The effectiveness of modern ice fishing tools is further realized when put to use by a group of anglers. A pair or group of fishermen, working together, can locate specific structure and active fish a whole lot faster than an individual, says On Ice Tour co-founder Chip Leer. It s amazing what a couple of anglers and a couple of augers can do to the ice. When we go out, our goal is to make the ice look like the surface of the moon. Having a bunch of guys 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 were planned. A good strategy begins on a map. Gather your crew before cutting holes and map the thing out. Highlight humps, circle sandbars, and reference rock piles. Ideally, everyone in the fishing party should carry a map.