Using the Humminbird ICE 55 to target bass and pike through the ice
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While the snow flies and cold Canadian winds blow, it is important to remember that life goes on beneath the surface of frozen lakes across the northland. Species like pike and walleye remain active, and sometimes even aggressive, as they use calories from prey to develop their reproductive tissues that will be put to use when the ice retreats. Bass, both smallmouth and largemouth, exhibit less aggressive feeding tendencies beneath the ice, yet these species can still be tempted to open their mouths and attack an appropriately-presented live or artificial bait.
A key location to begin your search for both pike and bass through the ice is mid-depth beds of remnant green weeds. Our Wisconsin ice came late this year, and our snow cover on the frozen lake surfaces is relatively thin, so many weedbeds remain thick, lush, and green. These green weeds produce oxygen through photosynthesis, even under the ice, and this oxygenated water and the weed cover itself attracts and holds both prey and predators. I focus my search for green weeds in 8-12 feet of water, although fishing deeper or shallower is certainly appropriate at different times of the day or periods of the ice fishing calendar, such as first or last ice.
My ICE 55 flasher is an invaluable tool for helping me to identify the weedy canopy that will hold pike and bass. By taking advantage of the ICE 55's exclusive 6-color pallette and digital depth display, I can identify weak sonar returns (displayed in blue or green) that occur several feet above the bottom.
Dr. Jason Halfen
Professional Walleye Angler
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For example, the image above shows blue returns from weedtops rising about 2 feet above the bottom (11.6 ft in this location). A visual inspection with an underwater camera, or snagging a weed with a bait, will quickly confirm if these are indeed weeds, and determine if they are healthy and green. If green weeds are present, it's time to bait up!
With three lines allowed in Wisconsin, I fish a combination of two tip-ups and one jig pole per angler. On trips with my kids, it's tip-ups all around, as the waving vertical flag provides a great visual effect and sense of anticipation for anglers of all ages. My tip-up rigs consist of a small red treble hook and two red beads on a 12", 8 lb test fluorocarbon leader, connected to a braided tip-up main line with a small swivel. A bullet weight above the swivel completes the tip-up rig I use my ICE 55 flasher to set my bait within a foot of the weedtops. Lively bait is key. I typically use medium or large shiners, which are quite hardy in cold water, or small-medium suckers. On lakes where bluegills are a primary forage species, I tend to favor shiniers. My jig poles are used to present small spoons, typically dressed with the front half of a small minnow. Again, I use my ICE 55 flasher to keep my bait at the weed tops, rather than mired in the midst of the weeds themselves. Working the bait aggressively will attract fish to the area, but most strikes (particularly from lethargic bass) occur when the presentation is slowed significantly.
When fishing tip-ups, pike will crush a bait and swim off steadily, with bursts of speed if other fish are nearby. Bass will generally trip the flag, and then swim off slowly, if at all, and move only short distances away from the hole. When both species are present, as is typically the case when fishing these mid-depth weedbeds, it it often possible to correctly identify the type of fish that has hit a bait well before it starts flopping on the surface of the ice. Weed bed pike can range from smaller hammer-handles up to double-digit class fish such as this nice gator. Likewise, weed beds can produce some quality bass during the winter months, just as they do during the summer. While they don't fight as vigorously as pike do, 3-4 lb bass are certainly worthy adversaries through the ice. Remember to practice catch, photo, and release with these winter fish, keeping them out of the water for the shortest amount of time possible.
As you pack your gear for your next ice fishing adventure, don't forget your ICE series flasher from Humminbird. Whether you jig of fish flags, Humminbird's ICE flashers will help you identify the habitat that attracts bass and pike, and present your baits in such a way that brings more fish to the top of the ice. Humminbird's whisper quiet ICE 55 packs a host of fisherman-friendly features that will make you a more efficient ice angler.
