The next time you head out to a new, small body of water for ice fishing, keep in mind some of the ways Dan Galusha finds success.

When heading out ice fishing on a new, larger body of water, bring along a bottom contour map. For a new, smaller lake or pond, however, there is rarely such a map, and very little or conflicting information. So, what do you do not to waste a lot of time on unproductive water?

First, ask questions of people that have fished the water, and if privately owned—which most are—ask the owner. This may or may not give you correct information, so also look at the shore.

Shoreline features can tell a lot. Such as a point where it looks like creeks may be running on either side, or even one side. Coves are another spot for fishing shallower water. Steep-sloping banks can have deeper water nearby, and sometimes, creek beds running alongside. Any dam, especially with riprap, is a primary area where fish can be located. All of this is a start.

Next, it is time to get out the underwater camera and flasher unit. I personally hate the cameras, and would rather use a good flasher, like a Vexilar FLX28. This will cover all of the water from top to bottom, no matter what the clarity of water. You can also move much faster with a flasher, especially if on clear ice, where the transducer can shoot through the ice without having to drill a hole.

Another place to look is any surface structure, such as brush or trees sticking above the water. This is best if located along an area with deep water close by; or if the surface structure is actually setting in deep water, such as the tops of tall standing timber. If this is the case, and it is the deepest or one of the deepest spots in the lake, then there is a good possibility that it will hold fish all season.

The flasher is going to help a lot in developing a fish-catching pattern. Watch the depth of the most active fish, and where and when they start to approach the bait; for example, if it is on the fall, lifts, sitting still, or jigging.

You may also start to see fish moving out of a heavy grassy area to come up to strike your offering. This is where a flasher with a low-power switch for shallow water and weeds, comes into play. Switching to the lower power will “magically” remove a lot of the clutter, helping you see the fish inside the weeds. This makes it much easier to see fish about to move up and out to grab your bait above the weeds.

Plan to move around often. Even if you find fish, do a little more exploring, so that you get a good idea of what is around, to help with future trips to the same body of water.

Looking for new locations or methods for ice fishing this season? Read the January issue of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of January at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.