Winters lay a thick white blanket on landscapes Winter opens up an opportunity for ice fishing enthusiasts to lay a thick white blanket on landscapes. One such icy gem is Lake Winnibigoshish located in Minnesota. You don’t need to keep yourself locked up in your room during the snowy winters, instead, you can enjoy fishing in the ice on that crispy winter day. Imagine instead of staying at your home spending a boring evening you go out and explore the wonders of ice fishing and enjoy a tasty fish. Sounds like a perfect plan right? But you don’t have enough information, don’t worry I gotcha!
Lake Winni
Lake Winnibigoshish, often referred to as Lake Winni, covers 67000 acres of Northern Minnesota. It is the fifth largest lake in Minnesota which supports a great diversity of fish species. It is a die-hard favorite place for people obsessed with ice fishing.
Ice Fishing
It is a practice of digging up a hole in the snow, that is covering the waters, for fishing. This type of fishing is very popular among anglers, some of them mainly opt for ice fishing and take holidays during winter months to enjoy this wonderful sport in full swing.
Equipment for Ice Fishing
Ice fishing rods
Ice fishing rods are different from other rods. They are on average 24 to 36 inches in length. These rods are typically made of graphite or fiberglass as these materials can fight against the biting cold environment. They also stay flexible in minus temperatures and support your fishing move.
Ice fishing reels
Ice fishing reels are stronger and smoother than other reels. Mainly two types of reels are used for ice fishing, these are spinning ice fishing reels and inline reels. Reels that are specifically designed for ice fishing are less prone to freezing and have built-in lubrication systems. They don’t have sharp edges where water could freeze.
Tip-ups
Tip-ups are devices that hold the line and inform you when the fish is in your trap. You will need these devices for passive ice fishing.
Ice fishing lines
Every kind of line can find a chance of its usage while ice fishing. You can use mono, braided or fluorocarbon ice fishing lines, but choosing wisely is important. At the end of the day, you must opt for a line that works the best for you.
Ice fishing gloves
Water can absorb your body temperature more than 20 times faster than air, and while ice fishing you are already standing in a temperature below freezing point. Hence protection is crucial for survival in such conditions. Ice fishing gloves are an important accessory to carry along while you are ice fishing, or else your hands might stop moving in that chilly weather.
Sledge
You need this for transporting your tools and warm clothes on the ice. You can keep your fishing essentials, blankets, and portable furniture in it.
Chisel or auger
Either of these will work best for opening up a previously dug hole or drilling a new hole. This can also be used to check the thickness of ice
Scoop
It is a spoon-like tool to scoop out the ice
Best Time for Lake Winni Ice Fishing
As the name suggests, ice fishing is a fishing method that works best in thick snowy winters. The best time for Lake Winni ice fishing starts in late December and lasts throughout March with January and February being the prime months.
Early winters
The time during late December and early January is the start of icy winters. The ice fishermen should make sure that the ice can support their weight before stepping on it.
Mid-winters
The months of January and February are the prime fishing months. Fish are actively cruising and feeding, also the snow is thick enough to handle the weight of a grown human along with his equipment.
Late winters
The spring season starts in March, however, if the ice hasn’t melted, it can support your weight. You should keep track of the weather and be prepared for changing conditions.
Fishing in Lake Winnibigoshish
As mentioned earlier, lake Winni supports a great diversity of fish populations. The techniques used are different for each species and their residing location is also different.
Walleye
Walleye are the primary targets of most anglers when ice fishing in Lake Winni. They are known for their elusive nature but with suitable techniques and some patience one can get lucky.
Location of walleye
Walleye prefers underwater locations like points, drop-offs, and humps. It is better to find out the prime spot beforehand and you can use GPS for this purpose
Jigging technique
The most effective technique for capturing a walleye is jigging. You need to experiment with aggressive snaps, subtle movements and snaps to get the hang of it.
Perch
Perch are abundant in Lake Winni and are famous for their schooling behavior which makes them easier to catch.
Perch schools
The key to getting lucky while looking for Perch is to locate their school. You might need to dig several holes to find this treat but it will be worth it once you come across a bunch of perch all together.
Tackle for perch
It is advised to use light tackle for the finicky feeders like perch. Fly fishing can be very effective in this regard.
Jumbo perch
Jumbo perch is often a preferable target because of its size and palatability. Catching a jumbo perch can be a delightful experience.
Dig up holes
Just like other perch, jumbo perch likes to school up, but they can also be found at scattered locations so you will have to put in some effort to find it.
Tackle
The tackle and bait selection for jumbo perch is no different than smaller ones. They are opportunistic feeders.
Northern Pike
Northern Pike is notorious for their voracious appetite. They also strike hard, but here are the trips to ace your hunt for Pike
Pike location
It prefers to move towards areas with more vegetation. You can find it in submerged structures, weed beds, and drop-offs.
Set tip-ups
This technique is the most effective one for catching pikes. Set multiple traps with live or frozen bait at different locations to increase your chance of winning.
Fish Cleaning
It is very important to maintain proper hygiene. Here are a few tips to ensure a safe and sound environment when you ice fish in Lake Winnibigoshish
Cleaning tools
Be sure to bring these tools and equipment for cleaning your fish. You will need a sharp filet knife, a cutting board, and a container to store your cleaned fish
Move away from the hole
Go for a suitable place for cleaning purposes as you wouldn’t want the fish waste to go back into the water and create problems for wildlife
Disposal
Do not throw the unnecessary parts back in the lack as this will deteriorate the water quality, instead bring a plastic bag for waste disposal
Washing
Rinse the fish thoroughly to remove debris and water. Then place the fish on board and remove the scales. Wash the filets once again after cutting to ensure proper hygiene.
Fishing License
There are fishing rules and regulations in Minnesota regarding the number and size of fish. You also need a fishing license for fishing in New Hampshire if you are above 16. There are licenses for different periods and based on how many people you are going with. You can easily apply for an online license now.
Icehouse
Aside from portable shelters, people also rent houses for protection against chilly weather. Ice houses are small structures made on ice with holes already dug. These shanties or houses are a good option for keeping yourself warm while ice fishing. Many hotels and rentals provide such facilities.