There are definite keys to early ice fishing that Jason Mitchell shares to keep you catching panfish.

Early ice is a coveted time for ice fishing, however, isn’t always easy. This article will focus on early-ice opportunities that occur when you can only walk out on less than 6 inches of ice.

Perhaps the biggest challenge each winter is simply finding fish again. At times, you find consistent, early-ice bites for panfish on the same lakes, and even the same locations, for consecutive years. There are other times, however, when fish populations cycle, or for some unforeseen reason, some spots that were good at early ice last winter are not good this winter. In essence, things can change.

Anglers who target panfish and spend time in a boat into late fall usually have a big advantage at early ice. Typically, where you find fish in late fall is often where you find them at early ice. Crappies and bluegills, for example, often stage over deep basins in October, and the fish are usually somewhere nearby come December, if not in the exact same locations.

We often find both shallow and deep early-ice patterns. Most early-ice patterns on natural lakes seem to revolve around good weeds or soft-bottom basins. Some of my earliest first ice attempts each winter are over shallow water, just because the shorelines and shallow bays are some of the first locations I can safely walk on.

Perhaps one of the greatest challenges to early ice, and something I am starting to understand much more with forward facing sonar, is just how spooky fish can be at early ice. Thin, clear ice, and clear water where you can see down through the ice and see bottom in a few feet of water or more, can create extremely spooky fish. Every time you make a move, and every time you drill a hole, you simply push fish away from you.

There are times when being overly aggressive in finding fish can work against you at early ice. There are situations where you simply must drill your holes and sit on a spot so that the fish can move back underneath you. If you are not aware of what is happening, you can drill a hundred holes or more and have a pretty tough day.

The other component of forward-facing sonar that I am beginning to understand is to simply use it to find fish and then turn it off, especially when fishing in shallow water. The increased power seems to spook fish much more than traditional sonar. If you think that forward facing sonar will replace your Vexilar, you will catch fewer fish. But if you use it to complement your traditional sonar, you can catch more fish. Use it to find fish and understand how fish are moving, and when it comes time to roll up your sleeves and catch fish, rely on the traditional sonar.

I have come to realize that fish in shallows can be extremely spooky at early ice—much more so than any other time of year. We often catch more fish at early ice by slowing down and being methodical. Drill fewer holes, sit longer and make calculated moves. There are also times when you must be fishing at sunset or right at dark when dealing with clear water.

On the flip side, the other variable that can really affect early ice is really churned up or turbid water created by strong winds right at freeze up. If the ice is broken up like a jigsaw puzzle at early ice, pay attention to the water clarity. Reduced visibility can also make the fishing tough if the water looks so stained that you can barely see down the hole through 4 inches of ice. It is interesting that we get strong winds throughout the year, but the water typically clears up much quicker at different times of the year. My theory is that the denser, cold water holds and suspends sediment for much longer periods of time, so it may take a few weeks or more to settle. Shallow, wide-open dish bowl lakes seem affected the most.

If you encounter this at early ice, my best advice is to do some more research and find a lake that perhaps froze over later, or was wind-protected in some fashion, so that there is some visibility. Great examples where this can occur are Upper Red Lake, Minn., or the shallow feeder lakes connected to Devils Lake, North Dakota. We have also seen this phenomenon occur on much bigger bodies of water like Lake of the Woods. The lakes listed above are predominately fisheries where anglers target walleye at early ice, but we have seen the same effect on smaller panfish lakes as well.

Last and perhaps most important, be prepared for early ice and have the necessary safety tools. Always use a spud bar to check the ice as you walk out. Carry ice picks around your neck and a throw rope in a bucket. I like to carry an extra lifejacket attached to a rope if I encounter the worst. Don’t ever make early ice a contest to get on the ice first; there will be plenty of winter. Make sure that the ice is safe, and don’t assume anything.

For safer and more productive ice fishing this year, find tips and insights from the pros in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.