Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC : Ice Fishing

ICE FISHING GIVES ANGLERS SOME OF THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES OF THE YEAR

By Robert Koopmans

Plunging temperatures and flying snow usually mean the end of the fishing season for most anglers. For others, however, the fun is just beginning.

December's cold usually signals the start of the Interior's ice fishing season, said Ron Thompson, a Kamloops angler with years of “hard water” experience.

In fact, some of the best fishing for rainbow and brook trout comes before Christmas, when oxygen levels and water temperatures beneath the ice are still high enough that fish are actively feeding, he said.

Thompson said ice fishermen anxiously wait for the first good cold snap of the season, waiting for the ice to freeze thick enough to support a person's weight.

Ice needs to be at least 15 centimetres (six inches) to be safe to walk on and should be 45 centimetres (18 inches) or more to support the weight of a vehicle.

Ice fishing can be as simple or as complex as a person wants. Equipment can range from a spool of a line and a hook to high-tech systems including depth finders, electronic strike indicators and power ice augers, Thompson said.

But at its core, ice fishing is mostly about cutting a hole in the ice, dropping a bait and waiting for the fish to bite, he said.

Winter fishing action can be fast and furious or painfully slow; ice fishing is often more cyclical than fishing in the summer, Thompson said. Trout will feed aggressively for a short period, then turn off for no explainable reason.

But ice fishing can be tremendously exciting, Thompson said, especially if an angler lies on the ice and watches through the hole. Looking down into the water through the ice provides a perspective on the trout's world that summer fishing does not.

It's possible in most lakes to clearly see to the bottom, even in depths exceeding 10 feet. Sedge pupae and other insects can be seen crawling across the bottom and fish are easy to spot. In fact, it's even possible to watch a fish take the bait, Thompson said.

In some cases, especially when fishing in shallow water, trout will take baits less than three feet below the angler, almost close enough to touch.

Here's a look at ice fishing's equipment and techniques, as well as the best places to give it a try.

Equipment

Ice fishing equipment need not cost much money. In fact, a spool of line, some split shot, a couple of bobbers and a few hooks is all that's needed.

Many people just manipulate the line with their fingers as they watch through the hole, then haul up a fish by hand when it strikes.

But a rod and reel will provide more feel for a fish's take and more control over the fight, particularly with bigger fish, Thompson said.

Ice rods are typically short — 28 inches maximum — as people want to stay close to the hole. A small spinning or mooching reel loaded with six to eight-pound test monofilament line completes the package. Thompson said rods also allow for quicker hook sets — important on days when fish are picky and not aggressively taking baits, lures or flies.

Bait hooks in size six to 10 do the job just fine, he said. Split shot help get hooks down to the bottom fast.

Another key piece of gear — an ice auger. While an axe will cut a hole, it will not do it as quickly or cleanly as an ice auger. Hand augers can be purchased for around $50 to $75, depending on the size. Eight-inch holes are easier to fish through than six-inch holes, Thompson said. Power augers make the job of cutting through ice a breeze, and can be a biceps saver when the ice is really hard and thick, or when lots of holes need to be drilled.

Thompson said there is a wide variety of accessories anglers will likely acquire with time, everything from ice skimmers to shelters and heaters. As with most recreational activities, a person's budget is the only thing limiting the gear available.

Baits

A wide range of baits, lures and flies will catch trout under the ice, said Thompson. But shrimp — the kind you buy in little cans at the grocery store — are one of Thompson's favourite baits. Thompson said he threads a whole shrimp onto a jig hook and dances it lightly above bottom.

As well, more traditional baits — maggots, earth worms, and mealworms — do a fine job. Spoons, jigs and spinners are also effective. Sometimes, tipping a spoon or jig tipped with a piece of worm, maggot, shrimp or even cheese can be deadly.

For fly anglers, traditional open water patterns like shrimp, leeches and nymphs will catch fish, Thompson said.

Techniques

Thompson said he always starts his day fishing in shallow water — 10 feet or less — over top of structure like weed beds or rocky points. He said he always puts baits and lures within 12 inches of bottom, moving them up in the water column until fish are found.

The key to ice fishing — find the fish, Thompson said. That might mean drilling a number of holes across a wide distance. Sometimes, trout in winter don't move much, while other times they will cruise an area as if on patrol.

If looking through the ice, fish should be seen regularly if the hole is over a prime spot. Twenty minutes without seeing a fish is a good hint the area is devoid of trout — best to move on.

Thompson said moving short distances often makes a big difference when it comes to catching fish. If needed, Thompson said he will move right into the shallows, in water less than three feet deep. He said he sometimes catches fish just inches below the bottom of the hole.

Thompson said if you don't want to lie on the ice and stare in the hole, fishing with a bobber is a good way to go. Hang the bait below the bobber at the appropriate depth, than wait for the fish to nibble. Use the smallest bobber possible, as smaller bobbers offer less resistance to the fish when it bites.

Tip-ups can also work well, he said.

Where to go

Kamloops is surrounded by numbers of good fishing lakes. But Thompson warned not all the area's lakes are open to winter fishing — anglers must close attention to the fishing regulations. Some of the area's most popular summer lakes have winter closures, usually from Dec. 1 to April 30.

All the usual fishing regulations apply to ice fishing, including catch limits and gear restrictions. Lakes not identified in the regulations as being closed for the winter can be ice fished, as long as you can get to them. Snow often makes travel in the backcountry difficult and many lakes are inaccessible to vehicle traffic.

Edith, Tulip, Rose, Horseshoe, Heffley, Pinantan, Paul, Knouff, Red and Walloper lakes are among the area's most popular fishing lakes.

Special considerations

Ice fishing is safe winter fun but there are special risks people need to prepare for before heading out. Thompson said ice fishing is a stationary sport and the cold can feel much worse if a person is not moving. As well, there is often little shelter on a lake, making people vulnerable to wind chill. Warm clothes are a must, he said. Hats, good gloves and heavy winter boots can make all the difference when spending a day on the ice.

Thompson said people really need to show caution about ice thickness, especially in the early season. Six inches is the minimum needed to venture out — breaking through the ice can prove fatal.

As well, many area lakes are aerated, to help keep fish alive through the winter. The aerators pour a stream of bubbles into the water, to provide oxygen and the aerator's action keeps the water around them from freezing. People should stay well away from working aerators and should never climb protective fences to fish in the open water next to the aerators.

Lastly, Thompson said people don't need to kill every fish they catch; it's possible to release fish back into the hole in the ice.