2014's Frigid Winter Actually Improves Conditions
For Ice Fishing in the Garden State!

Story by Tom Vassallo

February traditionally brings the coldest days of the year in New Jersey. Most anglers will be found maintaining their reels, building plugs and tying flies in anticipation of the warm breezes that signal the beginning of spring. The football playoffs are over...the boat is shrink wrapped in the marina or driveway...and the heater or fireplace are more an inviting site than the center of a Northern Jersey frozen lake!

However, what many anglers fail to realize it that many New Jersey freshwater species remain active and feed quite readily during winter's icy grip. Below the frozen surface of the lake, muskellunge, pike, pickerel, trout, bass, trout and yellow perch are actively seeking food that will sustain them through the long days until the spring thaw.

With that being said, I must admit that I have only braved the elements to seek these game fish on a few occasions in my younger days. Ice fishing is primarily a waiting game. Once the holes are augered out, and the tip-ups baited... that wait can be quite cold if you have not prepared with the proper clothing and equipment. 

I have found in my limited experience with this sport, that live minnows seem to be the bait to use and the bait of choice for most ice anglers. It is probably most important to find a Bait & Tackle shop in the area you will be fishing who stock the live shiners or minnows you need to seek these winter predators. However, some anglers prefer artificial minnow jigs or grubs when targeting certain species like yellow perch. (I actually believe the jigging also helps to keep your mind on the fishing and not the cold weather!) It is probably not a bad idea to use a mix of the two techniques, especially when fishing a new lake or location to determine what is working. Or, better yet, talk to your local bait shop owner to get expert advice on what the "locals" are having success with.

The next item on your ice-fishing list should be a few "tip-ups". These devices basically replace the fishing pole when you are on the ice. Most will contain a brightly colored flag that will "tip up" when a fish strikes the bait...hence the name. The tip-up contains a spool of line and is not usually able to be "reeled in". The angler will hand line in the fish and use the line itself to lift the fish through the hole in the ice. Still, some ice fishing "purists" prefer to use small ice-fishing rods and reels with jigs or live bait. These will tend to cost a bit more than tip-ups, so unless you plan on making this a regular activity, you may wish to stick with the tip-up.

It shouldn't need to be said, but before heading out, put on thermal underwear and layers of clothing. Sometimes on the ice if there is no wind and the sun is shining brightly, you may need to remove some layers of clothing...but normally it is VERY cold, especially if the wind is coming across the icy surface of the lake. For extreme conditions, ice-fishing  shelters are sold that can house your gear and even a small portable heater! Lastly, a sled of some sort (even a cheap, plastic children's sled) can be invaluable in dragging all that gear with you onto the lake.

CAUTION: In my experience, NO ice should ever be considered totally safe!  Until the thickness is determined by the angler, do NOT let your children or friends onto the ice. I have skated on ice in old South Jersey cranberry bogs that would be plenty thick near the edges but too thin near the moving part of the water. It is recommended to drill close to the edge of the lake to get an initial measurement of the ice thickness before proceeding onto the surface of the lake. It is further recommended to check the ice thickness whenever moving to a new location on the lake.

Most anglers believe that you need to ice fish in depths of 10-15 feet of water and these are normally locations that will produce fish. however, I have caught pickerel through the ice in water of 2-3 feet in a Southern New Jersey beaver pond! Once you have drilled your hole (or chopped it with a hatchet...OLD school!) you should bait your tip-up. Use a bait holder hook just like you would when fishing in the spring, and hook the minnow or shiner just below the dorsal fin. This is the best way to present the bait when ice fishing. A split shot is necessary and I place one right above the hook. This will allow you to drop the bait to the bottom and then raise it about 6"-12", so the bait will be suspended above the bottom.

Nearly all species that can be caught through the ice can be caught using minnows. Smaller minnows will, however usually produce smaller fish. Many anglers prefer to catch yellow perch when ice fishing. Although it is a smaller species, a bucketful can make for a tasty fish fry after returning home. There is also the chance of catching larger yellow perch when ice fishing in New Jersey. Though most perch are on the small side, New Jersey still holds the all tackle world record which was landed in Bordentown in 1865, and weighed 4 pounds, 3 ounces. It is still the longest-standing, freshwater sport fishing record. Maybe...just maybe...there is a monster still lurking under that ice!

Yet, some ice anglers are in search of bigger game. The use of larger golden shiners as bait can result in some impressive size muskies and pike. Should you attempt to catch these larger species, be certain to use an 8" auger, as the girth of these fish cannot fit through smaller 4" and 6" holes. Personally I have found chain pickerel to be some of the most active and willing fish to bite while you are ice fishing. These fish still seem to be fairly active in these freezing temperatures and I have landed them through the ice in both North Jersey and South Jersey. Just remember that the fish will be much more sluggish in attacking its prey. Pickerel, pike and muskies will normally "scale" fish before swallowing. During the spring and summer months, this happens pretty quickly. However, when taking them through the ice, patience is needed and smaller fish will require quite some time to take the bait. I personally practice catch and release with pickerel just as I do with bass and most other freshwater fish. When handling any fish that will be returned to the lake, try not to handle them roughly or drop them on the hard icy surface. We want them around when we come back in the spring too!

So just because it is February, and there is ice on the pond, it does not mean that the fish have stopped eating...it means most anglers simply are not fishing for them! If you have never tried ice fishing in Jersey, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I do have to say, although it may be only for the hardiest of anglers, it is a type of fishing that you will find quite unique in style and excitement!