By now, most “Up North” winter anglers have remembered how to catch fish through the ice. It takes a few trips to figure out how to operate your in-line reel, pick the right lures for the species you’re fishing for, get those ice fishing muscles back in shape, and, of course, you have to break some stuff.

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of equipment: Hundreds of jigs and spoons, dozens of rods, tents and sleds of every shape and style, flashers, locators, GPS, LiveScope, augers and more augers—all packed into my overloaded pickup truck—plus an ATV and trailer. I have the extended cab Chevy Colorado with room for four… but if you want to go ice fishing with me, you have to follow behind in your own vehicle, because my truck is full!

They say that all this modern gear makes ice fishing easier. Whoever “they” are who say these things do a lot more talking than fishing. Ice fishing is hard. Stuff is heavy. The ice is slippery, and it’s cold. But all that being said, it’s still my favorite time of the year. Once I wake up, grab some coffee, and the morning arthritis, bursitis and every other kind of “itis” pain subsides, I’m heading out fishing.

Are you up to the challenge?

You gotta get out there early to beat the crowds. By February, I’m focusing on deeper, clearer lakes that didn’t develop safe ice as quickly as shallower ones. I’m looking for weed edges where hungry fish hang out. I’m after any fish that are hungry—panfish to gamefish, it doesn’t matter. Just give me the big ones!

I have two arms, so I fish with two poles, with two different presentations; sometimes for the same species, and other times, one for gamefish and one for panfish. I’ll bring along at least a dozen rods, all rigged up and ready for anything. I love big bluegills, dream about monster crappies, and can’t wait for a giant bass or pike to grab a spoon! 

A 1/8-ounce Slender Spoon with a minnow head or three big waxworms is a big fish magnet. I’ve caught my biggest crappie, bass and pike on this lure. But that’s not all. This lure can also be used to attract bluegill and perch schools right up under your tent. They see it, are drawn to it, and then when they get too close, they realize it’s maybe a little too big for them. That’s when you jerk it out and drop down a smaller Slender Spoon or a little tungsten Chekai. The party is on!

I started fishing this way a few years ago when I was too lazy to move and chase schools of panfish that come and go and move around up under the ice. A lot of times, they leave when a predator arrives, so now I try to catch that big fish, too. Most good fishermen move around and drill a lot of holes. But when I find a good-looking spot and have pulled a few quality fish out, I’m not ready to move until I’ve exhausted every fish in the area. By exhausted, I mean that I like to give them a little exercise, take a photo or quick video, and let them go.

Speed fishing is important. You not only need to be able to pack up your gear and move quickly, but you need to be able to fish fast. Have several rods rigged and ready to drop down—quick—to make a change. When you first get to a spot, the fish will be aggressive. You’ll be able to catch them on larger lures and more aggressive jigging motions to get them fired up. Catching fish always attracts more fish!

But as the action slows, you’ll need to get smaller, tungsten Chekais, Glazbas, Majmuns from Custom Jigs & Spins, in 3mm sizes with #16 or #14 hooks that will still get down quick. A shredded waxworm or a few red spikes round off this deadly presentation.

Match your ice rod to the species you are after and the lure you are fishing with. St. Croix has several models for different species in different price points. For panfish, I like their Legend series with Super Finesse Springs. You can also purchase these springs separately and add them to your favorite rod; they work excellently and don’t freeze up like a pen spring.

For gamefish, you can’t go wrong with the Mojo series like a MJI32M, which is good for 90 percent of my fishing for walleyes, bass and pike, using Slender Spoons and Demon Jigging spoons; or their MJI36MH for trophy fish, like pike or lake trout. I’ll put 5-pound Power Pro line with a small swivel to a 14-pound Trilene leader with a snap, to facilitate quick lure changes.

Finally, don’t be the guy who snaps his line when the big one finally hits. Check your line, check your hook, check your drag, and check your screws holding your reel together. I’ve had all the bad stuff happen. Reels freeze, fall off the pole, and line tangles that get reeled up on the spool nut or behind the spool. It’s a kick in the gut when you try to handline in a 36-inch pike on 3-pound test, just because your reel handle falls off and goes down the hole… but it can be done with a little luck and patience!