How To Catch Catfish Through The Ice

Ice fishing season is here! Well, sort of. Mother Nature isn't exactly sure how she feels about it yet. Depending on where you are located in the Midwest, you could be enjoying the open water again right now. But for the lucky ones still walking on solid ice, it’s time to do some Ice Cat’n!

Ice fishing season is here! Well, sort of. Mother Nature isn't exactly sure how she feels about it yet. Depending on where you are located in the Midwest, you could be enjoying the open water again right now. But for the lucky ones still walking on solid ice, it’s time to do some Ice Cat’n!

What the heck is Ice Cat’n? Well, it’s basically just a simple term used by catfishermen who enjoy targeting catfish through the ice. Now I know ice fishing can be very foreign to some, but to many, it’s just another way of fishing. And while it’s not at the top of the popularity scale for everyone, I do believe it still deserves to be recognized. So if you haven’t done it yet, I strongly urge you to give it a try! Yes it's true, open water catfishing can be awesome in the winter, but for those whose rivers and lakes freeze, we have to learn to adapt. Instead of traveling south every weekend or taking the winter off (which is just plain ridiculous), we have learned over the years how to catch catfish through the ice. But don't worry, Ice Cat’n is really very basic. Just a few pieces of equipment, warm gear, bait and you’re set! In this blog, I’ll guide you through the basics on how to catch catfish ice fishing while using Whisker Seeker Tackle gear.

To start off with, let's talk about location. Since rivers tend to fluctuate too much to always have safe ice, many ice anglers prefer to go on lakes and ponds. I’m not discouraging rivers by any means, but if you are new to ice fishing, I would suggest looking for smaller bodies of water or less current for your first couple of outings. Before going out, make sure to do your homework. Looking for underwater points or mid-depth flats with deeper water close by is key. Or even just looking for structure can be what you need. Winter cats are typically just slowly roaming around all day long from deeper water to feeding flats, usually hanging out as a group. A good tip for locating cats more easily on the ice is to remember to take your boat on that body of water in the fall and mark the areas you are catching cats. This isn’t always something that crosses your mind in the fall, but it could make for a great excuse to take the boat back out one more time before putting her away. Once you are on the ice and have pinpointed your location, you will use your auger to help you cover water, we like to make a grid pattern. Start at your shallowest spot and keep drilling out every few yards in a straight line till you have reached the deepest part. If you don't have a lake map, just simply drilling a hole and checking the depth with your depth finder will help figure out your pattern. This grid pattern idea also works across points/ledges/structures.

Depending on the size of fish you will be targeting, you will want a 6-10” auger. We find that an 8” hole is about perfect for most places, but if we know we will be targeting trophy-size cats, we take our 10”. The last thing you want is to harm the fish in any way while trying to rake them through a tiny hole. Been there, done that, it's not cool. Next in line is your depth finder. Don’t let your head spin on this one. Yes, there are many new flashy toys and cameras out there that would be so amazing to have, but all you really need to be able to do is check depth and mark fish activity. So don't fret about what you have or don't have.

Okay, now let's dive a little deeper into gear! The first thing you’ll need is a quality ice rod. I recommend the WST Whisker Stick Ice Rod. This 38” medium heavy ice rod was designed for hard water catfishing. Made with a solid glass blank, this rod can put the power to any size fish! Along with a soft tip for detecting delicate bites, the Whisker Stick can be used for jigging or pairs great with an automatic fisherman. Including your choice of spinning or casting, this is truly one of my favorite rods!

When choosing a line, we like to run anywhere from 6-20lb line. First, decide if you will be jigging or setting your rod in an Automatic Fisherman/Jaw Jacker (a concept of using a spring-loaded trigger mechanism that allows the force of the rod to set the hook). If you are using an automatic fisherman, then a heavier braid would be ideal. If you are jigging, then a lighter braid or mono is great.

When we know we will be targeting cats, we will use our own homemade jaw jackers. However, always be mindful of state regulations. Some states don't allow automatic fisherman, but many do. For example, many places we go allow 3 rods, so by setting 2 Jaw Jackers out, there's an opportunity to cover water while still giving you the option to jig with your 3rd rod. We personally love this method, especially when you can get a group of buddies to join in. To make things more exciting, we have equipped our Jaw Jackers with window alarms that go off when the rod is tripped. This is where the fun starts! Once you hear that alarm go off, it’s a race to the rod! And tripping your buddy is always allowed...wink wink.  

Next up, is how to rig your rod. One thing you always want to keep in mind with ice cat’n is that smaller is usually better. That goes for both hook sizes and baits. During the cold, catfish have slower metabolisms, so they won’t usually go after large meals or presentations, even the big trophy ones. So when using an Automatic Fisherman, here are two options I recommend. For starters you can do a scaled down version of a Carolina rig, using a 1/0-4/0 hook, a short leader line and a ¼ ounce bullet sinker. Another option is using the Whisker Seeker TomKat Jig. This comes in two choices: the TomKat and the MP-TomKat. They each offer their own unique shape, while the MP includes a metal prop for extra vibration. However, both are designed with the same size 6 treble hook and EZ-clip for easy hook changes. The TomKats also work great for when you want to jig. But never let your ego get in the way of wanting to use big jigs for big cats, sometimes you truly have to let go of all your instincts and use that tiny little panfish jig when your other options aren’t working.

Alright, let's talk bait. Again, no difference here. Smaller is better. First figure out what you think they want. We like to have options. A few choices we use are frozen shad guts, cut bluegill, live/cut minnows or shiners, or even downsizing to a wax worm (when jigging). Now again, remember when you are cutting your bait, it's going to seem weird that your chunk or filet is only the size of your thumbnail, but that's what you want! This can be a huge struggle for many open water, trophy catfishermen.  

When it's time to drop down baits, I like to drop all the way down to the bottom first, then I raise up anywhere from a couple of inches to a couple of feet off the bottom when using our jaw jackers. I never set the same depth for all of my rods. When jigging, I will do an arrangement as well. Pound the bottom a little bit to stir up mud, then raise and jig higher. One other thing to be mindful of if you want to use jawjackers is the air temp. If it is below freezing outside, your holes will freeze shut and your jawjackers will be pointless. You can attempt to use hole covers or just simply set some rods up inside your nice heated shack.

When the time has come, and you have hooked into your cat, always try to be respectful to the fish. Although catfish can be a little more hearty than let's say, a walleye, you still want to be as quick as possible with your release. Try to keep them off the ice if possible and have a buddy ready with a phone so you can get your proof for the social media world. Then when you are ready to release, you may have to help tuck the fins back down as they may not want to lay them down on their own.

Some last tips for success are to be patient and prepared. Ice Cat’n requires patience. So I like to bring along a panfish rod to jig with to keep me distracted. Plus, jigging of any sort will help attract cats your way, so it's a win-win. As far as being prepared on the ice, you should always have the mindset of Better Safe than Sorry. Always, always wear a float suit, have a safety rope available, cleats if needed for walking, and a First Aid kit handy.

Ice fishing for catfish can be a rewarding experience with the right gear & techniques. So, don't let the cold weather keep you away from your favorite hobby. Bundle up, grab your Whisker Seeker Tackle gear, and head out onto the ice for some exciting catfish action!