First Ice Fishing: When Early Ice Is Safe and How to Fish It Carefully
Learn how thick clear ice needs to be, how to check it as you go, where fish sit at first ice and how to fish early ice with a safety-first routine.
Category: Ice Fishing
Ice safety, augers, shelters, flashers and tip-ups, plus how and when to catch panfish, walleye, perch and pike through the ice.
Ice Fishing for Walleye: Structure, Jigging Spoons, Rattle Baits and Tip-Ups
Walleye under the ice follow structure and light. Fish edges and humps at dusk and dawn with a jigging spoon or rattle bait, plus a minnow on a second line.
Ice Fishing for Beginners: When to Start, What Gear You Need and How to Find Fish
You need less gear than you think: safe ice, a way to make a hole, a short rod, small jigs and the right clothes. Here is how to plan your first day on the ice.
Ice Fishing for Crappie: Find Suspended Schools and Catch Them at Dusk
Winter crappie often hover in the middle of the water column over deeper water. Find the school with electronics, fish just above it, and be ready at dusk.
The Best Time of Day for Ice Fishing, Species by Species
Low-light windows matter most for walleye and crappie, while perch, bluegill and pike are daytime fish. Here is how to plan your hours on the ice.
Ice Fishing for Perch and Bluegill: Tiny Jigs, Mud Flats, Weed Edges and Staying on the School
Perch roam soft-bottom flats, bluegill hang in the weeds, and both bite tiny jigs on light line. The trick is finding the school and keeping up with it.
Ice Fishing Gear Checklist: Safety Items, Auger, Rods, Electronics and Clothing
Pack safety gear first, then the tools to make holes and catch fish, then comfort. Here is a checklist you can run through before every trip.
How to Use Tip-Ups for Pike and Walleye: Setup, Bait, Depth and Flags
A tip-up holds a live or dead bait at a set depth and raises a flag when a fish takes it. Here is how to rig, place and fish them legally.
How to Dress for Ice Fishing: Layers, Float Suits, Boots, Gloves and Staying Dry
Staying warm on the ice is about layers, wind protection and keeping dry. Here is what to wear from head to toe, and the warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Ice Fishing Shelters: Flip-Over vs Hub, Insulated vs Not, and Heater Safety
A shelter turns a cold, windy day into a comfortable one. Here is how flip-overs and hubs compare, when insulation is worth it, and how to heat one safely.