Ice Fishing for Trout

I made my first trip for trout yesterday. I didn’t go during the traditional “hot bite” time of day, but I made the most of it. I jigged with fathead minnows, and also set out fatheads on tipdowns. I ended up with four out of a possible five, but lost at least four. I also hooked int the local giant! If that was an inland trout, it was better than five pounds. I can only imagine. Next time i go, I am going to stick a camera down there to see what I can see, as I think there may be some undiscovered treasure in that place, and I may have to upsize my bait.

Were you on Lake Superior?

No, I was at a honey hole in the Chippewa Valley.

Nice job on icing the C V inland trout.I have noticed someone fishing above the Mill Pond dam right in town. Which is where numerous people,generally kids crossing over the years have gone through the ice.The ice can be plenty thick enough in 1 area & just a few feet away can be very thin.I know with the cooler temps we are currently having the ice in this area might seem safe.Which conditions here can change daily.But there are alot of kids who will follow by prior example & I wouldnt want to hear of a trajedy in my backyard!Stay safe out there & good luck on the C V area Trout icing escapades.

There have been more than one kid going through on the millpond you are speaking of, I would stay off of that without a spud bar. There are trout in there, but I do believe the season is closed for them on that particular water.
If you do go chasing trout in the winter make sure you check the regulations, as many waters are closed to trout fishing after September 30th.
The body of water which I fish does happen to be a millpond, with good ice where I fish on it, but there is an area which people DO sometimes icefish, up by where the creek comes in, where that ice comes and goes. It may be around 4 inches right now as to where I am fishing there is a good foot. I haven’t been over there but do know this from past experience.
Once you do have these things figured out though, it can be a blast. A little different kind of ice fishing I guess. As it can be DEAD out there for the longest time, and all of the sudden they go on a feeding frenzy which lasts 10-15 minutes, then shuts right off. During this little frenzy you can stick a minnow down a hole just to have it eaten seconds later. Which does happen in other kinds of fishing, but I mean almost right under the ice. It’s a good way to go if you only have a couple of hours to fish, and you are stuck with mid-day and not low light conditions.

Good luck out there no matter what species you may be targeting, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions.