Anytime Is Ice-Fishing Time

Most ice anglers find the toughest time of the day to catch fish is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, Minnesota ice-fishing expert Dave Genz believes fish can be caught at all times of the day. These are his suggestions:

* Mobility: Catching fish through the ice is a matter of finding them, not the other way around. Some anglers might drill dozens of holes a day in search of the right spot. Drilling a hole is comparable to making a cast. Sometimes you must make many “casts.”

* Travel light: Mobility means traveling light. Don’t load yourself with extra equipment you won’t need. Bring only the tackle and rods you’ll use. Use a lightweight power auger, such as those driven with a 2-horsepower motor and equipped with a 6- to 8-inch blade.

* Electronics: Consider buying an electronic fish locator. A locator will tell if a hole has any fish below it.

* Use balanced tackle: Balanced tackle means matching your lures with the correct line size and rod. Don’t use a lightweight jig with heavy line or vice versa. Properly matched tackle means you should be able to feel your jig at the end of your line through your rod tip. Two- to 4-pound test line is good for panfish; 6- to 8-pound is suitable for walleyes.

* Rods: Many ice anglers still use wooden sticks with crude reels. For light lines, try graphite fishing rods designed specifically for ice fishing. * Line: Fishing line should be fresh and kink-free. Try low-stretch, thin monofilament lines that appear clear in the water.

* Be prepared: Have an extra rod already rigged with a different lure. If your fish locator indicates there is a fish below and it’s not biting, quickly switch to the lure on your other rod.

* Alter action: When fishing is slow, it helps to alter the jigging action of your lure. Experiment with fast, trembling-like actions or a “pumping” jigging action.