By Larry Anderson
Minnesota is known as the "land of 10,000 lakes." As a result, fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the state. And even though the temperatures fall and ice covers the lakes for five or more months every year, many fishermen do not let that stop them from fishing. Instead, they go ice fishing. Some sit in enclosed fish houses and others sit on a bucket atop the ice. But all look to scratch their fishing itch.
Choose a lake to fish
Whether you know where you plan to ice fish or not, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a list of many of the lakes in the state, along with the results of recent surveys of the fish populations in the lakes. The website (see Resources) also provides information on the depth, size and other physical characteristics of the lakes.
The Proper Equipment
The same fishing equipment that works during the open-water season is too big for use during the winter. Ice-fishing rods are rarely more than 36 inches long, and the reels are smaller, too. Ice anglers use a variety of line sizes, but 2 to 4-pound test is most common. Minnesota lakes feature a number of species of fish, so anglers should choose rods and reels based on the fish they are targeting. A flexible rod will work for sunfish and crappies, while a stouter rod is necessary for larger game fish like walleyes and northern pike. Jigs and minnows or jigging spoons are among the most popular and effective ice-fishing lures.
Beware of Thin Ice
There is a certain amount of time between when the open-water fishing season ends and the ice-fishing season begins. This depends on the weather conditions and how long it takes ice to form. Some anglers who are excited to begin ice fishing push the envelope and walk on ice that is too thin. Every year, some anglers invariably fall through. The Minnesota DNR recommends staying off the ice anytime it is below 2 inches thick, and does not recommend walking on the ice until it is at least 4 inches thick.
Stay on the move
Some lakes in the state attract many ice anglers, and small colonies of fish houses will pop up. Some of these anglers set their fish house on the ice and leave it in the same place all year. This is effective when fish are in the immediate area. But many species of fish are on the move. Anglers who follow suit tend to have more consistent success. These anglers will use augers to drill holes in the ice and stay put only as long as they are catching fish. When the bite ends, they drill more holes and try to find more fish. The best areas are the edges of humps and reefs, drop-offs and any green vegetation that remains.
A look at lakes
Given the abundance of lakes in Minnesota, it can be tricky to pick one. But some of the lakes with good reputations for producing fish during the winter are: Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnibigoshish, Leech Lake, Upper Red Lake, Lake Ida, Clearwater Lake, Lake Mille Lacs and Lake Minnetonka.
Resources
About the Author:
Larry Anderson has been a freelance writer since 2000. He has covered a wide variety of topics, from golf and baseball to hunting and fishing. His work has appeared in numerous print and online publications, including "Fargo Forum" newspaper. Anderson holds a Bachelor of Arts in print journalism from Concordia College.
