The joys of fishing under the ice

Tips and tricks to keep you safe while fishing during the winter.

By Patrick Campeau

Soon, the surface of the water will freeze over and turn into a blanket of ice. Instead of moping around all winter and missing your boat and all of the joys of boating, take out your ice fishing gear in anticipation of the beautiful cold season ahead.

Dig through your closet and get your warmest clothes ready to soon take on three fun species to catch. 

First of all

Before getting down to business, we must first ensure our safety and that of everyone accompanying us.

The ice must be at least 7 cm (3 in.) thick before you can even think about venturing out onto it. Once it reaches 10 cm (4 in.), you can move around to locate fish. It is essential to remember not to ride ATVs or snowmobiles until the ice crust is at least 12 cm (5 in.) thick. Then, once it is more than 30 cm (12 in) thick, you can drive your car or pickup truck on it. Test the thickness frequently to ensure everyone’s safety.

Be aware and remember that a blue and transparent surface is safe. An opaque surface is almost as solid. White ice usually contains a high percentage of air, and if it is gray or dark, it is unstable and dangerous.

The Perch

The colorful, silvery scales of these small percids sparkle in the dim winter light. Known for its liveliness and combativeness, it thrives in cool, oxygenated waters, especially in winter. The surprising energy it is capable of displaying, relative to its size, makes it particularly exciting to catch. Fishing for them is a game of finesse, where every bite is an adrenaline rush. Their delicate flavour makes them a welcome treat for the whole table. Fishing for yellow perch in winter is a way to prolong the magic of nature, even when the cold sets in.

Where to find them: Yellow perch love shallow to medium structures at depths of 2 to 6 meters. Dense weed beds, various structures, gentle slopes, and changes in cover are sure to attract them. In winter, they often gather in schools and move throughout the day.

Equipment: Aside from tip-ups and submerged rigs such as Polar tip-ups, you would be interested in using a Lew’s Laser Ice 25» L/M lightweight rod and reel combination equipped with 4-pound/test fluorescent green P-Line HP-ICE line to try to outsmart them.

Arsenal: An array of lures such as the ice fly, the Tungsten Toad, the Meenie with a 1/16 oz jig head, the Rattl’n Flyer Spoon, the Lindy Perch Talker, the Mooselook Midget 1/12 oz, the W10 Wabler, the Rattl’n Quiver Spoon, the Atomic Teaser, and the Tri Color Mini Tube Twister will allow you to catch these beautiful little opponents.

Techniques and approaches: With the aforementioned offerings, opt for an active vertical presentation. Drop the jig into the hole, jerk it a few times on the way down, then let it fall without tension and then reel it back up. Bites often occur during the descent. Vibrate the lure near the bottom and reel it back up. Explore all depths of the water column. Your Garmin sonar and especially a LiveScope will help you locate them more easily. If the fish are biting on the tip of their lips, reduce the size of your offerings and the cadence. 

Tips: Change the color and profile of your presentation frequently until you find the right combination. Perch sometimes like small vibrations. Stay patient near the weed beds as they often return there.

The Walleye

With its beautiful bronze and gold coloring, this predator is at its most splendid in winter. Its slender silhouette and fast swimming make it a formidable opponent, much to the delight of true enthusiasts. Its firm, delicious, and flavorful flesh makes it a fish of choice for lovers of fine cuisine. Fishing for walleye in winter is a challenge that renews itself every evening and morning. Even though the ice filters and attenuates the sun’s rays, this glutton prefers to be active in a subdued environment.

Where to find them: Walleye like breaks and escarpments, mixed gravel and sand bottoms, bays, underwater islands, and channels, no matter how shallow. In winter, they often stay near the bottom close to weed beds at the transition point between deeper and shallower areas.

Equipment: In addition to the traditional tip-ups and modern versions where the reel is submerged, I suggest you opt for a Lew’s Laser Ice 28» MH/M medium-heavy action rod and reel combo with 6 or 8 lb test P-Line HP-ICE line or 10 lb test P-Line X-BRAID line.

Arsenal: A tackle box including Mister Twister Teeny jig heads, a Williams W30-40 with a minnow head, a CC Spoon, a Lindy Rattl’N Quiver Spoon, an Ice Jig J50, a Nipigon with a minnow head, a Jigging Rap, a Rattl’N Flyer Spoon, a Lindy Glow Streak, a Sassy Stingum, and a Heddon Sonar will allow you to fool even the most suspicious walleye.

The Garmin Livescope gives you an extraordinary advantage in locating fish and analyzing their behavior in response to your presentations

Techniques and approaches: If you know how to jig, you’ll love these predators. Go vertical, lowering everything to the bottom, then slowly reeling in with controlled jerks of 10 to 15cm, holding the lure throughout its descent because that’s when 90% of the strikes occur. Although they like to stay close to the bottom, don’t hesitate to explore all depths because in many cases the closer it gets to nighttime, the higher up in the water column they rise. Garmin’s Livescope will show you the exact location of walleye and how they react to your presentations.

Tips: Vary the speed of your movements often because some days they want a fast drop and other days a slow and reassuring presentation. Natural colors, such as white, pearl, yellow, and luminescent work well in clear water. Opt for more contrasting colours when visibility is lower. Let your lure sink several times in the same area instead of taking long breaks.

The Pike

With its powerful jaws and sharp teeth, this formidable predator dominates cold waters in winter. Its elongated body with perfect camouflage coloring in murky waters allows it to blend silently into the background while waiting for its next prey. Its energy and legendary fights are just as vigorous during the bitter cold. Every bite is a real adrenaline rush as if the fish wants to test your determination. Fishing for pike in winter means entering a wild world where nature reveals all of its power and resilience.

Where to find them: These aggressive, opportunistic predators often stay close to weed beds, tangles of submerged grass and wood, or various structures where they can lie in wait for potential prey. In winter, active pike concentrate near structures, but they may also patrol wider corridors in search of their next meal.

Equipment: Rocking tip-ups and tip-ups with submerged reels work great, but I prefer the synergy of a jointed offering with a Lew’s Speed Spin Ice 38» MH/F medium-stiff rod and reel combo loaded with 100 yards of clear P-Line PIC-10 HP ICE line.

Arsenal: If you want to restock your lure box, make sure you have a Williams Wabler W50 perch, a Cotton Cordell Super Spot, a Glow Streak, an HQ35, an Ice Jig J50, a Booyah Bait Hard Knocker, a Syclops S2, a War Eagle Jiggin Spoon, a 4-inch Double Tail Mister Twister on a jig head and a Bay de Noc Swedish Pimple.

Techniques and approaches: Opt for a more aggressive presentation than what is used for yellow perch and walleye, using powerful lift-ups followed by pauses. Pike often attack in response to a large profile. Explore the edges of weed beds and tributaries and then cover the areas by waltzing your lure at different depths. Use sweeping movements to provoke an attack.

Tips: An indecisive pike will delicately and clumsily grab your lure. On the other hand, once it makes up its mind, it will bite hard and put up a fight worthy of mention.  When it comes to larger specimens, be prepared for an intense battle. Take the time necessary to tire the fish out without delaying too long. During calm periods, use lures with strong auditory and vibratory resonance. If nothing responds, gradually change depth. Fish can be found in a very specific area, sometimes less than a meter away from your fishing position on the surface. 

Patrick Campeau is a professional fisherman and a three-time provincial champion, inducted into the Canadian Pantheon of Fishing. Find out more about Patrick Campeau at www.pcampeau.com or  www.facebook.com/lapassiondepatrickcampeau

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