Mid-Winter “Thaw” & Current Fish Behavior

Hello ice anglers!

Wow, what a week we’ve had in the Otter Tail Lakes area!  We actually had a palm tree sprout on my yard—it has been so warm! In the meanwhile, the surface of the lakes have been transforming from snow-covered to water-covered.

A lot changes happen in the fishing sphere when environments go from
dark-water to a well-lit water. Fish are very sensitive and responsive to particular light levels in the winter—it directly influences vision (panfish and perch are acutely aware of the predators that seek them and when they are more likely to chased).  Light penetration also contributes to photosynthesis, and, ultimately, the production of oxygen by aquatic plants.  Oxygen rich environments stimulate and change fish activity as well.  These are just some of the things that change when the snow cover leaves a lake’s surface—changing fish behavior.

That being said, be careful to assume that the fishing will be the same as it was last week.  Walleye fishing has become more difficult since the “thaw” but the panfishing has become stronger.  When the panfish are ganged up and charging—northern and bass aren’t too far behind.  I love the pike fishing right now.

Try and find some panfish or perch and set tip-ups with large minnows like 5-6 inch shiners or spearing-decoy sized suckers.  There are large northern hanging around those schools of panfish and large northern eat big stuff.  Use a quick-strike rig with a steel leader with the large minnows—either on rattle reels or tip-ups.  For panfish, drill holes and start fishing.  There are a ton of lakes in Otter Tail Lakes Country, and they don’t always fish the same.  Panfish may be using deep holes in a lake’s basin on one lake, while the panfish on the lake across the road may be stacked on mid-depth flats—you have to look.  The panfish have really enjoyed the thaw and brighter water, so if you ‘re not catching them at a good pace or marking them often—you should move.

Good luck fishing this week in Otter Tail Lakes Country!

Ross Hagemeister

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