How Deep Are They Biting?

Fred Noddin

This is one of the most common questions I hear when fishing, be it summer or winter. And it is true that fish will bite at different depths on any given day. I know better than to give an absolute answer to why they bite at different depths. Water temperature, wind patterns, moon position, the availability of bait fish and predatory fish all influence when and where gamefish will be found. Rather than try to accurately predict fish location, I’ve adapted a strategy of trying many depths until the fish tell me where they are and if they are willing to bite a hook.

A depth sounder can help with locating fish, but it isn’t necessary. Rarely have I found a trout lake where trout are not willing to take bait. When I am ice fishing I try to find a fishy location, like a point, and cut a line of holes from shallow to deep and back again. Once a pattern of holes is drilled, I’ll place a line in shallow and another out deeper to see if or where the action is. I consider shallow water anything less than 6 feet. My first deeper set will generally be around 12 to 15 feet.

On both lines I’ll fish my bait right next to the bottom. However, if after a half hour I don’t get a bite, I’ll bring the shallow line half way up the water column and crank the reel handle on the deeper set up one complete revolution. This will give me two new fishing depths. If after another 20 minutes or so I still don’t get a bite, I’ll bring the deep line up another full revolution and move the other line to another shallow location. This winter, I’ve found that most of my trout action has occurred in 12 to 15 feet with the line 4 to 6 feet off the bottom. For my reels, that’s around two complete revolutions off the bottom. By using this technique of systematically trying various depths and locations I’ve enjoyed some excellent results. Give it a try next time you are out on the ice.

How Deep Are They Biting?

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(3) A well-stocked Fly Box

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(24) Walleye Tips

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(41) How Deep Are They Biting?

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