by Capt. Dan Manyen

  "Putting it all together"

continued... mentioned so far are actually just helpful tools and only a means to an end. That end being, attracting and catching fish in an extremely cold underwater environment.

This fact alone dictates that the fish will move around and feed a lot less, especially in the dead of winter, when it's the coldest...

Compound this by the fact that you'll also be pretty much stationary all day or at least fish only a couple spots.

So having the tools that get and keep you as close to the willing biters as possible, as well as the ability to locate these favorite feeding or travel routes again, is imperative.

My own native ice fishing grounds is on Saginaw Bay. So, I know all the old time favorite spots and have become a lot better at locating and choosing the lures that seem to appeal to Ol'Marble Eyes, both on the Bay and in its river tributaries.

And having a good Loran Map (Paper or CD) and GPS, has been my most used and helpful tools in the last 10 years.

As mentioned above, often flat, featureless areas have become some of my favorite spots on the Bay.

But after the trip is over, I always figure out just where on the Bay I was fishing, especially if I had good luck. I do this at home on my computer, by using my Lat/Lon coordinates from my GPS, in conjunction with my CD loran map of the Bay.

Many times, clues as to why I'm catching fish in these certain spots comes to light because of these tools. It may be a deep water hump nearby I was unaware of.

Or a slight bottom contour or shelf that just may funnel these winter nomads in my direction.

Now, if I had to give an all time tip on technique when fishing Saginaw Bay, it would be stay close to the bottom. Six inches off bottom is as far up as I fish any kind of baits or lures. This applies to both the Bay and the Rivers.

I usually use one rod to jig with and the other hovers next to it with a live bait presentation.

My favorite lure to jig with is a Do-Jigger Spoon, made by the same people in Michigans Upper Peninsula who make the Sweedish Pimple.

Silver and Blue is my first color choice. I pinch a large Blue Shiner in half and the head part is placed on one hook.

The other rod usually sports a Gens Worm (Yellow/Chartreuse) with a Blue Shiner hooked slightly so it stays alive and active, between the dorsal and tail fin.

One is jigged, the other left hanging in that 2 to 6 inch from the bottom zone I mentioned.

The live bait seems to produce most often during the morning hours, and then the spoon as the day wears on.

Hands down, a jigging Rapala, Gold/Orange is the lure of choice on the river. I change the small hook on the belly to a bigger size for more bite when a fish does hit.

I also hook a whole small minnow through the head on one of the hooks. Small, sharp rips upward, then let it settle and wait, is the best action for success on the river.

Well, there you have it. Hope I covered most or all of the old ways and the modern day improvements, as well as some hints for your next ice trip.

Good luck and above all be safe.

Capt: Dan Manyen, Walleye Express

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