When it comes to ice fishing, perhaps nothing can be more rewarding than fishing at night on the hard water. When it comes to ice fishing crappie, more often than not you need to flirt with darkness and many times embrace it fully to be successful. Walleyes are very similar in this regard where It can be very hard to get them to bite willfully in the daylight, but they strap on the feedbag on once the light becomes low. Walleye and crappie are especially adept at hunting for their food in low light and night conditions and therefore if you are a true chaser of these fish you should make plans to be efficient in these conditions.
When it comes to ice fishing at night it is imperative to realize that the ice fishing gear you need changes quite remarkably. First and foremost, it is often VERY cold at night and therefore an ice fishing house is almost a necessity. A permanent ice house is often the best option, but with today’s high tech exteriors, the portable ice house can be used as well. If you are in a ice hut, then you should obviously have some sort of heater to keep warm also. The array of ice fishing heaters available today is something to behold. From the catalytic heaters from Coleman to the mega heat producing Big Buddy heater from Mr Heater you have a lot to choose from.
Once you are toasty warm and can fish for a while in the elements, it is time to talk terminal tackle. There is no need to change your ice fishing rods or ice fishing reels at all, but when fishing at night it can be very beneficial to go with glowing ice fishing jigs. Even for those species that are known to benefit by low light conditions it helps to have a lure that stands out from the surroundings. Having a charger or white light to ensure that you have a glowing lure is paramount to success here. If you lose your glow often you are in the exact boat as all the other anglers that aren’t catching fish.
Other than that you are likely to use the same things that you would use in the middle of the day. Ice fishing flashers are still an indispensable tool to catch fish. It works as well at night as it does during the day. Knowing where the fish are in the water column and how they are reacting to your presentation is still a game changing event.
Mille Lacs ice fishing is well known for an excellent night bite. The walleye on this lake are hard to find in the middle of the day and due to the clear water they can hunt efficiently at night for their food. When it comes to ice fishing at night just remember to have a light source and a way to stay warm and you can definitely be very successful this winter.