
What is the best ice fishing bait for trout?
Tiny Jigs Tipped with Maggots – Tiny jigs, sometimes as small as 1/100 of an ounce (this is obviously really tiny!) that have been “tipped” with a live maggot is an excellent bait to use when ice fishing for trout. When fishing trout bait such as small jigs, remember to not ‘jig’ your jig as much as you might think you should.
Can you use Powerbait for ice fishing?
I’ve even seen ice fishermen go about fishing trout bait such as Powerbait by “tipping” their small jig with it. Although Powerbait is often thought of as a good bait for lake fishing at other times, it is often overlooked when the subject of ice fishing comes up.
How deep can you ice fish for trout?
For rainbow trout and eastern brook char, the best fishing is often done in water less than five metres deep; in many situations, fishing in depths of three metres or less can be very effective. Ice fishing for kokanee means targeting these prized landlocked sockeye salmon in much deeper water.
How to use an ice fishing rod?
Place a small sinker or split shot on the line 30 centimetres above a baited hook. Lower the bait through the hole, and suspend it within 60 centimetres of the lake bottom. Place your fishing rod in an ice fishing rod holder. Watch the rod tip for the bite; adding a small fishing bobber can help in detecting the lightest of strikes.

How do you fish for trout in the ice?
Selecting the best ice fishing lures for trout isn't hard. In most cases, you should choose bait and lures that are light and small. Jigs: Jigs in the 1/64 to 1/8-ounce range (use the appropriate weight for the water depth and conditions) can be tipped with minnows or wax worms when targeting rainbow trout.
What's the best bait for ice fishing trout?
What is the best bait for ice fishing trout?Nightcrawlers.Mealworms.Salmon eggs.Powerbait.Waxworms.Spikes.Minnows.Ice fishing jigs.More items...
What do trout eat in the winter ice fishing?
Rainbow trout will be most often found in two locations when ice fishing. These are submerged weed beds, particularly the edge of the weeds and open muddy flats. These are the areas where rainbow trout will find food in the winter. Rainbow trout mostly feed on nymphs, larvae, leeches, snails, and small bait fish.
How do you target lake trout through the ice?
6:0210:44How to Ice Fish Lake Trout - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWho has fun when targeting lake trout it's best to use a two pole approach with one or more tip upsMoreWho has fun when targeting lake trout it's best to use a two pole approach with one or more tip ups while jigging. You'll get most of your strikes.
How deep do you ice fish for trout?
Trout often cruise just a foot or three beneath the ice, and one of the reasons many ice fishermen only encounter them on rare occasions is that they're fishing far below most of the fish. Third, fish relatively shallow areas. Flats of four to 10 feet are plenty deep for finding trout under the ice.
How do you attract rainbow trout ice fishing?
Using small spoons such as a Mack's Lure Hum Dinger or Sonic Baitfish when the Rainbows are suspended over the deeper water will attract the rainbows from a far and entice them to attack your gear.
What depth are lake trout in winter?
Depth is doubly important in winter. Early in the ice fishing season, lake trout can be caught in a variety of depths — typically from 20 feet to 60 feet — but often into water approaching and exceeding 100 feet deep. As winter progresses, though, usually in February, a midseason lull begins.
Does Powerbait work for ice fishing?
Re: power bait under the ice Occaisonally it does work better than worms or other natural baits. So if you have sucess with it, keep using it I say. I have seen it catch brookies and cutts as well. Even saw a guy catch a laker on a small ball of powerbait.
How do you catch lake trout in the winter?
One of the coolest things about winter lake trout is they can be caught regularly on artificial lures. In fact, there are times when artificial lures work a whole lot better than live bait. You can also fish relatively aggressively for lake trout, jigging a spoon, jigging rapala or tube jig with a lot of action.
What is the best time of day to ice fish for lake trout?
The best time of day to ice fishing for lake trout is late afternoon right around sunset. Early morning can be really good too but late afternoon seems to be the golden time in the winter for hungry lake trout.
How do you catch lake trout in Cold lake?
1:5918:48How to Catch Cold Lake Trout Alberta Plus Jaw Jacker - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe have what do we got twenty pound fluorocarbon leader with the with the jig with the jig on. It.MoreWe have what do we got twenty pound fluorocarbon leader with the with the jig with the jig on. It.
Wintertime Trout Fishing on Cape Cod
Hello everybody! I hope you had a great holiday season, and have been able to get on the water!
Using Shiners for Winter Fish
By no means is this revolutionary information, but shiners fished under a float have been producing fish consistently as the temperature drops. Additionally, live shiners will catch just about anything that swims in Cape Cod's kettle ponds, making for great multi-species fishing!
Video Recaps!
Below are some video recaps I've made of my recent outings using shiners. The past few days have been solid, catching rainbow trout, brown trout, and very well-fed yellow perch.
In Conclusion
Despite the cold temperatures, there's still a real opportunity to put a bend in the rod on Cape Cod.
Why does my trout turn on?
Trout often turn on as the current starts or stops and this current can often be seen on the line. On some bodies of water, the current can become so strong that finding the lure can be difficult on your electronics where a second hole is needed to get the transducer over the jig or spoon.
Why do trout use braided line?
Across many fisheries, braided line has dominated winter lake trout fishing because of the depth. Setting the hook on a fish that is 50 feet below is much more efficient and effective with a no stretch line. If you haven’t switched over to braid yet, try it.
What is the meaning of midwinter?
Midwinter means lake trout for many ice anglers across North America. From upstate New York to the Rocky Mountains, lake trout are an apex predator on many lakes and reservoirs. These top-of-the-line predators are fast and powerful, a fish that can actually become more active under the ice.
What color are marabou jigs?
Brightly coloured, lead-headed marabou jigs are also very popular for jigging. These jigs (typically fluorescent yellow, chartreuse-green, or white in colour) are tipped with krill or cooked shrimp. The marabou feathers of the jig undulate and pulse when moved up-and-down in the water.
How to catch Kokanee?
An effective way to catch kokanee is to jig flashy silver or gold hookless spoons, with a longer 40-centimetre leader ending with a bait hook tipped with maggots or krill. Again, it is the constant, slow up-and-down jigging motion that makes the spoon flash and dart in the water, attracting kokanee to the bait.
What bait do you use for ice fishing?
There are basically two styles or techniques employed while ice fishing. Some anglers prefer to still-fish bait (maggots, earthworms, frozen krill, or pieces of cooked shrimp) or synthetic/artificial baits (like Power Bait or Gulp). Place a small sinker or split shot on the line 30 centimetres above a baited hook.
How to fish for a fish in a lake?
Place a small sinker or split shot on the line 30 centimetres above a baited hook. Lower the bait through the hole, and suspend it within 60 centimetres of the lake bottom. Place your fishing rod in an ice fishing rod holder.
What fish are under ice?
The most popular under-ice fish are rainbow trout, eastern brook char, and kokanee. An ice auger hole 15 centimetres in diameter is adequate for pulling up the average size of fish you’ll encounter in most lakes.
How to get started with ice fishing?
Getting started comes down to having a hand- or gas-powered ice auger, a short summer spinning rod or ice fishing rod, and a small selection of baits, lures, and ice jigs. Load up a toboggan or ice fishing sled with your gear, and head out onto a frozen lake or pond.
What is ice fishing?
Regardless how serious you are, ice fishing is a fun, family activity that goes well with campfires, hot chocolate, and hot dogs – the perfect accompaniments to exciting fish-catching action.
As With All Things, Safety First!
The rule of thumb in Colorado is to have a solid four inches of ice before you go out on the water. Ice thickness depends on several factors with location being the first and most obvious factor. The type of lake also affects ice thickness, a shallow lake will freeze faster than a deeper lake.
What, Where and How to Ice Fish On Miramonte Reservoir
Just like any other recreational hobby, ice fishing can be as simple or as complicated as you make it. Ice fishing is generally less dangerous than skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling, is easier to get into, and is much more affordable.
Tips on Ice Fishing From The Locals
In the winter, the trout in Miramonte Reservoir feed in “lanes” along the shallower mud flats and weeded areas. Find the “drop-offs” or areas in the water where the depth and vegetation change, this may give you an idea as to where the fish will pass by.
What is trout season?
Early season is a very exciting and rewarding time. For most people trout rule the ice out west. They are fairly easy to target, fight well and make good table fare. Early in the season the oxygen levels are high, food is very abundant and trout feel the urge to eat.
Why do we get up early in the winter?
There are 2 reasons to get up early in the winter. The best one is to go catch breakfast, the other is to eat fresh fish for breakfast. If you’ve never tried ice fishing, it might look ridiculous.
What baits can you use to catch fish on ice?
Where allowed by law, the use of live bait is highly effective for catching fish through the ice. Various baitfish including smelt, shiners, minnows, and small suckers are common ice fishing bait as are meal worms, maggots, and even earthworms.
What tools are needed to make holes in ice?
Technically, a hole can be made in the ice with a variety of tools including axes, spud bars and chippers, and chainsaws. The most practical and safest tool for the job is a hand operated or powered ice auger.
Is it safe to ice fish?
It has been said that no ice is safe ice, but realistically that’s a little hyperbolic and off-putting. The number of ice fishing fatalities every year is statistically nonexistent and almost all ice fishing deaths could have been prevented with a dose of common sense.
Is it dangerous to wear clothing on ice fishing?
This can create an uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation where clothing , soaked with sweat from activity, becomes cold during sedentary periods.
Is ice fishing a joke?
After all, why would grown men and women haul themselves out of the comfort of warm homes to drill holes in frozen lakes just to catch a few fish? They sell fish at the supermarket, don’t they? There are also the inevitable jokes about ice fishing being little more than an excuse for grown men to get away from their wives and drink beer without fear of being nagged to complete a honey-do list. While there is a nugget of truth at the core of any stereotype, by and large, ice anglers are as devoted to and serious about their pursuit as warm weather anglers.
