March of the Icemen

Ibuprofen is a precious commodity during ice season on Lake St. Clair. Being one of the southern-most bodies of water in the Great Lakes chain, St. Clair rarely boasts the kind of ice conditions famous in the North Country, where entire houses are drug out on the ice with pick-up trucks. Nope; here eight to ten inches is considered “a lot of ice”, and often times fishing is done on ice that isn’t safe for four-wheelers or snow machines. For that reason, walking is the name of the game; often miles in a day, and often with a shanty in tow. So, for that reason, Ibuprofen is often called upon to step up to the plate. But it’s worth it.

Yellow perch are the most sought after quarry on St Clair, and the best way to catch them is to find active fish. Active fish are out there everyday. Rarely are fish active all over the lake, but somewhere, out there beneath the ice, an active school exists. Our job is to find it, and the only way to do that is to keep mobile. Some moves are slight; some may be miles at a time. Sitting in one place and waiting for the fish to come to you isn’t going to cut it. My rule of thumb: ten minutes of fishing per hole. If sizeable fish aren’t caught or seen, it’s time to move. In the case of the latter, where sight fishing is an option, our choice of shelter is very important. I started fishing from a one-man flip-style shelter several years ago, and immediately realized it was my most important piece of equipment on the ice. Today, I use a Fish Trap Trapper, because it’s very light and doesn’t have many moving parts. It glides over deep snow, and it just flips over me, literally. I always sight fish aggressively. Perch are very aggressive fish beneath the ice, especially when shallow, and will reveal themselves most days with aggressive tactics. Those fish may not be immediate biters, but if large perch are in the area, they will show themselves with the flash of a large spoon or the darting of a Jigging Rap. I may switch tactics to eventually catch those fish, like shaking a Atom Nuggie or a small plastic on the bottom, but I can “test” my hole with aggressive tactics each time. If no large fish are seen, on goes the march. The pattern repeats itself over and over until fish are found.

In the event that fishing is done in stained water, or water too deep to sight fish, it’s time to grab the bucket and the flasher. Once again, aggressive tactics are used for the test holes. I’m always amazed at how well perch can see, feel, or “sense” that my bait’s in the area even when the water is cloudy. Studying my Humminbird, I often see perch rise up to a lure as it begins the initial decent; this in water so dirty I can’t see six inches. Yet perch on the bottom come up and meet my bait half way down. In any case, sometimes the key in stained water is to pause the jigging stroke a little longer to allow the fish to get the bait. But, in any case, no activity means a hole switch after a few minutes. “Bucket hopping” can be a real fun way to fish. Without a shelter, you’re even more mobile – but it’s easy to get cold. For a number of years, I’ve worn Ice Armor everything: coats, hats, thermal underwear; the works. It’s a lot easier to stay warm and dry than it used to be, and this gear doesn’t weigh you down, so we march on longer. It’s imperative for the bucket crowd. Cover more water; find the motherlode.

I’m a firm believer that the most important thing an ice angler can do to catch more perch is to cover as much water as possible. Granted, the “seek and destroy” method isn’t for everyone. But, with today’s gear, it’s feasible for a lot more anglers. Every ice fisherman has had days when it seems like the first drop down a new hole scores a keeper. Now imagine what would happen if you constantly fished new holes…

-Joe Balog
Clam Pro Staff