Fishing Report 2-2-2022
Being Mobile
By Phil Jensen, PT’s Guide Service
We have all heard of the “dog days” of summer – those hot summer days when it seems the fish are not hungry at all. Well I think we have “dog days” of winter as well. Catching is always tougher this time of year but if you are willing to put in the work you will still catch some fish. And this year that “work” includes battling the snow, slush and high winds.
Panfish are a good go-to fish for this time of year. I like to use a very light weight rod with 2 or 4 pound test line and tungsten jigs. The advantage of tungsten is you can go super small and still have enough weight to get down quickly. The advantage of dropping your bait quickly is that most of the time you can get passed the smaller, aggressive fish that race up to your bait and get down closer to the bottom where the bigger fish are located. Look to old weed beds or small rock piles for your best action.
Crappies can still be found suspended over deep water. Using electronics is a must to find these schools of fish. Don’t be afraid to drill multiple holes and keep moving until your find the pod of fish. I like to drill a bunch of holes right from the start and that way I can keep moving and stay up with the school as they roam the area. Using my Lowrance Active Target I am able to cover a much larger area than I can with just a flasher. Jigs and minnows, jigs and waxies or plastics are all working to catch crappies.
We are headed down the final stretch of the walleye season. Keep in mind that a good evening or morning may mean catching 2 or 3 walleyes. Being mobile and drilling a lot of holes will usually be more productive than sitting in a permanent house this time of year but don’t get me wrong the warmth and comfort of a permanent house is very inviting. As I move around ice-trolling from hole to hole I usually have a tip-up or dead-stick set as my second line. When ice-trolling I will only spend a few minutes at a hole if I am not marking fish or bait on my electronics. Sometimes down-sizing your spoon or jig this time of year can be beneficial.
As we head into February, and supposedly warmer temps, get out and enjoy one of the many lakes we have here in Ottertail County. Check out some of the ice contests that are occurring and support the great organizations that are sponsoring them. Good luck and good fishing.
