Most ice anglers lean on the same comfort lures every winter: small tungsten jigs, spoons, and deadsticks. They catch fish, sure—but if you’re relying only on those, you’re leaving a pile of bites on the table. The real secret weapo …

Knowing the nuances of spring-fed waters can lead you to better fishing at times when trout fishing gets tough or nonexistent on other waters. Freestone rivers that rely on a lot of elevation and snow runoff can slow down quite a bit in the winter, a …

If you’ve ever wondered how to tip-up fish for lake trout the right way, you’re not alone. Nothing gets your heart pounding like seeing a flag snap up over deep water, grabbing a cold, wet line, and feeling a heavy lake trout bulldogging …

When winter locks in and the lakes glaze over, Wisconsin doesn’t go quiet—it comes alive. Shanty villages grow on Lake Winnebago, anglers bounce across Green Bay in search of reef walleyes, and headlamps trace slow circles on inland lakes …

When winter locks Michigan in ice, the state doesn’t shut down—it just changes gears. Shanty towns pop up on big bays, the sound of augers replaces outboards, and anglers chase everything from jumbo perch to trophy walleyes and lake trout …

Ask a serious hardwater angler where they’d go if they could pick one state for the winter, and you’ll hear the same answer again and again: ice fishing Minnesota. Wheelhouses lined up on Mille Lacs, plowed ice roads stretching for miles …

When winter locks up your local waters, ice fishing for crappie on small lakes might be the most overlooked way to stack up fast action and big slabs. Small lakes are quieter, easier to learn, and often loaded with crappie—but they’re als …

When the first safe ice forms and the lake goes quiet, early ice fishing for bluegills can be as hot as panfishing gets all year. Those first few weeks of safe ice often deliver aggressive fish, shallow patterns, and fast action—if you know whe …

Ask any serious winter angler, and they’ll tell you: if you want to stay on active fish all winter, you need to understand early to mid-season ice fishing for walleye. Walleyes don’t sit still under the ice. They slide, shift, and transit …

When winter locks up Lake Erie and the crowds of trollers disappear, the diehards know the fun is just getting started. This lake is home to an incredible walleye population, and the anglers who dial in the right ice baits for Lake Erie walleye can e …

You know the scene: first safe ice, perfect conditions, fish are snapping—and someone on the ice is fighting a dead battery, dull auger, and rusty jigs while the bite is on. Dialed-in pre-season ice fishing prep is what separates that guy from …

If your minnows keep freezing, your waxies are turning to mush, and your bites die as pressure builds on the ice, you’re not alone. Many anglers still rely almost entirely on live bait in winter—and they’re quietly getting outfished …