You’ve seen the glory grips and big fish shots, you’ve heard how well they’re biting, but you don’t live anywhere close to where the action is. You fish your local lakes, the same way you have been for some time, and maybe you’re starting to get bored with it? Perhaps the fishing is great early and late, but there’s a big dead period right down the heart of old-man-winter that really bums you out come February? The nagging idea of a trip near or far has been weighing on you for several ice-seasons now, and I’m here to tell you why this is the year that you actually go out and make good on those dreams.
Planning
Chances are, you’ve already got something in mind. A favorite species, a landscape you’ve never fished in, or just simply an opportunity given your location to existing world-class bites. Start there. Devour anything and everything you can on the bite. Scour In-Depth Outdoors forums and our YouTube channel to look for certain types of fishing you just can’t stand to do without, and find some like-minded friends that would love to join you. It’s true, there’s a pile of destinations to choose from, and the ice-belt is too bountiful to expect to fish it all, but just like writing this article the first step is to just put something, anything down on paper. Figure out a weekend or couple days where you and a buddy (at least) can get away for a bit and focus on some good times and great fishing. Put it on the calendar, guard it like a junkyard dog, and make sure you have firm commitments from said fishing partners.
If you’re not sure where you want to fish, and you’re looking for some recommendations, here’s a quick list of some bites I’ve either been a part of and can suggest, or bites that I’m dying to try!
- Devil’s Lake – Perch and Walleye
- Lake of the Woods – Everything
- Erie – Walleye
- Bay of Quinte – Walleye
- South Dakota – Glacial Lakes – Perch, walleye, Crappies, Gills
- Nebraska Sandhills – Gills
- Green Bay – Walleyes and Whitefish
- Bays de noc – Upper Michigan – Walleyes
- Upper Red Lake – Walleyes
- Lake Winnipeg – Walleyes
Staying
It’s no secret, all of these bodies of water are relatively large or have multiple options, and all of them have ample information about them that’s easily attained online. You can always hotel it, but I’ve found over the years that with trailers and trucks full of thousands of dollars of ice equipment, nothing beats the security of resorts. They can run the full range of options from being just a place where you can stay/launch, to a full service setup as is so common on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. In whatever form they take, they need to provide constantly up-to-date information on both ice conditions and the bite. Right now is their busy season, so don’t be surprised if it’s tough to get through, and don’t be offended if you’re referred to their websites. Do your homework, research what options you’re going to need to have a good time, and then ask the questions that need answering. To me, a resort that caters to my experience while I’m there, is one that’s preferred to a resort that does nothing but answer phones and book new business. From my experience, the quality operations shine through, provide great advice and are professional the whole way through. Also consider a drive-out option with ice-house lodging. Staying overnight in an ice-house offers several advantages to on-shore lodging, and more often than not, you can use the hard-side house as a base station for other jaunts to fish additional structure.
Transportation
On-ice transportation is always a tough nut to crack. Rely on online reports and resort suggestions regarding snow-depth and ATV’s. Be cautious of scattered, isolated reports like “you should be good” or “I’ve always used an ATV to get around up there.” There’s nothing worse than trailering an ATV all the way to your destination, only find it useless, or worse, use it anyway and be forced to un-bury it. Snowmobiles continue to be the most reliable option throughout the majority of the ice-fishing season. On big waters, ice conditions change daily. Cracks spew and re-freeze, while bridges that worked one week are being repaired the next. Make sure that your transportation bases are covered just before you leave for your trip!
Fishing
Preparation here is also key, as many bodies of water and the species they contain have their own tendencies and special requirements. Don’t plan on bringing everything you own, instead, focus on the baits, rods, and associated gear you know you will use. Most of the destinations listed above have options in terms of replacements for electronics, augers, etc., but if you’re traveling to the hinterlands, be sure to carry extras on the deal-breakers that will take your trip to a screaming-halt. Items like sonar, an auger, shelter if cold, on-ice transportation, and all of the associated requirements make traveling to your dream destination a non-starter if you can’t figure out other options should an item break. There are some items that you should actually wait to purchase. Bait is definitely one of them. Use local knowledge to your advantage to find out what’s actually been working the best. Ask what they recommend. Ask what’s been selling the best. Then be sure to see what items are of local interest. On Lake of the Woods, colors like gold and glow red are perennial favorites, no matter what the bait. Be sure to be fully stocked and ready, but don’t be afraid to drop a few bucks on the items that are locally popular. No matter what you fish with, make sure you focus on the location aspect of your fishing with the best possible contour map available. I can’t stress enough how important this information is to a successful adventure!
Of course, you’ve traveled a long ways from home to have some great fishing, and have probably racked up bills for fuel, food, and lodging. What’s a few more bucks to split a guide for a day with your buddies? I’ve never been ashamed of hiring a guide, especially when far from home or when fishing outside of my comfort zone. If I’m fishing a few days, of course I want the guide to put me on fish, but more importantly, I’m going to make him wear his vocal cords out while explaining to me the nuances of the bite. It’s better to plan this in advance, both in terms of the guide’s availability, but also to make sure you have the chance to explain what you’re looking for. Some guides are simply most interested in just filling limits and getting you on your way, others yet are great teachers. If the goal is to learn the local water and its intricacies, a guide is square one and you need a be a good student. Don’t re-visit the previous days fishing grounds, but plan on locating similar structure, bottom content, and or depth ranges to reproduce the patterns that you learn.
Finally, be sure to plan enough days for relaxation and fun along the way. With as seriously as we fish, there’s times where sleeping in, staying up late, and/or just plain fishing when it’s convenient can really make the trip that much more enjoyable. So here’s to you. Get on the computer, rough out a plan with some buddies, and really make it happen this year. This figures on being one of the longest winters on record. Emerge on the other side with some great stories and even better fish photos to share!