| So you have read all the magazines, picked up some | | | | where the drop-offs are and where the fish are hiding. |
| new gear and tried your hand at ice fishing but the | | | | Tip#4: Don?t be afraid to fish any abandoned holes |
| results have been depressing. Now what do you do? | | | | you may find but be nice and try not to encroach on |
| Cheat! No, I?m not saying to drop a blasting cap down | | | | your neighbor. Plus, you get the advantage of not |
| the hole. I know a guy who tried that once, many | | | | having to drill holes and spook the fish. You also find |
| years ago and darn need drowned. | | | | out whether there are actually fish in the area or it?s |
| The easiest way to cheat is to find out where | | | | time to move on. You gotta love cheating. |
| everyone else is going. ?How do I do that?? Simply | | | | Tip#5: Sometimes you have to act like a vulture |
| type in something like ice fishing reports or fishing | | | | soaring high in the sky. Keep your eyes and ears open. |
| message boards in your favorite search engine and | | | | I have found that if there is a group party fishing, |
| find one that interests you. This may be a little time | | | | usually, one guy/gal likes to wander off and drill holes |
| consuming but the whole idea is to focus your effort | | | | at distance. This lone wolf may go 500 ft. to a couple |
| which will save you a lot of time later. | | | | of miles. If he comes back with a big smile on his face |
| Search Engine Marketing Specialist | | | | and the neighborhood leaves you can guess where |
| Since 1995 SEO/SEM tools, training, and professional | | | | they went. |
| "full service" Search Engine Marketing help at very | | | | Tip#6: Don?t be scared to talk to other anglers. Listen |
| affordable rates. | | | | to some fish stories but try to distinguish between fact |
| Remember, these guys and gals are just like you, so | | | | and fiction. Take everything with a grain of salt, try it |
| you may want to become a member and check back | | | | and if it works keep using it, till the next new tip comes |
| often to find the hot spots, equipment and bait their | | | | along. |
| using. | | | | So now it is time to do some actual fishing. |
| Now that you have all the information, packed all your | | | | Depending on the fishing regulations for your area, you |
| equipment and your standing at shore looking out | | | | may be able to have 2 or more fishing lines in use. |
| asking yourself where do I go? | | | | Make sure you take full advantage. You can fish in a |
| Tip#1: If you have decided to park on the ice MAKE | | | | variety of ways. |
| SURE IT?S SAFE. Just because everyone else is | | | | I?ve seen guys, jig two lines at a time, some prefer to |
| parked there is not necessarily a good sign. I do a lot | | | | send a spreader baited up with live minnows to the |
| of ice fishing on Lake Simcoe and recently they had to | | | | bottom and either set them up on a tip-up and give |
| pull out 32 vehicles that sank just offshore. Ouch! | | | | them a gently lift every now and then. |
| Tip#2: Ice fishing hut operators are continually going out | | | | Remember, your setup directly relates to the type of |
| to their huts and of course they are leaving a marked | | | | fish you?re trying to catch. You?re usually jigging for |
| trail and the trail usually ends where the best fishing is | | | | trout and spreading for whitefish. You can also |
| happening. | | | | combine the two, one of my favorites. The flashing |
| Tip#3: Look for little villages and high traffic areas. If | | | | lure will bring them in for your spreader meal or you |
| the huts are out there and vehicles nearby you can | | | | can adjust your height to catch them at different |
| most likely travel safely out as long as your | | | | depths. |
| transportation is equipped for the trip. | | | | The lazy man?s approach is to use a spring loaded |
| Congratulations, you made it and your about to mark | | | | tip-up but that is about as much fun as watching paint |
| your spot. Do you really want to fish there? I?ve come | | | | dry. Remember in the end there is a big difference |
| across some nice, fairly inexpensive fish/depth finders | | | | between ?fishing? and ?catching?, so make the most |
| that are hand held. (Vexilar LPS-1, Strikemaster Polar | | | | of your day and be safe. If you get depressed just |
| Vision and Hawkeye Digital Sonar). The beauty of | | | | think about all the people who left you alone and |
| these units is that they shoot right thru the ice. Save | | | | decided to spend 8 hours at the office. |
| yourselves a lot of backache from drilling holes, find | | | | Are we having fun now? |