Quote:
Originally Posted by kennypham616
Hi all,
I got really into ice fishing the last few years and found it really hard catching any fish late February and march. Just wondering if there are any tips or different methods i should be changing up during those times? I usually just fish 20 ft and under. Never really go deeper than that. Opening to catching any types of fish. A catch is a catch haha
|
In my experience I believe, like each of us, all fish will pretty much eat at some point every day given the opportunity. The windows can be very small or even quite long when activity is highest, depends, and they can be hungrier and more cooperative some days more than others but they are always going to eat because it’s about survival of the fittest. We are really competing against their natural and preferred prey sources to try and entice them to take our bait. Sometimes they bite out of hunger, sometimes curiosity, aggression, competition or even defense. I don’t think it really matters what month you fish or what day really just know that some will be way better than others. Weather, water conditions and timing like being at the right place at the right time on any given day in the right conditions often plays a bigger part. It could be true at times, or feel like it anyway, that 80% of the fish are in 20% of the water. Find the 20% places on any given day, when the dinner bell is ringing on any given lake and you can dispel all theories. Some days could feel like the fish are everywhere and you could catch them on a bare hook and next outing they are all in one spot with lockjaw and everyone is fishing it lol. I have had incredible fishing in horrific weather conditions and clear skies, all seasons, and everything in between just the same as all the tough days just burning fuel and in all months and types of weather too. A wise man once said to me…you won’t know if you don’t go….so my advice is every trip is a learning experience. Even if you strike out you could learn something invaluable that could lead to better success on future trips. The mount on my wall was caught on a totally ugly, snowing and windy cold mid winters day. Wondered what I was doing out there. Must be nuts I thought more than once and feeling defeated before luckily catching that fish late in the day. You never know how it can turn out, just give er