Late Ice Panfish
by Ron Anlauf

The truly dedicated are about all that’s left still working the late season ice, which is just fine with them. They’re perfectly content having a bunch of biting panfish all to themselves, and aren’t concerned that somebody else might be missing out.   More anglers could get in on the fun if only they were willing enough to get back on the ice another time or two and look in places where they haven’t looked before.   

Finding the “where” isn’t all that tough and includes shallow water bays with old weed beds as well as last year’s stands of reeds which can load up with slab crappies.   By late ice stretches of warm weather can peel away layers of heavy winter snow and breath some life back into shallow water and is when things start to change for the better.  Panfish respond by moving in and do so with an attitude that keeps improving with every warming day after day.   Sunnies and crappies that had been holed up in deeper water or those that stuck it out in the shallows but weren’t all that active start to make some serious feeding movements which makes them extremely vulnerable.  Although they can be caught you still better bring you’re A game if you plan on putting any of the bigger fish on ice.   

An “A” game includes light gear like two and even one pound test line, tiny jigs down like #8 Northland Doodle Bugs, and even the right live bait like Eurolarvae and maggies.   Eurolarvae instead of waxies or waxies instead of Eurolarvae can make a real difference on any given day, and it would be a good idea to have a little of everything with.   Plastic baits like Berkely’s Power Glowing Wigglers can also produce and are a whole lot easier to take care of and a lot less messy than bug babies.  Even though crappies will usually take a maggot you better have some minnows with, if that’s what you’re specifically after.   

Light action rods with soft tips and blanks like Northland Tackle’s 24” ultra light model TSPC-24UL Gold Series will help keep light line from breaking even under the strain of a pound bluegill or a giant slab. They’ll also help you give your bait a little action, and a little is about all you will usually need.   Any more might spook interested onlookers, and any less might be ignored.  The key is to experiment with yourtechnique until you figure out what they really want. 

One of the most exciting late season patterns is sight fishing, which includes fishing right below the ice over shallower water where you can actually see the bottom and see the fish.   Reid Norrine of Oakdale, Minnesota is an ice fishing machine that has spent a lot of time yanking big slabs in gills out of shallow water and does a lot of it using less than three feet of line:  “It’s a great a late season pattern, although it can produce all season long.  I’ll look for current areas where you can still find some green weeds and then fish right over the top of them, and just under the ice.  Even if you don’t see fish right away don’t be afraid to work your lure up high, right below the ice.  

There are high riders that you won’t see until they suddenly show up, just inches away from your bait.  Its fun when you can work a fish so close you could almost reach down and touch it.  Gills will come in and really eyeball a bait before they take it and will give you an idea of what they do in deeper water.  Because you’re so close you’ll have to sit still and use tiny motions when it comes to moving your lure or you’ll spook the fish and they won’t bite.  Crappies will usually grab and go and it can all happen before you know it.” 

To be able to see clearly you’ll have to get under cover and is when a lighter portable like Eskimo’s Pro-fish 150 comes in handy because it has enough room to be comfortable but is easy enough to pick up and move, even if you’re hoofing it.   

Timing is definitely important and the hot crappie action typically starts at daybreak and ends early in the morning and then picks up again late in the day and can last on into the dark.  If angling pressure is a problem your best bet is probably the early morning bite because most anglers won’t be willing to make the sacrifice to get on the ice before daybreak.  Bluegills on the other hand seem to crank it up a notch or two later in the day and can peak by late afternoon.     

Late ice can actually be the best time of the year to be out and when the action is most consistent.    The thing is you’ll never know how good it can be unless you give it a try.  See you on the ice, one more time. 

Ron Anlauf