Fishing Articles & Pro Fishing Tips

Over the span of his professional fishing career, Author and Outdoor Educator Joel DeBoer has authored many, many top-notch articles on the "How To's" of becoming a better angler. On this page you will find just a sampling of some of his articles and tips - we hope you enjoy!

CLICK HERE to return to the Index of Fishing Tips & Articles!

Late Ice Northern Pike – An Exciting Winter Treat
Fishing Articles & Pro Fishing Tips >>

Winter is slowly releasing her grasp on the North-Central Wisconsin area, and with the arrival of warmer weather, many exciting fishing opportunities arise. Ice-fishing in our area has been, for the most part, relatively consistent this winter.  Walleyes, panfish, and northern pike have all provided excellent angling opportunities for the hard-water angler, and the action will only improve in the coming weeks.
 
One of the best times for ice-fishing is during the "late ice" period. One of the most popular species to pursue during this time is the northern pike.  As the days grow warmer and longer and the ice slowly begins melting, pike activity increases dramatically. Not only does the action increase, but an angler's odds of catching a trophy-class fish go up also; in fact, each year our area sees northerns caught and released in the 40" class range.  When looking to target these toothy fiends, look for larger flats containing weeds, wood, or a combination of the two. The best flats will be near deeper water, and typically are in depths of eight feet of water or less.
 
I prefer to use Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Ups for this type of fishing as the design helps to block sunlight from the hole.  When fishing in shallow water, unnatural sunlight can often spook fish. In addition, the Pro-Thermal has a large bait clip that acts to hold oversized minnows from creating false trips of the flag.  Rig your shiners or sucker minnows on a red VMC cone cut treble hook.  There's something about the red hook that big fish really seem intrigued by - it could mean the difference between an "okay" trip and an "excellent" trip!  In this shallow water, set your bait so that it is well above the weeds or wood.  Pike cruising the area will be able to pick-out the struggling meal silhouetted against the ice; you want your presentation to be over them, not under them. Be sure to have a long needle-nosed pliers along as well as a jaw spreader to help making the unhooking portion of your day as quick and effortless as possible.
  
Whether its slab crappies, bull bluegills, gator pike, or big ol' walleyes, this is a great time of year to be fishing here in our area.  As exciting as the fishing can be, it's important to use common sense and to keep a level head.  While there is currently plenty of ice locally to drive on, depending on the body of water, ice conditions will change rapidly with the arrival of warmer and more sustained spring-like weather. Use your head - if it doesn't look safe enough, don't chance it; it's always better to live to fish another day!

• Back To Top Of Page •

• Site Navigation Map •