How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby

By Mack's Pro Angler, Chris Marcolin

Ice Trout for a Derby Win!

With ice fishing derbies becoming more popular, it is important to remember that to be a winning angler, you must maintain mental flexibility. Here are my top fishing techniques that will help you increase your chances of winning in an ice fishing Derby this year. 

PICTURED ABOVE:

2024 Bonaparte 2^nd Annual Fishing Derby
Chris Marcolin  1^st Place Triple Fish Division -Also shown, 1^st Place Youth, James Magnuson, 4th Place Adult Division winner, Ryan Marcolin, and Mack's Pro Staffer, Eric Magnuson. The Event Coordinator for Bonaparte Lake Resort is Eric Cruz.

UPCOMING ICE FISHING DERBIES:

Gift Certificates from Mack's Lure for the winners!

• Bonaparte Ice Fishing Derby
• Moulson Ice Fishing Derby

Preparation is Essential

Long before even warming the rig up to head out to the lake, a derby winning angler will have throughly researched and gathered information for the lake they plan to fish.

You will want to build on the information you may already know about the fishery you plan to target. It is key to know where the fish will be and what regulations you will need to follow when fishing this lake. While at home, pull out the nautical charts of the lake and identify key features and transition zones in detail. Plan your access point to park and mark out several spots to hit. Research recent catch reports online to find what has been working for others.  Once you have done your homework, you will be energized to make it happen!

Avoid This Mistake

You’ve spent all the time and effort to learn this lake for the derby and you’ve dialed in the failsafe lure and bait that’s been working for you. One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is failing to adapt to conditions. Staying adaptable and looking for ways to change things up is essential to achieving success.

What Just Happened?

You are now fishing in the same areas with maybe 20-30 fellow fishermen. Fish are sensitive to shadowing, sounds, or vibrations. This is especial relevent in shallow sections of the lake where the fish are likely to be hanging out.

While this was the hot spot yesterday, your underwater camera is now showing a mass exodus of rainbow trout and brookies blowing through the feeding areas. Things have changed but your confidence hasn't waned. Then the next school passes through without so much as a glimpse at your lures.

PRO TIP:  This is the trigger point to test your skills to relocate and reset. Patience has always been a good rule, however, this is not the time to stick it out. It is time to move. 

Your alternative spot may not be one of those you pre-fished, but it has the same characteristics. Knowing what your targeted fish prefer gives you much more control over the above-ice disturbances. After you have made the change, you elevate your chair back from the hole and take note, with satisfaction, that the nearest fisherman is beyond a comfortable talking distance from you. Perfect. Now you have set yourself up for success. Game on!

Secrets to Success - Choosing the Right Rods

Some of my favorite rods for ice fishing are around four feet in length with a medium to heavy action, usually in a composite or fiberglass blank. These are the rods I use for burbot, trout, and even the smaller species like perch and kokanee.

PRO TIP:  I have found that by using a longer ice rod you can use the extra lift to take up line while scooping larger fish out of holes with the second hand. This length is also short enough to be used in most ice huts.

When using an auto-setting device like Jaw Jackers, I prefer a shorter fiberglass pole to accommodate the sensitive strike settings. I also prefer to use spinning reels with larger handles when using gloves. As long as a fresh line is used with adequate strength and a good drag setting, most fish will make it to the hole.  

Lure Selection and Fishing Tactics

I like to categorize my lures into two categories. This is based on behavior phases that fish tend to go through. This is something that is constantly changing with the day and with the season depending on environmental changes and feed.The two categories are aggressive and passive.  

• Aggressive lures I consider as those that rattle, flutter, shine, vibrate, or have bright colors such as silver, chartreuse, and orange. These are what work well with species such as Burbot, Rainbow trout, and Eastern Brook using a series of jigging sequences followed by a short pause to allow a take. Generally, I will tip with a small nightcrawler for scent. 
  
  
• With the passive lures, which can be comparable to Dead Sticking, the presentation is smaller with darker subtle colored lures tipped with a bait scent. This tactic would set a pole motionless near the aggressive pole to pull a preference from fish throughout the day. Dead sticks are also commonly used with burbot to get subtle biting fish to commit. In some cases, the larger fish whether burbot or trout may take more motionless smaller presentations than a larger lure setup.

PRO TIP: It is a best practice to actively change and adapt your presentation to what is working. If one technique is drawing more fish hits, then make the switch to drive the bite.

Final Thoughts  

With each fishing trip, we should challenge ourselves to learn something new and pass it on to others especially the next generation of anglers who are eager to learn and need someone to show them what works!