How to Ice-Fish for Trout

Look for trout under the ice.

Enjoy trout ice-fishing along with the picturesque, snow-blanketed scenery surrounding your local lakes and rivers. Lake trout tend to remain active even during the icy winter season and can be found within a couple of feet of the water bottom. Although winter fishing can be productive and scenic, the ice can be dangerous. Frost bites, slipping and falling into ice water can be severe and even fatal. Prepare for cold conditions and always check the weather before pursuing winter trout.

Things You'll Need

• Ice-fishing rod and reel
• Baits and lures
• 10-foot ice auger
• Ice-fishing flasher

Instructions

1. Use a heavy-duty ice rod and reel equipped with 300 feet of 60-pound coated wire line and 12 feet of 20-pound test leader.

2. Tip the line with ice-fishing jigs, flash spoons and swimming lures like Nils Master Jigging Shad and Jigging Rapala. Swimming lures work well for aggressive, winter lake trout. For jigs, winter trout are attracted to lead head swimming jigs. The Acme Kastmaster and Swedish Pimple have a vertical fishing position with a treble hook on the bottom that works well for moderately active winter trout. Attach a minnow head on one of your hooks to add to the presentation. If you prefer live bait, smelt and cut herring are productive.

3. Cast in the same areas of the lake where trout like to congregate before ice-up. Trout tend to linger in shallow water near shoreline bars, points, rock piles and inside turns. Use an ice-fishing flasher to help you find structures that trout are attracted to. As the winter goes by, trout tend to move toward midlake humps because water in these areas are a little bit warmer, allowing them to remain more active.

4. 

   Drill ice holes in varying depths to locate trout.

   Break ice with a 10-inch ice auger. Begin drilling holes in depths of 15 to 40 feet and keep moving until you catch trout. Drill a couple of holes in varying depths to increase your chances. Trout move consistently to feed and to find a safe spot. If you are not getting any strikes, move to deeper waters.

5. Jig your baits and lures. According to Ice-fishing-source.com, jigging is the most productive ice-fishing presentation. To jig, raise the tip of your rod about 1 foot and then drop it back to the starting position. Keep repeating this and always jig near the bottom. Though jigging attracts trout, the active ones tend to take the bait only when it stops moving. Raise and drop your lures and then do stop intervals of three to 10 seconds in between jigging.

Tips & Warnings

• Make ice-fishing trips more comfortable by using an ice shelter and portable heater to keep you warm.

References

• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Fishing Tips
• Bass Pro Shops; Ice Fishing for Lake Trout; Jason Akl
• Ice Fishing Source: Lake Trout Ice Fishing Tips and Techniques