temperatures from penetrating through to the water and even with zero air temps, it takes time to reach 3-6 inch in thickness. The early snow did help promote the snowmobile season here in the Northwoods since it came in early December and established a 6-12 inch snow base. Travel by foot on the lakes was hard as slush took form and with only a 4WD or ATV was one able to move around. Until paths are beaten down, areas to get to and fish are slow in the making. We did have a nice run off of water in Spring of 2008 but then a cold spring and lack of rain slowly evaporated what water level we gained, as late spring had no run off and lack of rain into July made for drought conditions and low water, which made boat launching tough. The Rainbow Flowage was down 15 feet, and all area lakes showed different depths of water recession for the second year in a row.

Since 90 percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water, your eyes are your best locator. Vertical fishing through the ice makes it possible to put people close together and in most cases in the fish zone. Colonies of ice shanties, as well as all type of vehicles, dot the areas. Access for the most part comes off of public landings and many times this is a good area to start. Safety on the ice is of most importance and the buddy system makes sense when venturing on ice regardless of depth. Creepers for your feet on the clear ice, ropes, life jackets and cushions are part of the safety equipment you need and do not leave home with out them. The life you save may be your own or that of a loved one.

As a professional guide, ice fishing is more demanding than open water fishing, as it calls for hauling out your equipment and, most importantly, it is so necessary to set the client up in the fish zone right away. You may get to move one more time in the day, so pre-fishing and scouting on a regular basis is a must.

Ice fishermen have all the equipment from augers to tents to tip up and jig poles. Bait is another thing from spikes, wax worms and small minnows for pan fish to fat heads minnows, golden and silver shiners or 3-6 inch suckers for game fish. Early ice from 3-6 inches is probably the best period for action with shallow water bays from 4-8 feet the most productive. No question walleyes in the low light period bite best early in the morning or just before dusk with northern pike during the day. Every fisherman has a technique like 6 inches off the bottom for walleyes and 2 to 3 feet below the ice for northerns. My under water type tip ups are fixed with either fire line or spider wire fishing line 4 lb diameter on the spool. No leader is necessary but it has a heavy split shot sinker and a # 6 treble hook. The bigger the minnow the more weight you may need to keep the minnow from swimming up. Since the tip ups lay flat, sticks standing with reflective tape help scan the area and in crowded areas identify your tip up as the call is yelled out. For night fishing there are different styles of lights you attach to the flag. In Wisconsin, you are allowed 3 lines to fish so I like to put out 2 tip ups and use one rod to jiggle either for walleyes or pan fish. The vexilar flashing fish locator and even the underwater camera should now be a part of your arsenal to go ice fishing. They are really tools to help make the day a success and unlock some of the mysteries of why you may or may not be catching fish. You may be catching fish and all of a sudden they stop. The camera shows some pike moving in and the pan fish went deep into the weeds for protection. Did you know that Muskies and Northern pike teeth mesh to form a scissor type bite and even cut braided line? Walleye teeth meet together and allow the line to go in between so this helps the fishermen from bite offs. However, big walleyes like to roll and get the fishing line behind the gills to cut the line. Some lakes turn on for the entire ice season while others get hot early and then you struggle to catch a few later in the season. Mobility on the lake is a must and helps to make for easier travel to another lake the same day. In reality there is no big pressure on these lakes during the ice fishing season since it calls for the men of winter to be out during the week which makes weekends more of a family outing and bonding thing.

The lakes I like to fish are the Eagle River Chain, North and South Twin for walleyes, Lac Vieux Desert, Thunder, Pioneer for Northern, with Big Arbor Vitae, Pickerel, Minocqua, and the Three Lakes Chain for pan fish. By pan fish we mean perch, blue gills and crappies. I like to use clear 2-4 lb test line on a jig pole for pan fish. My ice jig is a rat fink tipped with a spike or wax worm that helps present the bait to the fish in a horizontal position. Did you know that fish, especially pan fish, create a vacuum and inhale the lure only to blow it out if they do not like it? An under water camera proves this or even sight fishing in a dark tent looking down the hole. Jig poles that have a spring on them - no bobber - can show the slightest of bites and help when the fish is finicky. Another type of fishing pole is the tip down which is really a neat device use d for crappies tipped with a minnow. You do need warmer air temps above freezing as it is positioned standing up above the ice and the line goes through the hole. It is an offshoot from the wind tip up in similar thought also above the ice standing up with aluminum fan to catch the wind. Each of us has a favorite lake and a spot on that lake but like I said earlier check out the crowd, they just may be on to something. Good luck and have fun fishing. Professional guide Jim " Hi Pines" Rechlitz can be reached at www.hipines.com or hipines@newnorth.net or at 715-479-6113

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