Ice Fishing for Panfish

Here in Michigan, we have quite a few different panfish species to target during the winter. Bluegill and Sunfish are probably the most common panfish species throughout the state. Normally anglers will go after these fish with light jigs tipped with live bait such as wax worms, mousies or spikes. From beginner anglers to the most veteran anglers, they are a fun fish to target.

Early in the ice season, you can normally find concentrations of fish in shallower water, less then ten foot, in most lakes. First ice is often referred as the best time to catch a large amount of fish during the ice season. Oxygen levels are high then other periods of the winter, resulting in very active fish. With the use of modern sonar units,such as the Vexilar FL 18 shown in the picture, an angler has the ability to quickly tell if there are fish around. One of the best ways to see if a certain hole is worth a stay,is to drop your jig close to the bottom and keep your jig moving. A steady nod or shake of your hand, is normally enough to convince a fish to take a look and eat your presentation. If a minute passes by without any marks of fish on your sonar unit, work your jig throughout the water column. Sometimes quickly raising it up a few feet and letting it sink back down is enough to draw attention. If no fish appear within a few minutes, it is in your best option to move to a different hole. When you do come across a spot that seems to have quite a few fish around, it is wise to drill a few more. By doing this, you will have more options if the fish move off, sometimes only moving feet can make a difference. Making a cluster of holes about the same size as the area your living room. If you are struggling to stay on top of fish consistently, keeping expanding if surrounding fisherman allow it. It is often wise for anglers to be courteous to each other. Keep in mind while fishing local lakes, you will probably end up seeing some the same fisherman throughout the season. Being rude to fellow fisherman can result in some awkward times later down the road.

As winter progresses, the weeds in these shallow areas die off due to the lack of sunlight, and fish start moving to deeper water. Key areas where anglers are likely to find panfish could be deeper flats (fifteen to thirty feet of water), underwater humps and off underwater points that reach into the deeper sections of the lake, to name a few. Locating and finding fish that are eager to bite during this period can be challenging at times. More times then not, the fish that will be more eager to bite, will be ones that are suspended in the water column. Always watch your sonar system above your jig for suspended fish to appear. Simply reel or raise your presentation to the fish and shake your hand like your nervous. This will appear to the fish, that as if your jig is alive. If the fish doesn’t take, change your jigging sequence until the fish bites or swims off. Never waste too much time in one spot if you don’t find fish that are willing to bite. 

The “Late Ice” period can be another great time to put large amounts of fish on the ice. The panfish seem to travel into shallow water similar to where they were in early ice. Schools of panfish can be concentrated in areas where soft and hard bottom meet. Keep an eye out for aquatic insect larvae to appear in the of hole after drilling. Where there are large amounts of aquatic insects, panfish will normally be there taking advantage of it. The late ice period can really produce some great action.

Safety should be your number one concern throughout your ice fishing season. Use a spud to check density and thickness of the ice in the early ice periods and the late ice periods. Rising temperatures accompanied with rain and wind, can deteriorate ice conditions quickly. Get reports from surrounding bait shops or local fisherman on ice conditions if unsure about them. Panfish are labeled by some as the best tasting fish in Michigan but pursuing them is not worth your life. Good luck and stay safe out there this winter. You owe it to your friends and family to come back from every fishing outing safely.