Ice Fishing Heats Up for Last Ice
Last Ice is a Great Opportunity to Fish for Perch, Walleye, Crappie
Before planning your first open-water fishing trip of the spring, give your ice fishing gear one more workout.
Anglers are winding down from ice fishing and turning their thoughts toward open-water fishing trips in early spring. But for those who can’t bear to hang it up early, there’s still an important phase of this year’s season yet to play out – last ice.
Secret Fishing Tips for Great Ice Fishing Trips
If you can somehow get the grizzled old veterans to spill their secret fishing tips, chances are last ice is going to be one of them. There are some very good practical reasons why.
It’s a time when several species of sport fish – notably perch and smelt – are preparing for spawning. One behavior of this phase is schooling up for migration to shallow beds or runs upstream.
Hot Fishing Gear for Last Ice
Find a school and present the right bait, and you’ll limit out in no time. In these situations, it’s not unusual to pull in a number of doubles on a two-hook ice fishing jig for perch. This rig is one of the most versatile in all of freshwater fishing. They're available in most shops, but making one is a cinch. It's just two drop lines about a foot long and about a foot apart, with at least a half-ounce drop weight about a foot below the bottom hook.
Try Different Types of Fishing Bait - the More, the Merrier
The two-hook rig allows experimentation to find exactly what the fish are hitting at the moment. They're fickle feeders, so it pays to have a variety of baits on hand. Try taking along two different species of minnows. If they don't produce, try a wiggler. As a last resort for live bait, consider the corn borer. And there's always some wisdom in hauling out the hardware such as a flashy or colorful jig with a treble hook. For a little extra oomph, thread something tempting on the hooks, like a spawn sack or a scented synthetic bait.
As you pull them in one after another, consider releasing large females. Laden with eggs, these fish represent the future of the fishery you’re enjoying at the moment. Though many consider the roe a delicious gourmet treat when lightly floured and briefly sauteed, the eggs can serve a biologically more important mission when spawned in the lake than they can in your frying pan. Many also argue that smaller perch taste better.
Ice Conditions and Fishing Reports - Critical Information for Last Ice
Though last ice can provide some hot action, it can also present some unique safety issues. Pay close attention to your local fishing report for ice conditions before even venturing out. If there are no regular ice fishing reports in your area, check with a popular local fishing bait dealer. They’re almost certain to know the latest conditions.
As temperatures begin to climb and the ice begins to deteriorate, use common sense and take extra precautions.
Go fishing with friends, or at least stay in sight of other anglers. If you go through, you’ll have someone there to help – or to call for help. Take a cell phone with you so you can make an emergency call if your friend goes in.
A pair of screwdrivers hung around your neck can work as ice picks that you can use to leverage yourself out or at least hold on to solid ice after a plunge. Add a long hank of rope to your standard ice fishing gear so you can literally throw a lifeline to someone who goes through.
Be safe, and enjoy one of winter’s last opportunities for outdoor fun.
