Find the fish.
Build the ice rig.
Choose a species and winter pattern, explore likely holding areas, then click between setups to see exactly how to rig up.
Pick your target.
Find your starting spot.
These are general seasonal patterns, not real-time fish locations or measured depths. Adapt to your lake's contour map, oxygen/weed conditions, baitfish and sonar marks.
Choose your fish
Set your ice conditions for fishing strategy
These choices describe fishing patterns only. They do not report ice thickness or ice safety.
WALLEYE · MIDWINTER
Jigging spoon
Start with a presentation that can reach the marked depth and be worked slowly.
Finished rig only — no knot-tying steps shown. Reference images are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs. Verify bait attachment and hook placement for your actual tackle. Diagrams are not to scale.
Water-depth ranges are broad starting examples, not measured fish locations or safety information.
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These depths and seasonal patterns are lake-dependent starting points, not verified fish locations or catch guarantees. No ice conditions, thickness reports or community-sourced safety ratings are provided on this page. Check species, bait, and line restrictions in your fishing jurisdiction.
Fish are moving. Your strategy should, too.
Look for structure
Begin with lake contour maps and likely transitions: weeds, rock breaks, points, basin shelves, or nearby forage.
Watch the water column
Crappie can suspend well off bottom. Perch often use flats. Use marks and baitfish to set the actual lure depth.
Make smaller adjustments
Change your bait size, pause or location if nothing responds. A fish seen on sonar isn't a promise of a bite.