December means the inevitable Winter Solstice, Christmas decorations, and dreams of presents under the tree. But for anglers, there’s a holiday of a different nature about this time—first ice. According to Grant Sorensen, host of Superior Angling TV show, “There’s always some built-in adventure and anticipation with the start of the ice fishing season. First ice can often be the best fishing of the whole year.” Here’s why good December ice should be on your list for Santa this year.
December is traditionally when first ice forms on lakes in the Northern Wilds, suddenly changing the fishing landscape drastically. Deep freezes harden muddy wilderness trails, and turn shallow lakes into walker-friendly fishing platforms. Lakes are at their highest accessibility of the year until deep snow arrives. And you don’t need expensive gear or a snowmobile to go explore.
To start out: the safety lecture. We’ve all heard it before—“Don’t go out on thin ice.” The Minnesota DNR recommends a minimum of 4 inches of ice before accessing lakes on foot. Basic safety precautions are imperative, and easily applied: wear a life jacket any time you’re on the water, carry ice picks around your neck as lifesaving tools if the ice fails, and drill holes frequently to test ice depth early in the season. Remember, no ice is 100% safe.
Once strong ice is established, and you’ve taken the proper precautions, Sorensen recommends focusing your fishing on shallow, weedy lakes. These lakes are often good for panfish and game fish alike. For Sorensen, “If you can find weeds around first ice, you’re going to find fish. Early in the ice season, baitfish are going to be in those weeds, and the game fish, like walleye, pike, and perch, are chasing them.” Furthermore, shallow lakes form ice earlier in the winter, since they cool off faster, leading to safer ice conditions.
High water oxygenation is another key reason why early ice makes for great fishing. Eric Pehling, an army vet and veteran angler who grew up fishing around Keewatin, Minn., explains why: “Photosynthesis is still occurring through clear, early ice. Plenty of sunlight still gets into the water, and the oxygen isn’t sinking yet. This oxygen keeps fish active in the shallows.” As we get into January, weeds will usually die out due to snow cover on the ice and lack of light penetration, at which point fish will go deeper. “When you can get out on a decent amount of ice early in the season, and find a good weed bed, that’s a key location to fish,” explains Pehling.
Besides great fishing potential, early ice also means adventure. Of course, conditions have to align just right, but when they do, with prolonged cold and little snow, both the woods and lakes transform into fast travel highways. You can get to far-away lakes on foot thanks to hard ground once the wet Northwoods freeze up. And once on the ice, you can even ice skate to your fishing grounds if you get glare ice.
This sense of early-ice adventure spurs both Pehling and Sorensen to try harder-to-reach destinations that get little fishing pressure much of the year. “The fish have had plenty of down time,” explains Pehling. “Boats have been off the water since mid-fall. The fish have had a chance to recuperate and rest, and now they’re ready to feed.” Furthermore, notes Pehling, “As the ground starts to firm up, puddles and ponds freeze over, so you can access lakes faster and easier.” You’re not going to run into snowmobiles or other machinery on early ice, making this time of year perfect for low-tech fishing, hoofing in your equipment on foot.
The lower amount of gear needed for early season ice fishing is also a major advantage. “It’s not that cold yet, so you don’t need to bring all that extra gear,” Pehling says. Early ice also means relatively thin ice, thus drilling equipment can be kept quite simple. Sorensen sees early ice as being a perfect entry-level time for the sport: “Go buy a $100 hand auger. Or even just a $50 chisel. A $20 rod can suffice. Early ice fishing is accessible for everyone.” Drilling or chiseling ice is less work at this time, giving you greater mobility and flexibility to move around and find fish.
Both Pehling and Sorensen have a favorite early ice destination—the Duluth-Superior Harbor. This is urban fishing at its best. Walleyes are actively moving through the harbor in December, making their seasonal migration from Lake Superior up the St. Louis River for the upcoming spring spawn. “It’s local and it’s pretty low key,” says Sorensen. “It’s some of the best ice fishing in the state for a week or two. It’s overlooked by a lot of people, and it’s nice because it’s so accessible. You can park on Park Point and just walk out there. You don’t need a snow machine. And you can catch a big fish.”
One thing is for certain: ice is ever-changing and finicky. Timing is everything, and we need to wait patiently for strong ice to form. But once the season is on, fish will be easier to get to, and easier to find and catch than at practically any other time of the year. Sorensen’s rule of thumb: “I save my bigger walleye lakes until after Christmas, when the ice firms up there. Late November and early December, look at those panfish lakes. Look at those small lakes, because you’re going to catch fish and you’re going to have fun.”
