Ice Fishing Tips to Improve Your Fishing

5 Ice Fishing Tips for More Hookups

Ice Fishing | Fishing Techniques | By FISH THIS Staff

Winter is in full grasp across Pennsylvania. Even though we had a few early weeks of ice fishing in Pennsylvania, anglers across the state did not have a chance to really get into it. Now that temperatures are arctic and projected to stay that way for what we hope is the rest of the winter months, ice anglers can start to plan their days on Pennsylvania's many great lake fishing hotspots. Ice fishing tips like these can help you forget about the cold and enjoy more of your time on the ice.

​Fishing on ice is no different than fishing other times of the year. Oh except for the bitter cold temperatures, different gear and countless hours staring into a pie-sized circle. Those challenges aside, ice anglers should not change their fishing techniques simply because they are fishing under ice. For instance, may anglers spend an entire day sitting in a shanty or on a chair focused on tip-ups across several holes in the ice. This ice fishing tactic leaves most getting cold with few fish to show for it. Instead, think about how you fish during the summer. You are actively fishing different spots until you "figure it out" and find fish that are receptive to biting. The same should be true when you are ice fishing.

Mobile Ice Angling

​Similar to fishing from a boat or from shore, keep moving until you find fish. Those with a portable underwater depth finder can make easy work of this. But for the many anglers without, there is still hope. Drill a hole or two at one spot and use a ice fishing rod with a reel on it. This allows you to jig different baits quickly. If you get no bites in a few minutes, try a different spot. This ice fishing technique, what we call mobile ice angling, is one that requires your ice fishing equipment to be lean and portable. Having a good sled or container that is easy to move your ice fishing equipment in does wonders for being mobile. Once you get a few fish or several bites in a hole, setup all your gear and concentrate your fishing in these holes.

Ice Fishing Tips for More Hookups

Regardless of whether you are ice fishing for walleyes, panfish or trout, these five ice fishing tips can increase your chances of catching more fish under the ice this winter.

1. Cover the hole. Most ice fishing is conducted in shallower water. One aspect every ice angler is accustomed to is dipping ice out of their holes throughout the day. Yes, preventing the hole from re-freezing is important but sometimes a clear hole allows light to reach the water on even a cloudy day. Fish know there is ice above them and having a sunny opening is a clue that something is out of the ordinary. Add some ice shavings to block out the sunlight without getting your hole froze over completely.
2. Chum them up. This is number one in the ice fishing how to book. Once you have found fish, getting them to bite consistently can be tough. Try bringing extra bait with you to chum them up. Even if you are using ice fishing jigs, throwing some bait down the hole will attract more fish and get them to feed more aggressively.
3. Find the bottom and stay on it. One of the best ice fishing tips for perch and trout is to fish the bottom. Fish will be deeper as the water temperature is a few degrees warmer near the bottom. Here fish will be more active in searching for food. By allowing your ice fishing jigs to bounce off the bottom, the action attracts fish. If you are using live bait for ice fishing, connect a weight a few inches above your lure to keep it a mere inches from the bottom, and the fish.
4. Take some fish attractant. Among all the best ice fishing tips out there, there is little mention of using fishing scents and attractants. These are not the end all be all when it comes to fishing under ice, or any other fishing for that matter, but attractants can give you an extra boost when using ice fishing jigs. 
5. Always think about the ice. The last important ice fishing tip has nothing to do with fishing. Ice fishing safety involves knowing when the ice is safe to fish on and being prepared for falling in. Cold weather water safety is serious and fishing on ice that is too thin can be a disastrous end to a day of fishing.  

The sport of ice fishing is growing and anglers are having a great time when the ice is safe enough to go fishing in winter. Ice fishing tips are not as numerous as those for bass fishing or even trout fishing but many of the same techniques transfer. Use these ice fishing tips to land more fish as you venture out this winter.