Some fellas ice fish, and that’s probably a lot of fun. But with two jobs, four sons and a lovely wife, I prefer to save up my “fishing credits” and cash them in throughout the warmer months. Winter in our house is a time of recuperation and upkeep. Grandpa Hauser taught me long ago that instead of sitting on your hands, you’d better be sharpening hooks and oiling reels! That’s sound advice for sure, but prior to last season, I learned a few powerful tips that helped me catch more fish. And bigger fish.

They’ve become recurring investments I make in my bass fishing season. And the best part? They don’t cost a dime, and the returns are outstanding!

Pick some new bodies of water

First and foremost, it’s time to select some new bodies of water to explore this coming season. Get comfortable with the DNR website in your state. If they list fishing locations, pick a few.

Where I live, the Department of Natural Resources offers I Fish Illinois, and while the site looks a bit antiquated, it’s absolutely loaded with information. On the main page, you can select one of 5 regions, which quickly filters the links. From there, you can click to access data on county, acreage, ramp availability, boat restrictions, recreational opportunities and the fishing outlook for the year. You’ll also see a bit of history, local contact information, fishing limits and yes, stocking information.

Last season, this tool helped me identify new water that looked good within 90 minutes (the maximum distance I was willing to travel one way for a day of fishing). When spring hit, I still fished all the old honey holes, but also made a point to get out and explore these new locations. It was exciting, and having created a list in advance made it very easy.

Utilize the ‘eye in the sky’

Before heading out, explore new terrain from the comfort of home. Open Google Earth and plug in any new location you plan to visit. Look for visible cover, as well as points, pockets, islands and coves. If you’re considering winding water, you’ll be able to identify bends, jams, riffles, runs and pools. This gives you a leg up and will help you hit the ground running!

But wait, there’s more. While satellite images are great, treetops can hide all sorts of goodies down below. Switch over to Google Maps and look for little blue blobs. That’s water. Mark those. If you’re in a state park or SFWA, I strongly suggest you check if you’re able to hike and access these less-obvious bodies of water, either from shore, or in a small kayak.

Seek out blogs by local anglers

Last season, I noticed several public blogs written by nearby fishermen. All I had to do to find them was add keywords like “blog” or “fishing report” or “fishing news” when searching for the name of the next new spot I planned to fish.

Then, I’d comb through the results. Some blogs were current, while others were digital artifacts from years ago, but all of them contained information. Many of the angling authors clearly used these blogs as a place to store notes for themselves but didn’t mind sharing.

This allows us to play detective, piecing together clues and matching bits of information to the assumptions we’ve already made in our mind after viewing satellite images.

Look for local forums and Facebook groups

As you prowl the web looking for blogs, you’ll likely come across local fishing forums, or perhaps a Facebook group or two. Join them. Contribute! These can also be rich with information.

One thing to keep in mind, though: I mention them after blogs because they typically tend to be centered around larger bodies of water with more fishing pressure and pleasure boaters. If you’re seeking remote areas, you may find a few breadcrumbs worth following, but I tend to use them to get a feel for the bite and current conditions. Then I use the tips above to find hard-to-reach areas where a kayak or jon boat can slip away from the crowds.

Talk (and listen) to people

Get out and talk to people. We all know boat ramp etiquette is a must. Casual conversation by the lake can be enjoyable and informative…but take it a step further. Keep your eyes and ears open at work, church, school functions, the grocery store—everywhere—and I bet you’ll pick up a few more fish.

So, fellow anglers—invest!

There’s always something to do. Something we can improve. It might be our gear, our storage setup, or any number of tasks and upkeep. But if you long for warmer days in the Midwest, don’t just sulk or sit on your hands.

Take some time to invest in future fishing returns. You’ll be glad you did!

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.