The first ice period has long been popular with many ice fishermen. At no other time during the winter period, do we find so many different types of species active. This is prime time to head out on your favorite lake or flowage, and not only pursue your favorite specie but others as well. Often I will land walleyes, nice pike and a variety of panfish from the same area in a short period. However, there will be distinct feeding periods for individual fish. These periods might be sporadic, but they will occur on a daily basis.

Before we get into how and where to fish during the first ice period, it is important to talk about safety. While the fishing can be great, ice conditions can be hazardous. Ice conditions can change not only by the day, but also by the hour. If you have any doubt about safety, get off the ice. Start by fishing the smaller lakes first, and gradually move to bigger water as the season progresses. As you walk out to the ice, make sure you check the ice with you spud as you go, and where a floatation device. A good set of ice creepers is also important. First ice can be slick and a fall can mean a trip to the hospital. You should also never head out on fresh ice alone. If an accident does occur and you break through the ice, if you are alone, you can have a real problem. Along with adding to your safety, a partner will also help you fish an area effectively.

Cold fronts and changing weather patterns will have an effect on first ice action. However, seldom do they have a lasting effect. Later in the season a severe cold snap can shut down most ice fishing. These first ice fish are active and determined to feed. Usually by the next day, you will again encounter active fish. Cold fronts can be a welcome sight since they mean cold weather, which will make safe ice.

The first fish to go on the prowl, is walleye. This is the best time to encounter a trophy walleye and action with eating fish. The longer the ice stays on the lake, the harder it becomes to pattern these hawg walleye. If the conditions are right, you can have the best of both worlds. Shallow bays off the main lake will develop safe ice well before the rest of the lake. Any good green weeds will harbor small perch or shiners that are the preferred forage for big walleyes. Smaller walleyes will remain in the weeds throughout the day, but the big fish will move in after dark. Last December, sticking it out after dark paid off for a few trophy walleye from High Falls Flowage. I managed to convince my clients to stay at least one hour after dark. During this early ice period, we managed to land 4 walleye over 28 inches in one week, with the largest walleye going 31 inches.

Many of my hot spots for big first ice walleye are lesser known walleye lakes. Lakes under 300 acres can hold trophy walleyes that evade fisherman for years. These lakes are tough to fish and structure is limited. However, at first ice these fish are vulnerable if you fish the lake properly. This year, I am going to make it a point to fish a few sleeper lakes where I know big walleyes are present. One lake in particular has fish over 13 pounds. Just as in the open water period, catch and release is important with these large walleye. If you are not going to mount the fish, big walleyes should be released. Keep the 15 to 20 inchers for the pan.

Tip ups are the most productive method for taking these roaming walleyes. Set up a series of tip ups into any open weed pockets near the weedlines. When fishing with tip ups, it is important to use quality tip ups. Too many fishermen buy the cheap variety and end up losing a trophy fish. I have had my best success using Thermal Tip Ups from Rinehart Industries. Since I have been using these tip ups, I have been averaging larger walleyes and pike. Large golden shiners are the preferred bait for big walleye. If you are after a trophy, don’t hesitate to use the largest shiners available. While I have taken big walleyes jigging at first ice, jigging is more productive later in the ice fishing season.

Northern pike can also be active at first ice. Although the first ice period is not known for producing trophy pike, it can be a time of plenty. Since we are looking for action concentrate on smaller action lakes. Sloughs and back bays will freeze early and droves of hungry pike will move in. Although many of these pike will run small, they can offer hot tip up action. The best action will occur from mid morning through late afternoon. Only on occasion will you experience pike active at dusk. Overcast days can see a bigger pike active. Golden shiners are again the bait of choice. Make sure you set your tip ups both along the edge of the sloughs and in any open weed pockets. One option open is to fish a fast action pike lake during the day and move to a trophy walleye lake at dusk.

Panfish are also active at first ice, with bluegills being the most popular with fisherman. There is no better time to experience both quality and quality bluegill fishing than at first ice. Those same shallow weeds that attract walleye and pike are home to feeding bluegills. Get out as early as possible, since the bigger gill are early morning feeders. By getting out early I mean being on the ice by first light. Mid day will find the smaller fish active and there is usually a feeding spree that can occur just before dusk. Drill a series of holes and keep on the move searching for bigger gills. If you are fishing wieh a few partners, designate one guy to just drill holes. The more hole and water you cover, the greater your odds in finding the big gills. On occasion perch and crappie can also move into the shallow weeds. On many lakes, it is possible to take all three panfish species on the same outing.

For more information, visit mike at his website at www.mikemladenik.com