I am still trying to nail down the factors necessary to determine and pattern feeding times and locations within the water column for ice fishing success. Moon phase, air temps, cold fronts, water temps, snow cover, clouds, wind, time of day, time of year, etc.
For open water spring, summer, and fall fishing, all of those factors are just automatically ingrained in my system. Instinctively I know where they are on a daily basis, why they are there, and how to catch them. I dont have to sit and analyze, think about, or ponder all those factors, its just automatic.
Ice fishing on the other hand does not come automatic. Every day I am wondering why the fish are doing what they are doing? Why where they hear one minute and gone the next, why were they biting 10 minutes ago and not right now, too many unknown variables that I dont have a firm handle on yet?
Real clear lakes are hard to consistently catch fish on. I thought it might be low DO in some of them, but when I put trout in them, I can catch pretty much unlimited trout at all depths at all times, even on days that I cant get any bluegill to bite.
No real difinitive answers for you there Cecil, but just a bunch of rambling that maybe will lead to some theories or ideas from other ice fisherman?
