During a fall, open-water fishing event, I got to thinking seriously about how much time anglers spend searching for fish. Searching is a part of the game that can’t be ignored. After all, you can’t catch fish that are not there.

Our fall panfish outing was brisk, to say the least. Our favorite shoreline to fish on this lake was in the teeth of a very cold wind. We had tried other spots with little success and realized that if we were going to catch fish, we had to tolerate the cold and change our search location.

When we did finally mark a school of panfish on the outer edge of a giant weed bed, we struggled to get them to bite. I actually set up my Vexilar over the side of the boat so I could fish with my ice fishing gear and 2-pound-test line. The lighter equipment helped, and we gradually put together a nice blend of ‘gills and crappies.

Whether it is open water or hard water, searching for fish is so much of what fishing is all about. The problem is that winter searching is much more difficult than in a boat. Because of this, winter anglers must do all they can to simplify their search process.

When I travel through my memory bank, I think back to all the times our fishing outing was saved by aggressively searching for panfish. This searching process may mean looking in multiple spots on a lake, or even switching lakes. I also remember days when we never did locate fish.

One method I love to use in winter is to read through the ice without drilling a hole. By pouring a small amount of water on smooth ice and setting your transducer in the water, it is easy to get an accurate reading. However, very deep snow or slushy ice can make this process difficult.

If other anglers have been using the area I am fishing, I can often use the smooth ice in an old, frozen hole to get a reading. Any time I do not have to drill a hole to search, I am saving time and energy.

Lake maps are another critical tool for beginning a panfish search. Whether you are looking for a deep basin or a weed line, today’s mapping technology is impressively accurate. It may not be perfect, but you can save a lot of effort by starting in the ballpark.

Another technique I use is the buddy system. Two or three people working together can cover a lot of ice in a hurry. An efficient team can make the searching process go much faster.

Lots of factors go into winter fishing success. Good-quality electronics, light line and sensitive bite detection systems are all important. However, you still have to find fish to be successful.

Searching for active winter fish can be challenging. However, it is an essential part of the ice fishing game that must be programmed into your fishing routine.