Last-Chance Panfish Tips To End The Ice Season On A High Note

March is a special time for panfish anglers. As the ice melts, yellow perch, crappies, bluegills, and pumpkinseeds move predictably toward shallow spawning bays. Panfish are generally active this time of year, and many species are often found in similar areas. This presents anglers with the golden opportunity to catch a lot of fish in a day. Here are 8 tips to help you make the most of your late-ice panfish outings.

As mid-winter draws to a close, panfish migrate from deeper flats and basin areas to shallow, protected bays and coves. These spawning areas are characterized by submerged plants, sand and gravel bottoms, and other appealing features like sunken sticks, brush, reeds, cattails, and rock.

Generally, panfish move into progressively shallower water within spawning bays as the late ice period progresses. However, weather conditions play a significant role.

Warming, stable weather usually prompts panfish to move shallower. Conversely, late-ice cold fronts can push panfish slightly deeper.

After a cool night, a group of anglers might begin their day by catching panfish from brush, weeds, or rock piles in eight feet of water. Then, as the day warms and meltwater flows into the bay, fishing six feet or less may be critical to staying on active, biting panfish.

Late-ice offers some of the best action of the entire year for panfish, but the action isn’t always high-octane. After enough days on the ice, anglers will definitely experience times when panfish are ultra-aggressive and willing to hit almost any lure. But anglers should also expect encounters with inactive fish, especially when clear water and high angling pressure are factors.

Since late-ice panfish abide in shallow water, stealth is key. Even a small noise can temporarily shut down the bite. While you don’t need to obsess over it, on-ice observations suggest anglers who can be exceptionally quiet tend to catch the largest and most panfish during tough, shallow-water bites.

Do yourself a favour and be prepared to use finesse tactics if necessary. At the very least, equip yourself with a sensitive ice rod featuring a strike indicator, such as a 13 Fishing Tickle Stick, and a good selection of downsized jigs and micro spoons. Things like the Tungsten Bugbite Jig, Tungsten Fly Jig, Tungsten Torpedo Spoon, and Bull Spoon.

To increase their success, anglers should have a variety of baits that mimic the different types of food panfish consume. When invertebrates are a top choice, the Tungsten Bugbite Jig, Tungsten Fly Jig, and Tungsten Bullfly Jig can save the day. The Tungsten Roach Jig in black, white, or glow chartreuse, as well as the Tungsten Nymph Jig, are also must-haves. Trimming down a black or green pumpkin Ned BLT, and then working it on the bottom, will dupe crayfish-eating perch.

This time of year, some of the biggest and most aggressive panfish are suspended, often swimming just beneath the ice. For this reason, it’s important for anglers to work a bait throughout the water column, which is simple to do. Instead of letting the bait fall freely to the bottom, incrementally jig the lure from the top down, then repeat the process on the way back up.

If you pattern fish relating to a specific depth range, you’ll definitely want to focus on this section of the water. Occasionally, though, it’s still a good idea to work a bait throughout the entire column to ensure you’re not missing out on big fish.

Being mobile and fishing a lot of holes is as important at late ice as it is during the rest of the hard-water season. The approach is critical, for example, when searching for panfish within a large spawning bay.

On the other side of the coin, there are times when it’s better to stay put and be patient. Think about skittish panfish in a shallow area. In this case, being quiet and letting the fish approach you can yield better results than hopping holes to try and keep up, which inevitably makes some noise and also involves guessing what direction the fish are moving.

In reality, most late-ice outings involve a mix of these two approaches, along with variations. Neither method is superior; it’s simply about determining the best degree of mobility for the current situation and the fish’s mood.

To find the best ice fishing spots for panfish at late ice, start by locating the spawning bays where they’ll be staging ahead of spring. Once you’ve pinpointed these areas, keep the tips above in mind to catch plenty of panfish and end the hard water season on a high note.