Ice fishing for bass?

[CrashVector]

I just watched grumpy old men again, and it got me started thinking:

 

Being as I've never been ice fishing nor talked to anyone who has, are they ice fishing for bass?

 

Also, why are ice fishing combos so "wimpy" compared to even ultralight panfish setups?  

[MN Fisher]

Bass are occasionally caught, but most ice-fishing is for panfish.

 

Northern and Walleye are also targeted, but with stouter rigs...or even spearing for northerns.

 

BTW: a lot of that film was shot here in MN - I actually caught a glimpse of Ann when I was in downtown Minneapolis one time in the middle of filming the first one.

[Fallser]

I haven't ice fished since I had both knees replaced and the surgeon told me no more ice fishing.  Generally, we targeted panfish.  We did use minnows for bait and occasionally caught a largemouth, but we just released them.  On the jigging rod I used 8 or 10 lb test with jigs tipped with meal worms or maggots.  For tip-ups we used minnows for bait, with a 10 or 12 lb test leader.  We often targeted chain pickerel and that's what we caught the bass on.

[MickD]

My son targets largemouth bass on a small man-made MI lake, finds them in the deepest holes, uses jigs, small jigging spoons, can see them approach the lure on the graph, then when the two lines merge you feel a very soft, subtle, bite.  

[tbone1993]

Been a minute since I've watch the movie. If you wanted to be accurate to their area most likely fishing for walleye, perch etc.  Unless you're fishing a pond or something I don't think people actively target bass , it's more of a by catch on tip ups. Depends on the lake though if it's gills and bass only I'll probably jig for bass.   As for the rods you have to look at the baits. Some of the baits weigh less that the hooks on a Texas rig.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, tbone1993 said:

Been a minute since I've watch the movie. If you wanted to be accurate to their area most likely fishing for walleye, perch etc.

The shanty scenes were filmed on Lake Rebecca - which is WNW of Minneapolis.

Lake-Link lists these fish as being present...so they really could have been after anything.

 

"When fishing, anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Brown Bullhead, Channel Catfish, Green Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Muskie, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White Crappie, Yellow Bullhead, Yellow Perch, Pumpkinseed"

[gim]

As @MN Fisher stated the primary targets are various species of panfish, walleye, and occasionally northern pike. I’ve never heard of anyone specifically targeting bass through the ice. They would likely not respond well anyways since the water is so cold and if you hooked one it would feel like a wet shoe.

[CrashVector]

Thanks for the info everyone

 

I was just curious, as it looks like a relaxing way to spend a dreary cold day....in an ice fishing shanty with a wood stove slowly burning for warmth, etc.

[MN Fisher]

40 minutes ago, CrashVector said:

Thanks for the info everyone

 

I was just curious, as it looks like a relaxing way to spend a dreary cold day....in an ice fishing shanty with a wood stove slowly burning for warmth, etc.

Forget the wood stove - far too much chance of setting the shanty on fire. Go with one of these instead...indoor safe.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mr-Heater-9000-BTU-Portable-Radiant-Propane-Heater/3353726

Uses either 1lb cans or can be hooked to a 20lb tank.

[detroit1]

Yeah, watching tv shows ice fishing makes it look like fun. Shanty, heat, underwater cameras and all....i just don't want to spend the money for it.  ?

[Deephaven]

I've caught a couple bass ice fishing, but cringe everytime I do as it means others are and they are eating them.  Can't say I take any enjoyment from ice fishing.  The lack of casting makes it completely unfun for me.  That being said, drinking a few beers with friends on the lake is fun and if there happens to be a rattle reel on the wall I am totally ok with it.

[gim]

26 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Can't say I take any enjoyment from ice fishing.  The lack of casting makes it completely unfun for me.

The lack of mobility is the worst part for me. I know you can move and drill more holes, but it takes effort and time. The idea of just sitting there waiting for a fish for lord knows how long just doesn’t appeal to me. I prefer to move my boat to the fish instead.

 

That being said, it is very popular up here. More so than fishing in a boat. It’s cheap and easy to get on the ice to fish compared to buying a bass boat.

[CrashVector]

3 hours ago, detroit1 said:

Yeah, watching tv shows ice fishing makes it look like fun. Shanty, heat, underwater cameras and all....i just don't want to spend the money for it.  ?

 

 

I'm just a wintertime kind of guy lol!  For ME, never having done it myself, I think it's more the IDEA of it than actually doing it that makes to seem so appealing.

 

Sitting in a cozy little shanty with a small fire, good beer, and some frank Sinatra playing in the background, etc.

 

Plus...you catch a fish every so often lol

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, CrashVector said:

and some frank Sinatra

Roger Wittaker

[Mbirdsley]

On 4/2/2022 at 5:50 AM, MickD said:

My son targets largemouth bass on a small man-made MI lake, finds them in the deepest holes, uses jigs, small jigging spoons, can see them approach the lure on the graph, then when the two lines merge you feel a very soft, subtle, bite.  

Ice fishing specifically for bass Is starting to become a thing.  
 

I’ve caught them accidentally on tip ups fishing for walleye or pike.  Usually they are good size too 

[do_hallfishing]

I love Grumpy old Men haha, that said I'm in north central Pa. close to NY border, and I target bass specificly using live minnows on tip ups do well with them also big perch.

[soflabasser]

The Farmers Almanac is predicting a colder than usual Winter, so there will be plenty of time to go ice fishing.

[gim]

1 minute ago, soflabasser said:

The Farmers Almanac is predicting a colder than usual Winter, so there will be plenty of time to go ice fishing.

I wouldn’t trust that thing as far as I can throw it.

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn’t trust that thing as far as I can throw it.

I can't remember the last time that OFA was correct in it's winter prediction for us up here.

[soflabasser]

Last Winter was much colder than usual, I will not be surprised if the Farmers Almanac is correct for this Winter being colder than usual. Let's see what happens. Hope all of you are enjoying this Summer, it seems to be passing quickly. Fall is approaching, which is a great time to fish.

[gim]

3 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Last Winter was much colder than usual, I will not be surprised if the Farmers Almanac is correct for this Winter being colder than usual. Let's see what happens. Hope all of you are enjoying this Summer, it seems to be passing quickly. Fall is approaching, which is a great time to fish.

The thing a lot of people forget is that we also had the warmest fall on record here in the north last year. Winter never even really showed up until almost Christmas.

 

Fall is my favorite season though, wished it would last longer.

[soflabasser]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

The thing a lot of people forget is that we also had the warmest fall on record here in the north last year. Winter never even really showed up until almost Christmas.

 

Fall is my favorite season though, wished it would last longer.

This past Winter did seem to come later, but it was much colder than usual. Fall is my favorite time to fish in Northern waters, and it is a great time to catch some very nice fish in Florida.

[Darth-Baiter]

I actually think Livescope is a good idea for ice fishing. What else is there to do?  Stare at each other and talk about my feelings?   Nah, I’d watch the screen. 
 

My bud moved to Minnesota and invites me to fly in to try it.  I want to experience a real winter one day.  I’d try it for sure.  Love to catch a burbot or whatever that fish is.  

[roadwarrior]

Geez...

Ice fishing?  It's August in the Mid South. We don't have enough ice in January to camp

on a pond, let alone a lake. I'm not planning a trip to Minnesota this winter either.

 

 

 

                                            

[Standard]

I got my first LMB through the ice last winter, a nice 18.25" one.  Was going for panfish when I saw a big red flash on the livescope, dropped a spoon down the hole and it got slammed.  Got 2 more after that, must have found their hidey-hole.