We finally have solid ice in the metro area and we have been targeting panfish. I’ve been hammering the more aggressive presentations when I can… Clam Pro Tackle Tikka Flash and Pinhead Pro, but I’ve had to slow down a little with these colder conditions and look to tungsten… namely the Swirl Drop and Drop Kick in size 12. Everyday the bite seems to fluctuate and we have to adapt. A handful of rods seem to come into play each day.
We are finding fish by being structure-focused… meaning weeds, edges, something to hold fish as we’re not as mobile with below zero temps. We’ve also located over basins, but we’ve done our best to not get out too deep… so 18-25 feet seems to be a key zone if we end up basin fishing… otherwise 5-10 feet for weed areas.
Best advice: Right now, the key word is ADAPT. We are experiencing an ice fishing season like no other, so be prepared to throw the “rule book” out the window and use your resources and tools… lake maps, plan ahead, watch your electronics, have multiple lakes in case one is panning out or doesn’t have the conditions you want… and when all else fails, set achievable goals and maybe your desired results will change a bit, but you can continue to find a productive day.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson Outdoors
www.mattjohnsonoutdoors.com