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After a Long Stretch, an Ice Fishing Season is Finally Here

Ice fishers are settling into the weather pattern and have been hitting the hard water throughout the state. Even the shoreline has seen its share of holes pop up on the local lakes and ponds. Finding a location out of the wind has been the recent challenge since it not only sweeps the cold off the surface, but also creates false-flag conditions when using tip-ups. Wind also makes for uncomfortable fishing, especially without an ice hut or shanty.

The ice fishing army has taken to modern-day technology. From rechargeable augers to finely tuned depth sounders and submersible cameras, the array of gear keeps growing. Local knowledge, such as bottom structure, only enhances one’s chances of success, even when relying on new products. Otherwise, valuable time can be lost while searching for where the fish are stacked up.

Some ice fishers gravitate to holes previously punched. It’s the lazy approach one takes when there is no auger or spud at hand. Unfortunately, unless a fisher is quite observant, he or she will not know if those were just test holes or ones that produced fish. One mistake that’s occasionally made is drilling too small a hole. Jigging for panfish, for example, does not require an eight- or 10-inch hole. However, hooking into a lunker largemouth or good size northern and attempting to pull it through a small hole can easily cost a fish and cause a lot of frustration.

However, one thing to remember is that trout, walleye, pike, and bass are being reeled in from much colder water than in the warmer months. Consequently, the fight seems less aggressive, with the runs not as fast, and the acrobatics non-existent. Nevertheless, navigating your catch to position its head by the hole can be an effort, especially if the hole is a small one.

This is where selecting the right terminal tackle and good-knot tying play a crucial role. Failure here will cost fish! In open water, bottom hazards such as rocks, submerged stumps, or pilings can create break-offs. Sharp ice edges and careless handling can accomplish the same result.

So, bundle up your labeled tip-ups (maximum of six, including jigging sticks), check your auger blades, grab your insulated shiner bucket, toss in any miscellaneous gear like a pair of ice awls, add a hot thermos, and load up the sled. Even though your phone (keep it warm) can search for a map of the lake or pond, printing out a hard copy the night before is a good idea. Have fun on the ice and stay safe!

On the Ice

The Arctic blast and Winter Storm Grayson put winter back into perspective. Long Island Sound inshore water temperatures tanked into the low 30s, depending on location, and rivers and bays became a sculpture in ice. High winds swirled as the gradients tightened and millibars dropped by 50. The bomb cyclone was delivered as seas crashed the shoreline, while many immediate areas flooded. In the process, a new word, bombogenesis, was added to many a vocabulary.

Because of the high winds, it was common for swirling snow to stack up in one area, while leaving an adjacent one with bare grass. A similar occurrence was noticeable on several lakes and ponds, where parts were covered with snow and others had ice exposed. Although snow will act as an insulator, it also can hide a fracture, hole, or other hazard.

For clear ice to be considered safe, it should be at least four inches for ice fishing, depending on numbers of fishers and accompanying gear, and five- to six inches for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. Cars and small trucks need eight- to 12 inches and medium trucks need 12- to 15 inches. These are recommended thicknesses of solid and clear ice, although different areas may freeze differently. As a result, one should always exercise caution, employ the buddy system, and carry a pair of ice awls in the event of falling through.

Prior to Grayson, several lakes and ponds did see some action. Ice continued building to where auger blades were put to the test. Walleye, perch, and largemouth bass were caught through the ice, both with tip-ups and jigging sticks. Depth and structure were the keys in locating fish. Time of day, as in the case of walleye, was a determining factor. With opal eyes, the bite generally is better at day’s end when light diminishes.

Live shiners, grubs, and jigging lures by themselves or tipped with bait is as simple as it gets. Bring along a skimmer to keep your hole clear of ice and a manual sounder to check depth. A spud will assist in testing the ice and wind-resistant clothing can prevent you from testing the weather.

It might take a few more days for the trout streams to recoup from those frigid temps now that the air is warming up. Certainly, the salmon waters, as well as the sea run trout rivers, are in play. A January thaw is in the making and should jump-start the rivers. However, conditions on the lakes may get a bit slushy and caution should be taken.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and international fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy including fly fishing, swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter, where we don’t make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...

Tight Lines,

Captain Morgan

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