More than 200,000 fans of this wonderful winter harvest activity will brave the wind and cold and try to catch their favorite species.
• Also read: A shortened season but very promising for Tomcod
These very popular little percids, which our neighbors call “panfish,” draw crowds because their white, firm, flaky, and delicious meat can be grilled, sautéed, pan-fried, baked, poached, enjoyed in soup, etc. In short, the whole table enjoys it.
Good advice
Last week I shared David Vadnais' various strategies for thwarting walleye early in the season. During our fishing trip interview, I asked this long-time contributor to Sentier Chasse-Pêche magazine to share some tips and tricks for catching the most sought-after fish in winter. Here's what this connoisseur, who makes more than 25 trips a year, had to say on the subject.
habitat
This olive green fish usually lives in shallow water. Most often, perch prefer a habitat at a maximum depth of 3 to 4 meters. However, do not hesitate to present your bait in less than 2 meters of water below the ice layer. Keep in mind that occasionally, if they feel threatened by a predator, they can dive more than 20 meters deep.
As lakes begin to become covered with ice, areas that still have aquatic weeds present and are green in color are favored. Especially in the shallow bays of a body of water. These locations are usually the first locations to freeze early in the season. Therefore, it is easy to take advantage of them early at the beginning of winter. It is also possible to find aquatic algae near the contour of the islands as well as near the tips in December and January. These places are, as some call them, incredibly attractive to bass. Even though there is much less food there than in summer, these areas still have plenty of marine life and small forage fish that are highly sought after to satisfy the appetites of these gourmets.
In the strip
In shallow water, perch live gregariously, meaning they move in groups of several individuals, usually of the same size. In addition, these places also serve as hiding places to escape predators. Also try your luck on the edge of a deep pit, above a bank or embankment that extends into the depths.
“If you don’t know where to start to find them, just fish near shore where there are still aquatic weeds. These sites are often a guarantee of certain success,” explains David Vadnais.
Promotion periods
Finding a productive sector is very promising, even if the expected attacks are not guaranteed. We need to understand certain behaviors of these percids. First of all, this species begins to become active early in the morning. The best time to catch them is usually morning. The action can be big in the afternoon, but is often interrupted by short and long breaks. At the end of the day it's pretty quiet. But occasionally David had many attacks until dusk.
Effective techniques
To be successful, you need to fish close to the bottom. Ideally, you should lower the bait between 30 and 60 cm above the ground. Many fishermen attach two offerings to their rig to increase their chances. In Quebec you can use a maximum of three hooks on a line, whether they are single, double or triple. To attract more fish to your presentation, decorate your hook with an artificial egg, maggot or dead minnow head. This additive stimulates all of the bass's senses of smell.
When choosing a line, Mr. Vadnais recommends a low gauge braided line, 4 or 5 lb/test, at the end of which he connects a P-Line HP Fluoro Fluorocarbon leader of 2, 3, or 4 lb/test. For a quick bait change, you can attach a small easy clip to the end of the line. It saves you from tying the knot every time.
Our expert highly recommends using sonar designed for ice fishing. There are several models available on the market to suit every budget. Garmin's Panoptix LiveScope is undoubtedly the most efficient currently available. This fish finder provides a highly detailed real-time view below your position and in front of you, up to 60 meters. The use of sonar in ice fishing is often groundbreaking.
For David Vadnais, a snowmobile is like a boat in summer, moving on frozen waters. Equipped with sonar/GPS and a Magnum sled, his Tundra gives him access to his best spots. Photo provided by Patrick Campeau
move
“Never be discouraged. When bass fishing, you always need to be mobile during your trips. Percid swarms travel continuously throughout the day. If you don't have any action after 15 minutes, don't waste your time there. Switch to another preferred area. Sooner or later, believe me, you will find a great place,” advises the experienced fisherman.
Offers
As for baits, you can opt for classics such as the Ice Nymph, the Tungsten Toad, the Lindy Frostee Spoon, the Quiver Spoon, the Lindy Perch Talker, the Syclops S00, the W10 Wabler, the Rattl'n Quiver Spoon, etc. Tri-color mini tube, the Atomic Teaser, the Sassy Stingum Mister Twister, etc.