Winter Fishing: Top Tips for Fishing Hard Water

When winter comes around, you may expect winter or ice fishing to be the hottest activity during this season, especially with determined anglers. The cold and icy atmosphere is never a reason to stash your sportfishing gear and wait until spring and summer come around.

While fishing in the cold can be intimidating, especially for inexperienced anglers, winter fishing has a few advantages and perks that distinguish it from other seasons and techniques. That includes having less competition in the water since many casual anglers would rather fish during more comfortable temperatures than spend hours in the cold. With fewer people outside, winter fishing can be a lot more rewarding as it automatically gives you leverage with gaining the best and large catches out there.

Most of the time, in winter fishing, the quality of the catches far outweighs the quantity. Anglers are wary of winter fishing because it does not guarantee easy yields, but the effort is worth it when they hook a fish. Most fish species do not have the same strength in fighting off baits in the summer during winter, so a catch is already guaranteed once anglers do land a bite.  

Moreover, fishing during the cold months will give you better chances of catching fish species primarily active in the winter, such as northern pike and perch. These species are usually complex to capture in spring and summer times because of the rampant competition in the waters.

Every aspiring angler must experience fishing in the winter at some point in their life. It gives opportunities to break the norms and find a different strategy to fish effectively. If fish have less energy to fight in winter, anglers will have to develop some new techniques that will enable them to land a bite. 

That being said, take a look at some top tips and techniques for winter fishing for a fruitful angling experience.

Top Tips for Fishing in Hard Water 

1. Choose the Right Lure

Fishing out in the cold comes with the challenge of dealing with waters with less to zero visibility because of the ice present and snow covering the area. Choosing the right lure to accompany you can be quite a bit of a challenge, especially when choosing the right colors and features to bring or purchase. 

As a general rule, neutral and more natural colors work best on clear waters, but when ice fishing in a water body that’s being blocked by ice from penetrating light, it’s best to use lures that provide contrast. However, if you tend to ice fish at night, it is recommended to use blue or green lures because those who lie within the spectrum of reds and oranges tend to fade quickly away in the dark. Silver and gold are also safe choices, but gold works best in cloudy waters.

2. Come in Layers

The footwear is also essential because foot and leg discomfort from the cold would be enough for you to call it a day and go home. Once your feet get cold, it will be hard to warm them up again, so it would be best to take a proactive approach and invest in socks and boots to make you feel comfortably warm throughout the journey. If you do not know where to start, here’s a little checklist to help you narrow down your fit choices when going ice fishing: Insulated and moisture-wicking bottoms, Insulated gloves, Parka/Waterproof jacket, Balaclavas or fleece-lined stocking hats, Hand and leg warmers, Insulated overalls, Insulated, moisture-wicking, and breathable socks, Waterproof and insulated boots.

3. Invest in a Quality Ice Auger

If there’s one thing that’s hard when it comes to ice fishing, it’s the ice itself. That’s when you need to have a handy and quality ice auger at hand. There are a lot of variations in the market nowadays, including manual or hand-powered drills, gasoline-powered, and electric augers. The electric ones are ideal to purchase and bring as they are conveniently rechargeable, so you won’t need to get gasoline. Some ice auger models have built-in night lights for safer frilling in the dark.

4. Pick the Right Place and Spots

Whether ice fishing or not, safety always comes first, and that comes with the responsibility of playing it safe, especially in harsh winter conditions. That includes thoroughly researching the area you are angling in and picking the right spots to cast your line to make your time worthwhile. If you're not sure where to begin, go to the state's Department of Natural Resources website for the area you'll be fishing in, as they usually have up-to-date information on the best fishing spots as well as any fishing regulations you should be aware of.

Fish will become sluggish during winter, be less active, and dwell in one area for the entire season. Be on the lookout for the slightest signs of movement, but generally, the best places to check would be shallow spots during sunny days and sheltered bays.

5. Narrow Down the Best Times To Go

Fishing in winter is different from fishing in the spring and summer, so your usual routine during these seasons won’t probably work in the cold. Narrowing down the best times when the bite is excellent would maximize your angling experience, and it will also greatly help you tackle down the most productive times of fish species in the area. Generally, the best time to go during the winter season would be between 10 AM and 4 PM.

The Takeaway

Fishing in hard water may be too much work for some people as it involves dealing with the cold throughout the fishing stint, but those who frequently go ice fishing can attest to how satisfying the experience is. After all, nothing beats the satisfaction of having a large catch to cook at the end of the day on a cold winter night.