Finding Your Next Ice Fishing Honey Hole.
You’ve got your gear all packed up and your standing on the shoreline of a new lake. The ice looks good and you’ve done your research. Now you’re pondering…where should I go first? Let’s walk through the steps that we take when looking for our next honey hole on the hard-water.
The research begins well before the trip. We always have a reason for trying a new body of water. It may be the fish that are in a specific lake, or it could be a place that we are planning a vacation to. Sometimes we simply want to try a new spot, which is a good enough reason as any. The good news is that you can learn a lot about new fishing spots from your living room. The internet contains endless trip reports, online forums, and most important…maps that show depths and structure to search out. Some larger reservoirs will sell maps in their marina shops, which is a wealth of information. While you’re in there, make sure to ask questions as those marina workers are fishing every day and know the lake the best.
Now that were on the lake shore, its a good time to refresh on Ice Safety 101. (Read our old blog Ice Fishing Safety 101 by clicking the link.) The good news is that we don’t need to venture out too far before getting into the fish. In order to choose the right spot, you need to know the fish behavior and where they tend to be in the winter months. Your first thought may be to head to the middle of the lake and hit the deepest water. Sometimes that will work, but we find that fishing the shallower water produces more results. As winter progresses, the deeper waters can experience lower oxygen levels. Additionally, Trout prefer cooler water, but during the winter, the shallower waters will provide a more optimal temperature. Shallow water is warmed by the sun first. Due to increased sunlight and warmer water temperatures, aquatic life tends to be more abundant in these shallower waters. This is where the fish will be hunting for their food. You don’t need to venture too far out on the ice before you’re into the action. Check your maps for anticipated depths and stick to 5 to 15 feet of water. You can check the depth by dropping your line in a test hole until it hits the bottom. Pull the line up and see how deep your current location is and start fishing if you’re happy with your first spot.
In addition to water depth, you’re also looking for underwater landscape features that provide habitat for fish. You’re looking for features like drop offs, and shelfs, also structures like submerged rocks and trees. Points and coves along the shoreline tend to be productive for us as well. Inlets and outlets are great because they have flowing water, which provides an oxygen rich environment that fish love. If you have a fish finder, locating structure and actual depths will help, but you can also find great spots by moving around and trying new spots. Remember that holes just a few feet apart from each other can provide drastically differing results, so don’t be afraid to move to a new spot.
One last trick in the bag of tricks is to ask your kids where the fish will be. Discuss the surrounding environment to them and ask where they think the fish will be. Not only will they have some skin in the game by choosing their own spot, but their intuition tends to be right on the money. They’ll be extra proud of the spot they picked and enjoy the entire experience just a little more.
Ice Fishing is an incredibly rewarding wintertime activity to get into. Its just like summer fishing. In the summer months you would spend your day moving from spot to spot until you found success. Think the same way with ice fishing. The more you fish any given body of water, the more you’ll understand those fish in their environment. Drill lots of holes and have fun. It won’t take long before you have it “figured out”!
Hopefully these tips will help you find your next honey hole!
Tight Lines and Happy Trails,
The Trails to Trout Family
