Perch are one of the tastiest freshwater fish and are a favorite amongst ice anglers everywhere.Catching them through the ice is becoming more difficult but your odds will improve with a solid game plan. You can’t catch em if you don’t know where they live; the search will turn to destroy more often if the “when and where” is understood. A quick study of a detailed contour map or handheld GPS, and consideration of these areas; shallow bays, mudflats and deep basins, will put you on top of the “feed trough”. Hammering into a school of perch is exhilarating, especially when you get into the “Pigs”; those of the 10-14 inch size. At first ice, shallow bays are a magnet to pig perch and here, the dinner bell rings. These bays often hold the healthiest weeds which in turn hold the most ... [ Read More ]

Not long ago, I wrote an article for a major ice fishing publication about a yellow perch fishing technique that’s incredibly popular in my area, but somehow continues to stay under the radar. The article was merely a brief mention, but since that time I’ve received a number of inquiries regarding the specifics of the presentation. The technique I’m referring to is fishing with bait-less wobbling spoons, known locally as “fishing hardbeads”. It began in the Saginaw Bay area, has taken Lake St. Clair by storm, and seems to work wherever perch are relatively shallow. The technique is designed to excite the fish into a feeding frenzy, and then take advantage of their gluttonous attitude. When done properly, this method of fishing may be the quickest ever single-hook method for catching perch. ... [ Read More ]

With some cold weather and reports of people fishing north of Mille Lacs there is only one thing for an ice fisherman to do. Get a few days off of work and get the guys together and hit the ice. So that was our plans. After work on Wednesday we loaded up the trucks and we were northern bound. We hit the hotel early evening and asked about ice in the area. Our plan A lake was told to be wide open earlier in the week. After hearing that we soon came up with a plan B just in case we found open water in our first spot. So feeling a little disappointed to bed we went. Just after sunup we set out to the lake to see if there would be fishable ice. Sure enough there we saw our bay froze over. So paring up into twos and ice picks in hand we walked the shore until we found the point that ... [ Read More ]

When thinking about the Metro Area, MN, we oftentimes assume that we’re dealing with small fish and pressured lakes. While both assumptions can (at times) be true, you’re only cheating yourself by pushing the Metro lakes aside. Not only do our Metro lakes hold quality fish, but at times they will hold high numbers of these quality fish. The trick to uncovering these gems comes with some effort, but with vast rewards and short trips you will see that fishing in your backyard is more than worth it. The most important key to fishing Metro lakes is being adventurous. To put it simple: don’t fish where the crowds are. We are too quick to join the shanty town when we should be out searching for our own fish. So many times have I found quality fish in lakes where others complain about the ... [ Read More ]

Big fish live in big fish waters. Most seasoned anglers know this. While a fluke trophy can be caught out of almost any waters; the best way to catch big fish consistently remains to travel to big fish waters. For panfish anglers in Minnesota, you need to simply pick up a road map and follow the Panfish Corridor to find your best chance at trophy panfish. This belt across the state has some of the best growing conditions for panfish, and due to the types of lakes in this region; panfish often survive even the harshest of winters that would otherwise decimate a lake in the southern tier of the state, but can still withstand the fishing pressure they often see. Why Here?Some of you are probably thinking that the northern lakes in the state provide better fisheries for panfish than the ... [ Read More ]

Crappies are a sophisticated fish, especially those slabs, and at times it can be rather confusing and frustrating for ice anglers to pinpoint slab patterns. Some lakes are abundant with slab crappies, while others are more inclined to hold smaller fish, and then you have those lakes where you can catch a mixed bag. Regardless of the lake or body of water, location is important when it comes down to being a successful crappie fisherman during the winter months. Flashers allow ice anglers to quickly determine whether or not fish are in the area and locating the elusive slab crappie is more than half the battle. If you can establish a pattern of where these fish will be holding then the rewards will come. I always pay close attention to fall patterns, especially at late fall as the water ... [ Read More ]

One of the best times to visit Lake of the Woods is in September and October as the area makes the transformation from summer to fall. Not only is it beautiful to witness firsthand, it’s a tremendous time to walleye fish. I feel very blessed to be a part of the experience up here in “God’s Counry” as the miraculous transformation takes place. Lake of the Woods in the fall is a jigging angler’s paradise with tons of chunky walleye eagerly biting. This past week I was out with a few of our guests, and let me tell you, the bite is on! We will be jigging on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River until we get ice in either late November or early December this year. So buckle up, and get ready. The shiner run on the Rainy River is a well-known phenomenon that triggers this fantastic ... [ Read More ]

Hand drill a hole in the ice and you are the motor, totally in control of the speed and power. To be an effective hand driller means having the best hand auger designed to make the most of every ounce of energy you exert. The Lazer Synthetic Ultralite from StrikeMaster does just that and is a hand driller’s dream come true. Hand drillers are a unique brand of ice angler who demands an ice auger that is lightweight, durable and fast. It doesn’t matter if you are an Olympic athlete or a professional couch potato the new Lazer Synthetic Ultralite is going to maximize every pound of torque exerted. The lightest hand augers on the market anywhere, both the four-inch and six-inch model are a full pound lighter than the competition. Drill 50 holes with either the standard or offset handle and ... [ Read More ]