Fishing Tips and Tricks:

Ice Fishing

If you ice fish a lake that does not allow spear fishing always try and bring or wear a sturdy glove. If spear ice fishing is allowed you can cut a large square or rectangle in the ice. If spear fishing is illegal you have to fish in a small diameter circular hole. This prevents the use of spears. Anyway in most lakes there are fish big enough that their head will not fit through that hole. Here's were the glove comes in. If you hook a fish that won't fit through the hole try and get a finger through the fishes gills and mouth. You can drown or stun a fish by stopping the movement of water through the gills. When the fish dies or passes out simply let the fish sink to the bottom or hang suspended below the hole. Now make the hole big enough to pull the fish through. Be careful not to accidently cut the line. Always put the chunks of ice or some branches back in the hole so it will freeze over to prevent small animals from falling into the hole. If you are fishing for Pike, Musky or Walleye wear an extra thick glove.

Use Native Live Forage If The Fish Aren't Bitting

Don't rule out live bait. If your local state laws allow it catch and use chubs or minnows from where you are fishing. Large fish get large because they smarten up with age. Especially fish where catch and release is the norm. That lunker Bass over time will figure out that Bluegills are safe forage and eat'n anything else always leads to trouble. Bait action can be lots of fun. A good trick to catch Rainbow and Brook Trout is live grasshoppers on a clear plastic float. Key is too not hook the grasshopper to deep. That grasshopper will start kick'n as soon as it hits the water and very few have a chance to drown because they disappear in a geyser of water.

Fish Are Predators

A lot of fish species are predators and opportunists especially in species that become sluggish and feed less in the winter months. Fish can't pass up what appears to be injured prey. Take that lure you are fishing with and scrape one side on a rock or use a file or course sandpaper. Scrape the paint off and put deep scratches in small areas of the lure. This makes the lure look injured and represents damaged scales. You can also drill small holes in a lure that will cause bubbles when the lure is jerked. Don't go overboard. Experiment with what you do as you don't want to negatively effect the designed action of the lure.

Live Grasshoppers