Targeting Specific Fish Species | Modern Ice Fishing Gear

The best tactics when ice fishing for panfish

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When it comes to ice fishing many are solely focused on the larger species of fish. Ice fishing walleye and ice fishing pike are well documented on how to do it and be successful. This post is not meant for people that are looking to target those types of fish, but it could likely help in those areas as well. This post is focused on getting more of these tasty fish on the ice this winter. Ice fishing for panfish is a great activity for both adults and children alike, and the table fare is second to none.

Best equipment to buy for ice fishing panfish

So you are thinking, “special ice fishing gear for panfish?” Well I am here to tell you that it can make quite a difference this winter to your catch rates. First and foremost, you are really shorting yourself if you don’t have an ice fishing flasher in your arsenal. These units are great for all ice fishing, but especially come in handy when ice fishing crappie and they are suspended in the water column. I won’t fish without my flasher, you shouldn’t either. On top of that, panfish are one of the few fish that you can really utilize an ice fishing camera for. When ice fishing walleye you are often worried about scaring the fish away with a camera, but sunfish and crappie are more than willing to still bit while a camera is in close proximity. A light or ultralight ice fishing rod is helpful to set the hook, but keep a nice steady bend on the rod while you are reeling the fish up. Medium action ice fishing rods that are quite common can be less than desireable while targeting panfish due to loss of feel and losing fish on the way to the hole. One final piece that I think is essential when targeting panfish is the spring bobber. I am a huge fan of the St. Croix spring bobber and have put one on all of my panfishing rods.

What lures are best to use when ice fishing for panfish

The thing that needs to be kept in mind when fishing for these diminutive fish is that they are small and therefore you should fine tune your presentation accordingly. As I have written on this site several times I am a huge fan of the Lindy Frostee Jigging Spoon in the 1/16 ounce size. The small treble hook and small profile has proven deadly over and over again for me. The key thing being we want the lure to show up well on our flasher. With that in mind we want a small lure that fishes heavy. Another great example of this is the Gill Pill. This is a small lure with a small hook, but the profile allows for a great reflection up back to your Marcum fish finder.

What is the best bait to use when ice fishing for panfish

Another thing to keep in mind when fishing for panfish is the bait to use. Most often people use live bait when chasing pannies. I am a huge fan of wax worms myself and they have proven great for both sunfish and crappie alike. Many people have had great success with spikes, mousies and maggots and they make a great choice as well. If they are lively they can really set your presentation apart from the crowd. Crappie minnows are a commonly used bait when chasing crappies in the summer, and they can be very helpful on the hard water as well, but don’t fall in love with them simply because they work so well in the summer. I have had better luck throughout time using a smaller presentation such as wax worms or spikes.

Where are the best places to ice fish for panfish?

When it comes to panfish you need to remember that generally speaking they are the prey of larger fish so having a way to escape from danger in important. Weeds are a natural hiding place for sunfish and they utilize them almost as much in the winter as in the summer. The key being here that you want to find green weeds, those that are still alive and giving off oxygen. Brown or dormant weeds actually consume oxygen and doesn’t attract the food chain and therefore the panfish. Another common spot to check are the deep holes with steep breaks to weedy flats and so forth. Crappies notorious for suspending over these depths and the higher in the water column they are the more catchable they seem to be.

What are your experiences ice fishing for panfish? Do you have any tips or tricks to putting more fish on the ice that you would be willing to share?

Ice Fishing Walleye

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When it comes to fishing, especially Minnesota ice fishing, the fish that is most often thought of is the walleye. Known the world round for its superior dinner fare and elusive qualities, the walleye is a trophy fish that is hard to catch in large groups if you don't know what you are doing. Many lakes are well known for producing walleye in Minnesota, and Mille Lacs ice fishing is known for quite some ways for being one of those spots. Another couple of places to seriously consider would be Upper Red Lake ice fishing and Lake of the Woods ice fishing. Both are superior fishing lakes and have excellent walleye fisheries. Lake of the Woods also boasts a strong population of sauger, a cousin of the walleye and equally good on the dinner plate, as well as just about every other freshwater fish it seems. The drawback with LOW is that it is extremely far north and not a quick easy trip from anywhere.

Now, like with almost all things doing with ice fishing of late, the modern ice fishing gear available really helps when ice fishing walleye. An ice fishing flasher is pretty much a necessity to catch these fish on a regular basis. And due to their spooky nature, the underwater ice fishing camera does not work all that well. If you are going to try a camera with walleyes, you had better try to have it looking down from above. Anything on the same level as the walleye is really going to hurt your chances. Again, to use the modern ice fishing theme as a backdrop, you want to punch many holes and keep moving until you find fish. A good ice fishing auger is worth its weight in gold here, and with the thickness of the ice it is often a good idea to have a gas ice auger for your trip. Hand ice augers are great when it is early ice, but really slow you down when the ice gets to be 12" and thicker.

When it comes time to find the fish you really need to consider the lake you are on. The LOW walleyes are a roaming bunch and on this lake you can get by with placing your ice fishing house in one spot and fishing all day from it. The fish move around constantly targeting the bait fish and will happen upon your house. However, a lake like Mille Lacs is going to require you to be a bit more decisive in where you set up shop. Remember to follow the bait when it comes to walleyes, as they are a predator fish and will act accordingly. Rock piles, sharp breaks from muddy spots that transition into harder bottom are good bets. If you can find green weeds they can be very good for catching walleyes through the ice.

Now, unlike ice fishing panfish or ice fishing crappie, the ice fishing rod you select is important. You want one with a slight enough feel, but also has enough backbone to ensure you can land a larger fish if you tie into one. I like to go with a medium action rod in this case and pair it up with one of the quality small-medium ice fishing reels.

When it comes time to get out on the lake this winter and you want to catch some dinner remember to think of the walleye. If they aren't biting you often can finding some success ice fishing pike in close proximity to the area and can get some action there with ice fishing tip ups. However, if you are able to find some success ice fishing walleye you would be remiss in looking elsewhere for action.