![]() Sweetening the package with a wax worm, Euro larvae or “spike” (blowfly larvae) can help close the deal, but angler-imparted action is essential. Granrud’s go-to: a tiny Clam Pro Tackle tungsten jig with various Maki Plastics bodies. (Photo: David Brown)īest part about this is the bait simplicity. Yellow perch - one of the top ice fishing targets. Bluegill, pumpkinseeds, crappie and yellow perch top the list, and with the right presentations, it won’t take long to assemble a fresh fish dinner. Ice fishing can certainly grow into a highly technical pursuit requiring advanced gear, but late-ice anglers will keep plenty busy with an array of willing and tasty panfish easily handled on simple spinning outfits and 4-pound line. As new weeds start to grow, these areas will become increasingly attractive. ![]() He typically finds consistency somewhere between the main basin edge and the shallow zone where the previous year’s weedbed died. Specifics will vary by water body, but for a general rule of thumb, Granrud said panfish typically winter in deeper, more oxygenated water and move shallower for spring. They’re actively feeding and there’s a better chance you’re going to catch them.” But when you have a big influx of food, then it’s advantageous for them to move around more. Panfish aren’t just going to roam around with nothing to eat - they’re conserving energy. I believe it’s more advantageous for them. ![]() “All of a sudden, you have some food concentration and those fish start to get more active. That could happen all winter long, but there’s a lot more bugs coming out of that mud (during late ice). “We’ll do a lot of our fishing that time of year over mud bottom because there’s a lot of bug hatches. “The influx of new water via melt-off reoxygenates the (fishery) and then you start getting better light penetration to the bottom,” Granrud said. For the common ice fishing targets, that means insects, both aquatic and terrestrial, that hatch subsurface. (Photo: David Brown)Įventually, the factors hastening ice-out also increase dissolved oxygen and ramp up the fishery’s food production. “They aren’t going to be as aggressive in the (extreme) cold, and everything is just more complicated.” Bug hatches make the panfish more active in late ice. “What happens in the (early) winter is you start to lose some oxygen in your lakes and those fish start to become lethargic,” he said. As Granrud explains, late ice is a time of rejuvenation. Rising temperatures, increasing inflow from snowmelt, plus salt accumulations transferred from winter roads by vehicle tires combine to reverse the process that hardened the water a few months prior. “The fish are going to be more active, and it’s just more enjoyable to be on the ice when it’s 30 to 40 degrees.” Key Changes “When you get that (early) spring weather, it makes everything easier,” Granrud said. Often, regular passenger vehicles are all you need to enjoy the late-ice fun, while small ponds offer walk-out access. This is particularly relevant for beginners who may not have use of the wide-track snowmobiles, modified SUVs or various track and ski transports common to the die-hard bunch. Typically, some of the snow on top of the lake is starting to melt, so you have a little nicer travel and the lake is a little more accessible.” Rising temperatures and decreasing snow make late ice a simpler and more comfortable time to fish (Photo: David Brown) You don’t necessarily have to bring (pop-up shelters) and heaters. “As a guide, I like it because you bring out less (gear), so it can be more of a simple sport. When you’re forming ice, it’s pretty cold. “Typically, you have nicer conditions in March (and April) than you do with first ice in December. 1, it’s just going to be more comfortable,” Granrud said of the steadily warming temperatures. In his view, late ice offers some of the most beginner-friendly fun of the entire hard-water season. (Photo: David Brown)Ĭhris Granrud, who owns and operates RainyDaze Guide Service on Minnesota’s Rainy Lake, has helped clients of all ages and abilities learn the ice fishing basics. ![]() Chris Granrud of Minnesota’s RainyDaze Guide Service calls late ice a time of rejuvenation. Extreme or “late” winters extend the season, while milder years shorten it. In latitudes where lakes and ponds freeze, late ice usually begins sometime in March, with safe conditions lasting through month’s end, sometimes into early April. Good example: Late ice - that period in which lakes and ponds held by winter’s frigid grip move daily closer to the definitive time known as ice-out. Some of nature’s greatest opportunities occur during transitional seasons.
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