Ice Fishing Begins in the Summer
Ice Fishing Begins in the Summer
By Iain Loveman
Ice fishing begins in the summer !
You must really think I’m crazy making a statement like that.
Well, think about it for a minute.
When is the best time to search for the hotspots in a lake?
Would you rather fly all over a lake punching holes with a cold wind blowing at your back, dropping a transducer down a hole or spend your time gently rocking in your boat being pushed by a gentle breeze on a sunny day with the sound of a fish finder marking fish?
It’s just that easy.
What we are really talking about here is research. I know it is hard work but somebody has to do it. Now to do your homework you’re going to need some tools.
These are a boat or the use of one, a fish finder, some type of GPS, a lake map or facsimile, notepad and pen, an underwater camera would be nice and of course a rod, reel and bait (no sense taking all the fun out of it).
First, start with the map and get a few photo copies made because you’re going to mark it up. Look for all the usual hotspots (shoals, humps, saddles, river inlets, drop offs, etc.) and mark them on the map.
Now, grab your gear and your fishing buddy and head out to those areas and mark them on your GPS as waypoints. Remember everything is going to look different in the winter. That huge green tree won’t be so green if you get my drift (no pun intended). Ok, you’re allowed to troll but remember to remain focused on your intention or the whole purpose will be lost.
You can only put so much code into a waypoint and my memory is not as good as it use to be so get out your pad and paper and write down everything relevant to your hotspot.
A lot of this will come from your fish finder.
It’s going to give your depth and any bottom structures like rocks, stumps and drop offs but it is also going to give you the bottom density such as sand, mud, clay or rock and probably water temperature (although in the winter you know its going to be cold).
You are also looking for weedy areas. It is a fact that baitfish like vegetation for its rich nutrient concentration, oxygen levels and coverage. The predators love it because they know where the baitfish will be hiding and you use this knowledge to help get dinner on the plate.
Finally, mark down all the areas where water enters the lake. These could be rivers, streams, creeks, waterfalls. In the winter these may be hard to see but they are a good source of nutrients for the fish.
Iain Loveman is an avid fishing enthusiast and you can find more related fishing stuff at https://notjustfishing.com
