Time to think about hard water fishing
This latest deep freeze should put a coating of ice on local lakes and ponds. Recent moderating temperatures and intermittent snowfall does more to hurt than help put ice on impoundments.
Snow serves as an insulator and allows ice to melt more rapidly than it normally would, so for that reason, be extremely cautious when ice fishing on snow or slush covered ponds.
They can be extremely dangerous, and ice can give way very suddenly under the weight of just a single fisherman.
For that reason, it is best to wait for another deep freeze before heading out on the ice. According to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission ice safety chart, ice should be at least four inches thick to support one fisherman safely. Two or more fishermen should not set up in close proximity of one another unless the ice is at least six inches thick.
Group activities, such as ice-skating, should not be undertaken unless the ice is at least seen inches thick.
Locally, trout, walleye, perch and northern pike are the most popular species of fish targeted by ice anglers.
A local ice fishing spot is Dunlap Creek Lake, where fishermen catch trout through the ice. The lake received fall and early winter stockings, and more trout are on the way shortly as part of the late winter stocking program.
While the walleye population is increasing at Dunlap Lake, most walleye are pulled through the ice locally at High Point Lake and the Youghiogheny Reservoir in Somerset County and Deep Creek Lake in Maryland, which usually have safe ice by this time of year.
Walleye bite best right after first ice and dawn and dusk, as they are light sensitive. Jigging with a minnow on a light- to medium-action open face spinning outfit is the tackle of choice.
As winter wears on, walleye tend to quit biting in shallower impoundments as their metabolism slows, and they do not resume active feeding until the spring thaw begins.
Their feeding habits are different on deeper impoundments, where they feed all winter long.
As a rule, walleye are on the bottom or within a foot of the bottom, but at times they suspend in very deep impoundments to take advantage of concentrated oxygen. While a minnow on a jig on jigging spoon works well, you can really put the odds in your favor by cutting a strip of meat from a crappie or bluegill and using it for bait. Walleye find it hard to resist their natural foods.
Fish strip meat also works well as bait for trout and panfish.
When ice fishing, no matter what species you’re fishing for, except crappies; avoid a spot light effect by allowing sunlight to penetrate the water. To block the light, kick slush in the hole or purchase a hole cover. Fishing for most species is best under subdued light.
Most ice fishermen on smaller impoundments target trout and panfish, but don’t be surprised if you catch a bass.
I read an article years ago, which said that ice anglers occasionally catch bass. They article noted that when bass are caught through the ice they are usually much larger than average for the impoundment, indicating that even with a slowdown in metabolism, alarms sound when the need for additional nutrition arises.
Perch, like walleye, tend to hold on or near the bottom. Many large perch are taken through the ice. Shoreline points and shallow water (4-to-8 feet) is an ideal perch hangout early in the winter with mid-morning and mid-afternoon being prime times to fish.
Perch are schooling fish, so when you catch one, you can often catch a limit. They often bite, leave and return to feed again. These nomads head for deep water as winter wears on. The best perch fishing usually comes late in the winter, just before ice leaves the lake.
When ice fishing for perch, which are a close relative to walleye, use a jigging spoon and fish no more than six inches off the bottom. Fish the flats in the early season. Once you hit a school, you may not have to drop your offering all the way to the bottom, as they will aggressively attack it on the way down.
Crappie bass tend to suspend under the ice. They school vertically, so the best way to locate them is to start fishing shallow and progressively lower your bait until you locate the school.
Unlike most fish, crappies are attracted to light and feed best when they can see the bait. For that reason, crappie fishermen keep the hole free of ice and slush and allow sunlight to enter. Where snow covers the ice, shovel and area around the hole to all low more light to penetrate the water and attract the schooling fish. When fishing at night, place a lantern near the hole.
Sunfish are the easiest fish to catch while ice fishing. Sunfish can be found near the shoreline and weed beds and favor mealworms, wax worms, grubs and a variety of small lures, which imitate terrestrial insects.
Early and late season are best bets for catching sunfish. Sunfish school and the larger fish can usually be found on the bottom, while the smaller ones will stay closer to the surface.
Light lines bobbers and small baits are important when fishing for sunfish. The larger fish are very cautions and often hard to catch.
The most exciting species to target when ice fishing is the northern pike, but northerns are only found in larger impoundments such as the Yough Dam, High Point Lake and Deep Creek Lake.
They are aggressive predators and will take almost any bait offered them.
Northerns can be found at almost any level, so begin fishing anywhere from one to four feet below the ice.
Since they have razor-sharp teeth and powerful jaws, sharp hooks and steel leaders are a must.
Many ice fishermen choose to chum. Crushed eggshells are a popular chum, but don’t as me why. Other things I’ve read make good chum are fish scales, fish guts, canned corn, split peas, oatmeal and cracker crumbs. I’d say add dog food to the list. I haven’t found better bait yet to use in a minnow trap.
If you enjoy eating fresh-caught fish, you’ll love fish caught through the ice. The flesh is much firmer and tastier than it is when the same species in taken from warm water.
Good fishing.
Rod Schoener is the Herald-Standard outdoors writer.