| Matt Johnson Outdoors Seeing Your Catch |
| Matt Johnson Outdoors |
By: Matt Johnson
We spend much of the ice
fishing season targeting fish
in deeper water. We rely
heavily on our flasher units to
tell us whether or not there
are fish below us and if those
fish are interested in our
baits. We also drop down
underwater cameras that
allow us to partake in the
underwater ecosystem. We’ve
become accustomed to using
artificial or technological means to determine what’s going on
below the ice. Now, let’s give those machines a chance to
cool off and use what we’ve had all along – our sense of sight.
Sight fishing is nothing new to ice anglers. Sight fishing is a
staring contest between you and the fish. Here we are, sitting
above a hole cut in the ice staring at a wary bluegill, just
waiting for it to take our size 10 jigs. This is as real as it gets.
Everything is real time and what you see is what you get,
there is no guessing. There is just something magical about
actually watching a fish take your jig. “Now you see it, now
you don’t.” You have to love that expression when sight
fishing, because it’s so true. Panfish are notorious for inhaling
and exhaling tiny morsels in a split second. Your helpless jig
is now in the realm of the bluegill and its fate is entirely up to
that plate sized trophy. You sit intently waiting for a reaction
from the flutter below. You hold your breath when you see the
fish move in and then suddenly you see a set of gills flare and
the jig is gone. Set the hook! A tussle with a “bull” bluegill
never felt so good in your life. Now that’s sight fishing.
Sight fishing is both productive and fun. You become a part of
the underwater world and the underwater world becomes a
part of you. Fish of all sizes and species use shallow water
areas during late ice. Largemouth bass, northern pike,
muskies, walleyes, perch and of course panfish, dwell in
shallow water areas and will relate to the weeds at late ice.
Now is the time to key in on the excellent fishing that the
shallows can bring, and what better way is there then to
embark on a day of sight fishing. You become as giddy as a
school child when fish appear and every fish, no matter the
size, gets your blood pumping. Focusing intensely while a
sunfish sniffs your bait only to watch a monster pike fly by at
mach speed is no doubt a sight to be told, but that’s a
common occurrence in the shallows during late ice. Watching
a swine largemouth bass inhale a gallon of water, along with
your jig, will provide excitement enough for an angler of any
level. Fishing is about fun and excitement, and sight fishing
has a surplus of both.
Locating sight fishing areas is rather effortless. I like to look
for shallow green weeds and areas where you find panfish
during the early spring. Panfish like to congregate in these
shallow areas and their activity level during these times is
skyrocketed. I personally like to call it the Late Ice Bonanza,
because those panfish turn on the feedbags and become
highly aggressive as the winter wears down. Once you find
these spots, you’re going to want to punch a series holes over
the immediate area. The reason I like to punch several holes
is because when fishing shallow water the fish are spookier,
and if you decide to make small moves you don’t have to fire
up the auger and scatter the school. So, position yourself over
a hole and flip over the portable fish house and begin your
journey. A portable fish house is a must when sight fishing
because you need to block out as much light as possible
when trying to look down the hole. I close up all the windows
of my portable to ensure the best results.
Sight fishing is a great way to get the kids hooked on the
sport of ice fishing. A chance to actually see a fish swim by is
exhilarating to any young angler. Now, add on the fact that the
kid can actually watch the fish eat the bait and you just about
guaranteed yourself an ice angler for life. So, enjoy the Late
Ice Bonanza and try sight fishing if you haven’t already. The
underwater world is waiting!!
We spend much of the ice
fishing season targeting fish
in deeper water. We rely
heavily on our flasher units to
tell us whether or not there
are fish below us and if those
fish are interested in our
baits. We also drop down
underwater cameras that
allow us to partake in the
underwater ecosystem. We’ve
become accustomed to using
artificial or technological means to determine what’s going on
below the ice. Now, let’s give those machines a chance to
cool off and use what we’ve had all along – our sense of sight.
Sight fishing is nothing new to ice anglers. Sight fishing is a
staring contest between you and the fish. Here we are, sitting
above a hole cut in the ice staring at a wary bluegill, just
waiting for it to take our size 10 jigs. This is as real as it gets.
Everything is real time and what you see is what you get,
there is no guessing. There is just something magical about
actually watching a fish take your jig. “Now you see it, now
you don’t.” You have to love that expression when sight
fishing, because it’s so true. Panfish are notorious for inhaling
and exhaling tiny morsels in a split second. Your helpless jig
is now in the realm of the bluegill and its fate is entirely up to
that plate sized trophy. You sit intently waiting for a reaction
from the flutter below. You hold your breath when you see the
fish move in and then suddenly you see a set of gills flare and
the jig is gone. Set the hook! A tussle with a “bull” bluegill
never felt so good in your life. Now that’s sight fishing.
Sight fishing is both productive and fun. You become a part of
the underwater world and the underwater world becomes a
part of you. Fish of all sizes and species use shallow water
areas during late ice. Largemouth bass, northern pike,
muskies, walleyes, perch and of course panfish, dwell in
shallow water areas and will relate to the weeds at late ice.
Now is the time to key in on the excellent fishing that the
shallows can bring, and what better way is there then to
embark on a day of sight fishing. You become as giddy as a
school child when fish appear and every fish, no matter the
size, gets your blood pumping. Focusing intensely while a
sunfish sniffs your bait only to watch a monster pike fly by at
mach speed is no doubt a sight to be told, but that’s a
common occurrence in the shallows during late ice. Watching
a swine largemouth bass inhale a gallon of water, along with
your jig, will provide excitement enough for an angler of any
level. Fishing is about fun and excitement, and sight fishing
has a surplus of both.
Locating sight fishing areas is rather effortless. I like to look
for shallow green weeds and areas where you find panfish
during the early spring. Panfish like to congregate in these
shallow areas and their activity level during these times is
skyrocketed. I personally like to call it the Late Ice Bonanza,
because those panfish turn on the feedbags and become
highly aggressive as the winter wears down. Once you find
these spots, you’re going to want to punch a series holes over
the immediate area. The reason I like to punch several holes
is because when fishing shallow water the fish are spookier,
and if you decide to make small moves you don’t have to fire
up the auger and scatter the school. So, position yourself over
a hole and flip over the portable fish house and begin your
journey. A portable fish house is a must when sight fishing
because you need to block out as much light as possible
when trying to look down the hole. I close up all the windows
of my portable to ensure the best results.
Sight fishing is a great way to get the kids hooked on the
sport of ice fishing. A chance to actually see a fish swim by is
exhilarating to any young angler. Now, add on the fact that the
kid can actually watch the fish eat the bait and you just about
guaranteed yourself an ice angler for life. So, enjoy the Late
Ice Bonanza and try sight fishing if you haven’t already. The
underwater world is waiting!!
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