Ice Fishing
The Midwest offers some fantastic ice fishing opportunities! The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is famous for its walleye and yellow perch fishing. The Missouri River in South Dakota also draws ice fishing attention every year, with trophy caliber fish presenting an opportunity for anglers. The Iowa Great Lakes region also is popular for it’s tremendous panfishing opportunities including bluegill, yellow perch, yellow bass, crappie and more!
Nick Harrington greatly enjoys chasing walleye and perch across the Glacial Lakes region. He has several Top 5 finishes in tournament across the region and has also put in considerable amount of time ice fishing Lake of the Woods in Ontario.
Chris Seylar is a veteran panfish angler. Chris has enjoyed tremendous success fishing the Iowa Great Lakes region for panfish and his experience has made him a top notch perch angler in eastern South Dakota.
Mason Propst, an experienced river angler, brings plenty of river expertise to ice fishing as well. Mason has spent time fishing the Mobridge area on Lake Oahe as well as various other areas along Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe.
In-Depth Ice Fishing Information
One of the beauties of fishing is that it can be simple, just a hook, a line, and a rod. Ice fishing can be the same way: drill a hole, bait a line, and send it on down. If you use a tip up, you don’t even need a rod nor reel! Ice fishing can be as simple as you wish it to be…but today it won’t be! We’re going to make it complicated, and dive into some of the aspects of ice fishing that many anglers overlook!
One of the main aspects that is overlooked throughout the ice season is water clarity. This is understandable, because throughout the open water season it is impossible to not pay attention to water clarity, it’s exactly what you are looking at. Anglers can tell if the water is clear, turbid, features suspended particles such as algae, or has other irregularities like debris. Throughout the ice season, anglers see literally ice and snow, water clarity just naturally falls to the back of the mind.
If you follow along, you’ve seen we’re really taking an in-depth look at every factor that goes into ice fishing. We laid the foundation in Frozen Details of Ice Fishing, and then took a long look at the water itself in Importance of Water Clarity When Ice Fishing. If you haven’t already read these, now is a great time to do so, because we’ll be putting it all together on the finer details of your presentation.
Ice Fishing South Dakota
It is no secret that winter means ice fishing in South Dakota. As the first true cold front grasps the region, spud bars begin to strike the ice, batteries are charged, and heaters begin to light up for the year. By the time Old Man Winter has the state firmly in his grasp, anglers have already been out chasing walleyes, yellow perch, trout, crappie, bluegill, and northern pike. It may seem like there are not any secret spots in South Dakota through the ice, but in reality, many of some of the best fishing opportunities remain under the radar for many anglers.
Early ice is a special time of year in eastern South Dakota! The Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota is famous for its ice fishing opportunities, particularly for both walleye and yellow perch, and one of the best times of year to find success is early ice. Early ice can present unique challenges to anglers, which is why we have ten tips to help find success in the early ice season.
When you ask folks in eastern South Dakota what times of year they get most excited about you might get a few answers: pheasant opener, East River Deer season, duck opener, Christmas, and South Dakota State Jackrabbits playoff football might make the list. One time of year that will for sure be a favorite, is the beginning of ice fishing season.
Multispecies
Many times, a day out on the ice can result in multiple species of fish in an angler’s bag. Learn how to catch as many fish and species as possible and maximize your day on the water.
Understanding the prey of the species your are pursing is critical to ice fishing success. Nick Harrington breaks down the various situations anglers will encounter when targeting walleye, perch and northern pike across South Dakota and the Midwest in Making the Forage Connection for Ice Success.
Understanding the dynamics of the predator and prey relationships taking place within a waterbody is critical to having success. Learn about the food chain, predator/prey relationships and how it impacts your fishing in How Predator/Prey Relationships Impact Ice Fishing.
Learning a new lake can often seem like a daunting task. With so many lakes to fish, how do you know which one is the best one? Once you have a lake narrowed down, how do you have success on it. Nick Harrington discusses how he breaks down a new lake in Ice Fishing a New Lake.
Many fisheries near urban areas are often going to be some of the most pressured bodies of water you fish all year. Nick Harrington breaks down how he approaches these waterbodies in Ice Fishing Pressured Lakes.
Tip ups can often be one of the most successful tactics to both locate and catch a variety of species. Nick Harrington and Chris Seylar break down the best way to deploy your tip ups and dead stick rods in Tip Up Strategies.
The mid-winter lull can strike all anglers and all species. Chris Seylar breaks down the reasons behind this period in Science Behind the Mid-Winter Lull.
Panfish
Panfish are a widely popular species to target across the entire ice belt. This is for good reason. Panfish are often willing biters and can provide a great meal at the end of a day.
Plastics have taken the ice fishing industry by storm. This is for good reason, these plastics attract fish and replicate their natural forage. Nick Harrington and Chris Seylar detail the best ways to deploy these baits in Plastics for Ice Panfish.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch are a favorite among ice anglers. They are challenging, provide excellent table fare and can grow to sizes making them similar to bricks! Learn the top tactics to end your day with a bag of gold!
Ice anglers are all about that gold! Early in the season, the perch fish can be absolutely fantastic! Chris Seylar breaks down what he looks for it start his ice fishing campaign off with some gold in Early Ice Perch Tactics!
Bluegill
Nearly every angler started on bluegill in their early days. Even experienced anglers love chasing these fish and for good reason! Bluegill fight hard, taste great and can really add up at the end of a day on the water!
Whether you are a new angler or experienced veteran, everyone loves to catch Bluegill! Bluegill can be caught all year, especially during the winter months. Chris Seylar breaks down everything you need to know about catching bluegill in Guide to Catching Bluegill Year Round.
Yellow Bass
Yellow bass have provided a new angling opportunity across much of the Iowa Great Lakes. Chris Seylar has taken full of advantage of this opportunity and highlights everything you need to know in The Yellow Bass Invasion.
Gear
It takes tough gear to stand up to winter’s wrath! Find the toughest products on the market to make sure you’re ready to hit the ice!
Line twist is a small issue that can really have big impacts on your presentation and catch rates. Learn about the ways you can reduce line twist and ensure your baits are presenting like they should in Reducing Line Twist for Increased Ice Success.
Barrel swivels play a key role in preventing line twist and are a piece of equipment that should be used throughout the entire year on the water. Nick Harrington breaks down the importance of barrel swivels in The Benefits of Barrel Swivels!
With so many products on the market, how do you know which ones are going to help you catch the most fish? Nick Harrington breaks down how he approaches tackle shopping and how to maximize your ice fishing budget in Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck.
Rod Selection
Your ice rod is your connection to you and the fish. Learn about the types of rods you should select for your presentation in Selecting the Right Ice Rod for the Job.
Bibs
It’s an exciting time for ice anglers. There are so many great bibs, coats and suits on the market to keep anglers not only warm, but safe. Learn more about this new trend in the ice fishing world in Look Good, Feel Good.
Augers
One of the most rapidly changing markets is the ice auger market. There are so many different types of augers available, it can make shopping overwhelming for ice anglers. Learn everything you need to know to find your next auger in All About Augers.
Lures
Flutter spoons are one of the best ways to attract fish in from a distance. Regardless the species, these baits can often make them bite. Learn everything you need to know about flutter spoons in Ice Fishing Flutter Spoons.
Ice Fishing Safety
Regardless what time you head out on the ice, safety should always be #1. Check out these tips on how you can stay safe whenever you’re on the ice in Stay Safe All Season.
Find Where to Ice Fish
Now that you’ve got all the secrets to putting more fish on the ice, it’s time to find where to go! The Midwest offers an excellent opportunity for ice fishing, and we’ve got everything you need to help you find your new favorite waterbody.
