So far as I can tell, the earliest published mention of the drop-shot appears in Bill Binkelman’s classic book, “Catching Walleyes.” In it, he writes at length about using these rigs, and his...View article
Finesse isn’t my strong suit, particularly when it comes to putting tough-bite panfish on the ice. I prefer carpet-bombing relatively beefy spoons over wide stretches of fish-holding areas to putzing...View article
Less than 30 years ago, very few ice anglers used sonar; there wasn’t any way of knowing whether or not fish were in the area—either you got bit, or you didn’t. Ice fishing has evolved way beyond...View article
Overlooked And Underrated

White Bass On Ice

Would 75 panfish per day be of interest to anyone? What if they averaged about 17 inches in length and fought like mini pitbulls? Based on what we’ve seen so far, the answer is an amazing “no.” “I...View article
 
Top Destinations On Ice

Hardwater Walleye Harvest

Ice extends for miles, surrounded by wooded shorelines with no roads, no old holes to use for guidelines, no bait shops, no towns, no lodging. That’s where we would send you if this article referred...View article
 
Options, Add-ons, Line, Lights, Storage & More!

Tip-Ups

Tip-ups—in their simplest form a spool of line on a stick with a warning flag—remain top tools for presenting baits to catch fish. They work for pike, lake trout, stocked trout, largemouth and smallmouth...View article
Minnows, I’m telling you. Minnows. That’s how smelt appear when you’re angling through the ice with hook and line for finger-length fishes....View article
 
Sight-Fishing Shallow Walleyes

Eye to 'Eye

Veteran angler and guide Steve Fellegy has been ice fishing Minnesota lakes for over 40 years. “Throughout the year, walleyes can be found deep, shallow, and everywhere in between,” he says. “But...View article
 
Select Rods & Reels

2008 Rods and Combos

While some ice rods are handcrafted in the U. S., others are made overseas and are available at astoundingly affordable prices. The emerging trend, however, continues to be to develop darned good ice...View article
 
Understanding Perch Diets

Meals, Snacks and Luncheons

Perch really do go on and off their diets. At times they eat sparingly, as though they’re fasting for a wedding or class reunion, wishing to fit into that special dress or mothballed cheerleader outfit....View article