How deep do I fish when Ice Fishing?

Probably one of the most common questions I get about Ice fishing is how deep do I fish and where in the water column are the fish? The answer? It depends. Not trying to be a smart alic, but place and depth is different for different species of fish. In general, 90% of the fish I pull through the ice come off the bottom. In fact I often try to bounce my jig off the bottom. As a general rule, stay no more than two reels off the bottom. The exceptions are rainbow's and kokanee.

Kokanee: are almost never on the bottom, in fact the hardest part of finding kokanee is finding the depth. Once you catch one, you can usually catch more by keeping your lure at the same depth. Look to start at 40' of water and move deeper fishing the whole water column as you move.

Rainbows: In my experience the biggest rainbows come from or near the bottom but it is not uncommon to find the fish traveling in suspended water. You may be missing out by not trying different depths. While rainbow's can come from deeper water I would focus on 10-20'

Browns: Browns almost always stay on the bottom. I like to spend 90% of my brown fishing time one crank off the bottom. If you miss a fish, quickly check your bait and put it right back down. More often than not you will get another chance at that fish. More important than depth is structure. Look for rock points and ridge lines that might extend into the water.

Lake Trout: Keep your bait right on the bottom. In fact I like to let my jig rest completely on the bottom for a few seconds every now and then. The jigging motion needs to be slower and a lot more deliberate. Keep in mind that some of the softest bites turn into the biggest fish. The biggest fish I have ever caught through the ice hit so soft that it barely moved the line across the hole with absolutely no downward pressure. Look for flatter spots often in front of bays and coves. Start around 30' and work out up to 60' or more.

The biggest problem unsuccessful fishermen have is being stationary. If the fish aren't biting, MOVE. It is not uncommon for me to move 3, 4, 5 times in the course of a morning. Even if it is only a few yards. Sometimes even a small move will take you out of moss, over a rock pile, out of a rock pile, etc. Even with a hand auger, what does it matter how long it takes to drill a hole if you aren't catching anything anyways. So, drill some holes, have some fun, and enjoy a fresh fish dinner tonight. Ice fishing can be some of the most productive fishing and we still have a few weeks of great fishing left.