FIRST ICE CRAPPIES
The ice will be here before you know it. Crappies are usually the first species on my hit list. Once late fall hits, crappies school up on mud basin flats. These fish tend to cruise around a lot which can make locating them a daunting task. Being mobile and punching lots of holes is key to getting bit. Technology over the past few years has made winter crappie fishing much easier.
Lithium Powered Augers
Lightweight, powerful and no fumes is a great way to describe the lithium ice auger revolution. I have been running the ION G2 8” for two complete seasons. At first, I was skeptical of the plastic polymer flyte. Now, I can’t ever see myself going back to steel. At 17 pounds this is the ultimate run and gun auger. The polymer flyte doesn’t ice up and stays flexible in the cold. Chasing a school of crappies is easy with this auger and punching a grid of holes almost feels effortless. For 2021, ION G2 comes with two 4 amp hour lithium batteries drilling 2400” of ice between the two; perfect for pan fishing.
On Ice Electronics: Lake Contour Mapping, MEGA Live & 360 Imaging
It’s no doubt that lake contour mapping has changed the pan fishing game in our region. Humminbird Lakemaster eliminates 90% of the water for you. Find the basin area and strategically punch holes with your Helix GPS. Some of our best crappie spots last winter were on a steep break line dropping into a nice 20’ mud flat. Pay attention to the contour spacing on your map. It’s easy to find a high percentage spot before drilling a hole.
Now with VX Technology standard, LakeMaster and LakeMaster Premium provide exceptional marine map performance, precise contours and customizable color palettes to help you find prized fishing spots faster.
Last winter, we had MEGA 360 Imaging out on the ice. You could mark the entire school of crappies and watch them roam around in the basin. MEGA 360 provides a sonar image that shows you the “lay of the land”. It’s important to know where the fish are in relation to your position on the ice. Mark fish and structure 80 feet away in any direction. Simple as walking over to the fish and dropping a line. How cool is that? You will know instantly if there are fish in the area. MEGA 360 is also excellent for finding those pods of greenback walleyes on Lake Winnipeg.
The concept of a forward facing sonar has changed the ice fishing game in recent years. The first thing you will notice about MEGA Live imaging is how clear the real-time sonar is. There is very little sonar noise. Installation is plug and play with no black processing box. The simplicity of MEGA Live makes it easy to rig up for ice fishing.
The new Ice Helix lineup this season features a new shuttle for the 7 and 9 inch screens. The shuttles now accepts the larger 15-20 amp lithium batteries in order to power MEGA Live & 360 on the ice. The beauty thing is that Humminbird has conversion kits and bundles available to take your existing graph from your boat out on the ice.
Quite often, ice anglers are left wondering what direction the fish are moving. These new technologies will provide insight on what’s happening below the ice.
Dress for Hole Hopping
Early season is a great time to stay mobile and fish outside. It’s important to dress for success on the ice. A well insulated waterproof ice fishing suit can make all the difference. Most of the modern suits now come with float assist. Float suits provide that extra layer of safety on the ice. The Eskimo line of jackets and bibs are ergonomically designed for mobility and comfort. The Legend suits are top notch and available for men and women. A good suit keeps you warm all day and blocks the wind. Another great tip is to wear a base layer made of 100% merino wool. Wool wicks moisture away from your body and keeps you nice and dry. Winter boots rated to -100C is a must for fishing outside.
Basin Base Camp
Setting up a pop-up shelter is a great idea if you’ve found fish. It’s a place to warm up and cook a hot meal. Last winter, we got into the habit of making breakfast right on the ice. A shelter with an oversized trip proof door makes entering and exiting a breeze. The Outbreak XD series from Eskimo is a fantastic shelter. The insulated fabric consists of 80 grams of high loft insulation between 3 layers of bonded fabric. The grey interior makes a huge difference in lighting and brightens up fish photos! There are multiple size options available to fit everyone’s needs. The new 850XD model has a whopping 114 square feet of fishable area making it perfect for the whole family!