A single angler can catch a few fish, but a group fishing strategy can be even more successful. For me, ice fishing success is predicated on finding fish in the fastest way possible. The modern ice fishing tools are even more effective when used by a group of anglers. It s amazing what a couple of anglers and a couple of augers can do. A bunch of anglers running helter-skelter across the ice isn t the answer either.
Organization is a crucial ingredient in covering and dissecting a piece of water.
The most productive ice fishing trips are those that are planned. A good strategy begins with a group meeting and a hydrologic lake map that shows depths and structure. Gather your crew where it s warm, talk over strategies and map out a plan before hitting the ice. Highlight humps, circle sandbars and reference rock piles. Ideally, everyone in the fishing party should carry a map.