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Minnesotans found ice fishing an entertaining option, keeping in mind that the Great Lakes are often totally frozen, with the only exception being Lake Erie. When the bays of the Great Lakes freeze, yellow perch and northern pike are the most common catches waiting for enthusiasts of this sport. Ice fishing is practiced catching fish with lines and spears or hooks by opening a hole in the frozen lake to fish through. Depending on personal preferences, fishermen can sit in a heated cabin on the ice or on a stool placed on the open expanse of the frozen lake. Cabins are more popular indeed, because most of them have bunks and diverse amenities.

From all the forms of fishing, ice fishing is perhaps the activity requiring less effort and skill, just patience, good luck and the inner conviction of enjoy doing nothing else that sitting on ice, if not physical, at least exposed to low temperatures. For some people, this condition may appear unappealing but in the northern states, ice fishing is considered a serious entertaining activity with competitions and contests offering good prizes to people with the largest fish catches within a limited period of time.

One of the contests attracting more people every year is held at the Houghton Lake in Michigan. The “Tip-Up Town, USA”, an annual festival celebrated the last 56 years ago during the second third of winter, and enhanced with other snow related activities such as strolling, snowmobiling, snow-sculpting and fireworks, in conjunction with Ice fishing.

While in the United States, Ice fishing contests have a prevalent carnival like atmosphere, full of camaraderie, in Finland, ice fishing contests have been defaced after repeated scandals involving both organizers and contestants, who have been caught cheating, making people belief this is not a sport, but just a pastime. However, in the United States there is an association supporting ice fishing activities, the American Ice Fishing Association (AIFA), which says that ice fishing contributes to managing the fish species population, and the economic growth of the community, bringing calming and relaxing effects of well being to all the participants.

Because ice fishing can be something more than a one-day experience, there are shelters conveniently located for longer fishing expeditions. Some others are mounted on-demand using simple structures, although the larger heated structures are basic for the success of fishing trips lasting several days.

There is a website that describes boat fishing, ice fishing, and has info on numerous freshwater fish, baits, and lures, plus other great freshwater fishing tips. The website is called: Fishing Stringer, and may be found at this address:

http://www.fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Fishing the upper bay offers many different types of fishing. Early in the season, (starting May 15th) walleyes can be caught around the mouths of the rivers emptying into Little Bay de Noc. These rivers are the Whitefish River, the Tacoosh River, the Escanaba River, and the Days River. The waters off the Ford River also present excellent fishing excitement early in the season.This early season offers the fisherman casting opportunities. Some of the best fishing takes place in very shallow water, 5 feet or less. The early season usually lasts about a month or until the alewives enter the bay. Northern pike can also be caught in these same areas. If you are crappie anglers, large fish can be caught around the shallow water around the Rapid River site.In the past few years, night time hours serve as a time for outstanding fishing. One thing to remember is MAKE SURE YOUR LIGHTS WORK before you go out. By law, you must have working navigational lights on your boat and use them after dusk.If you fish the Escanaba River, a small launch ramp is located about a half mile up river from the mouth. Great care should be taken if you launch here. Logs and pilings lie just under the surface of the water. Ask someone where the channel is.Summer Fishing During the summer months and into the fall, trolling can be extremely productive. You’ll have to see the depth the fish are holding and fish down to them. If you lures will not go down deep enough, try using lead core line, snap weights, bottom bouncers, or downriggers. At any rate, fish at the depth the fish are located.For those of you who have downriggers., set your lines up just as you would if you were fishing for salmon and use small salmon spoons about 30 feet behind your downrigger weight. A good speed is about 1.5 miles an hour. This has proven to be an excellent pattern over the years.Some of the best spoons have included North Port Nailers®, Silver Streaks®, and Laker Takers®. The Laker Takers® are made by the Swedish Pimple® Company located right in Gladstone, Michigan.Some of the best crawler harnesses are made by the Walleye Choice® Company which is also located in this area. These companies specialize in baits that work well in this area for walleye and pike. These baits can be purchased at any bait shop in this area. Colors vary throughout the year so ask bait store operators what’s hot and what’s not.Fall Fishing Salmon fishing is also quite good in the waters south of Escanaba. Approximately six miles south of Escanaba is a navigational buoy known as the Ford River Can. This buoy marks the west side of the shipping channel. Trolling along this bank with spoons offers some exciting times. This fishery usually takes off during the middle of July and will last for about 6-8 weeks. Salmon can also be caught from the bank along the Escanaba Harbor entrance in late September and October.Winter Fishing Ice fishing on Little Bay de Noc also poses some great North Shore times. First ice is usually the best for walleye, but be sure to check out ice conditions before venturing out. Both the upper and lower bays are excellent during this time of the year. Try fishing close to the bottom. Fish tend to travel very close to the bottom.Another great sport fish is the Splake ( a cross between a lake and brook trout, planted in the bay by the DNR) Splake fishing is excellent during the winter months. Fish these the same way as you would a walleye, jigging is best. Generally, splake can be found across from Escanaba on the Stonington side of the Bay. Water depth varies from 28 to 45 feet. Having a depth sounder really helps a great deal when trying to locate these fish.Exotic Species A number of exotic species have been found in waters surrounding Michigan which compete with native species and disrupt the balance of nature. Please take precautions to prevent the transport and introduction of these from one lake or stream to another by draining water from live wells, bilge, and transom BEFORE leaving any water body. Empty your bail bucket as well. Before going to another water body let your boat and trailer dry at least 5 days. If you can’t wait, wash everything down with hot (at least 140 degrees) water thoroughly before entering new waters.Whether you have your own boat or you would like to book a charter on a charter boat, Delta County and Little Bay de Noc have much to offer. It is a fisherman’s paradise, but remember just take what you can use. Help us maintain our fishery for future generations. Practice catch and release and consult the Michigan Fishing Guide published by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for rules and regulations concerning fishing limits and sizes.

Information courtesy of Travel Bays de NocVisit our web site to learn all of what you can do in Michigan including fishing, golfing, scuba diving, historic lighthouses, theatre, and much more!For more information on Michigan Vacations please contact us at 1-800-533-4386, 1-906-789-7862, or visit our web site at http://travelbaysdenoc.com.

Here are 4 tips that can ensure your safety, and also help you catch more.

Ice Fishing Depth Sounder

If you ever need a quick depth sounder when ice-fishing, you can make one with a small bobber and bell sinker. Just attach the sinker to the bottom line retainer of the bobber and the hook or lure to the top retainer. This makes it easy to find the water’s depth.

Falling through the ice

If you are out with a buddy ice fishing – and there is a possibility of breaking ice, make sure to stay at least 10 feet apart to spread out your weight. You should also each carry long poles; they can be used to straddle the hole to help you climb out. Make sure to have a poncho, waterproof matches, safety pins, bandages, knife, candles, bouillon cubes, and cocoa or soup. Put all of them in a watertight metal can which can be used to heat water over a candle in an emergency.

Freezing

If you are an ice fisherman and consistently have problems with your hole freezing up – instead of pouring anti-freeze into the hole (which shuts down fishing action), use denatured alcohol. It is less expensive, has no odor or taste, and is available at any pharmacy.

Ice Fishing Bait

If you are an ice fisherman (which 2 million people are in the U.S.), the following bait will bring you even more success.

For Bluegills use tiny ice spoons (1/32 to 1/80 of an ounce), ice flies or No. 10 or 12 gold hooks. Tip them with gall worms, crane fly larvae, mousies, mealworms, wax worms, or maggots. Fish the offering with a light tremble or quivering movement. Try levels from one to three feet off bottom, over depths o f10 to 20 feet. A murky or weedy bottom is best for them.

For crappies, use a Swedish Pimple jiggling spoon, Rapala ice fishing plug or live minnows fished on No. 2 to 6 hooks. Crappies can suspend at just about any depth, from a few feet below the ice to just off bottom, in water from five to 20 feet deep. Move often.

Yellow perch – use the same baits as for crappies and bluegills. Also try jigging spoons sweetened with the eye from a freshly caught perch or a tiny strip of meat sliced from a perch or bluegill.

Trout – shoal areas, the mouths of inlets, and points have produced the most rainbows, browns and brookies through the ice. You can catch them on about every kind of bait or lure you can think of. Wet flies and nymphs with a sp lit-shot crimped a foot above for weight are good, as are minnows, spinners, jigging spoons and ice rapalas.

Pickerel, Pike, Muskies – live minnows or dead ones rigged to hang horizontally in the water are the best producers. Tip-ups allow you to spread your baits over a wide area in weedy coves and on points where these predators rove under the frozen lake’s surface searching for prey.

Walleyes – reefs, points, inlets and outlets are good spots for ice walleyes. Live minnows, jigging Rapalas, Swedish Pimples, Hopkins and Gay Blades are consistent producers.

These Evening Secret ice fishing tips are important to ensure your safety, and catch a lot of winter fish.