An electronic flasher, sometimes called a “locator,” is great tool for ice fishing. Unfortunately, we don’t always have this tool because of budgets, leaving it home, or some other reason. Whatever the reason, finding fish without a “locator” can be accomplished by following a few simple procedures.

Some anglers start by drilling holes in areas where other holes are found, reopening frozen-over holes, or where old bait or bucket/shelter tracks are found. This works much of the time, but at other times, there are no holes, or it is better to find an untouched area. In these cases, start the search before ice-in by finding brush piles, points, old creek channels, and drop-offs using the depth finder in your boat, noting places on shore that will provide visible landmarks in winter.

Some structures are partially visible from the surface, or if the ice is clear enough, can be seen through the ice. These are the simplest areas to find during ice season.

Once a general fishing area is found, it is time to drill holes. Avoid drilling that’s scattered everywhere, making the ice look like Swiss cheese. Instead, try using a pattern. First, drill four holes in a square, and one in the middle of the square, over an area where brush or other structure is known to exist. The square can be any size, but if you’re trying to cover smaller areas of a larger structure, move around the area with several such patterns until a good hole is found.

On a smaller brush pile, a similar pattern may work to find the fish. Another pattern to use is a zigzag along a dam, riprap shore, point, old creek bed bank, etc.

Quickly fishing the holes is a big key to locating fish. Not only is the spot important, but also the depth. Several depths must be covered, using the correct technique and equipment is crucial. This necessitates the use of a straight-line method instead of a float. Because it is still important to have a sensitive strike detector, try Frabill’s fast tip rod, coil spring bobber or titanium bobbers. These will show the slightest of strikes.

Without a flasher, a lot of “hole-hopping” is required before setting up a spot to fish with a shelter. Frabill’s Jiggler series of rods is perfect. I have one of the Frabill Rod Safes to carry my rods, and like using the telescopic version of the Jiggler. They come in two models: one telescopes to 54 inches and the other to 64 inches. The spring bobber previously mentioned comes built into the tip. The reel has line feeding directly through the rod blank.

The next thing to help find fish quickly is using a lure/bait that is known to be a good fish producer. I rig four rods with Custom Jigs and Spins Tutso, Wolffinkee, Diamond Jig or Demon, and ‘Gill Pill (all in different sizes and colors—mainly glow colors; unless a definite size and/or color are known to be producing best). Tip them with a wax worm, Crappie/Panfish Nibble or Gulp Waxie. Another good lure, especially for crappies and larger bluegills, is the Pro Slender Spoon, to which normally I do not add a bait. Fish each hole from top to bottom using each rod until strikes are encountered.

I work the hole up and down by slightly bobbing the rod tip about 6 inches at a time, pausing between the 6-inch downward or upward movements. Many times, I do this by starting all the way at the bottom, especially as the winter grows older. After the lure/bait hits the bottom, I start upward in the same way. I will also use a lift-and-fall for areas that have crappies, with the falls being about 1 to 2 feet. I fish slowly around the spot, and usually slightly above or below it.

Next time you are without a locator for ice fishing, try these techniques and equipment. Hopefully you will have as much success as I have.

However, if at all possible, use a multi-color flasher. Such units save time in locating fish and structure, show fish activity, teach you how to fish structure, and really help you become a much better ice angler. While any of the Vexilar product line work well, I use the FLX28 and FLX30. They are what I call “an ice angler’s dream flashers.”

For more insight and tips on how to make the most of the time you spend fishing, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.