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.
Tag: ice fishing
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 Thick Does Ice Need to Be? Official Thickness Guidelines and How to Check Ice Safely
The Minnesota DNR's minimum ice thickness chart, what clear, white and gray ice tell you, and a simple routine for checking ice before and while you fish.
How to Choose an Ice Auger: Hand, Gas, Electric or Drill-Driven
The right auger depends on how many holes you drill, how thick your ice gets and how far you walk. Here is how the four main types compare.