Trout are a coldwater species and they remain active under the ice because the water is cold. You need to look for shallow flats of 4-8 feet deep, with soft bottoms. Trout will flock to the largest flats that are available during the winter months. They normally hang in approximately 10 feet of water, but as stated above, can be in shallow water as well. During the winter, the flats are well populated with minnows, crayfish, aquatic worms, and other small prey. These fish are some of my favorite to catch and I’ve spent a lifetime fishing for them.
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Because trout are coldwater fish and they are active under the ice, they will bite. It may take longer at night, but you will feel strikes. The trout are not as aggressive at night at some of the other species of fish, but they are there and can be caught. As long as you can handle the frigid temperatures, in some areas, you will have a good chance of catching a trout. Check out my highest recommended Ice Fishing gear Here.
I‘m going to provide you with some tips and tricks to help you be more successful at catching trout at night under the ice. I will also include 3 great places that have a good supply of trout in the winter time. I will give you a brief run down of rod/reel combos, line, bait, and lures. I’ll go more in depth in articles that are coming very soon, so watch for those.
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3 Popular Night Fishing Areas
If you want to go ice fishing, no matter what type of fish you are wanting to catch, your best bet is to go up north. The colder states, and Canada have amazing ice fishing. But, what about for trout? Let’s take a peek and see where you will need to travel.
Lake of the Woods: situated on the border of the United States (Minnesota) and Canada {Manitoba and Ontario). It is the 2nd largest freshwater lake, next to the Great Lakes. Besides lake trout, you can also catch walleye, perch, northern pike, and whitefish. During the frozen ice months, you will see hundreds of fish houses (also called ice houses) scattered around the Lake of the Woods. Some will be moveable ones, so that they can be relocated to where the fish seem to be each day.
Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan: This lake spans 145 miles and is extremely popular amongst Canada (and other) anglers. It has a few prime spots along the 145 mile stretch, to catch walleye, pike, rainbow trout, and lake trout. The trout that you catch here are known to be over 10 pounds. You will want to schedule your vacation in January or February, because that is peak season for trout. Make sure you have plenty of layers of clothing because it will be extremely cold at night.
Antero Reservoir: Located 100 miles from Denver, Colorado this reservoir has a diverse trout population. This includes rainbow trout (which are said to get quite large). Look into staying at the Mountain RIver Lodge for your accommodations. It is close to the water, and has all of the amenities that you could possibly ask for. Be very prepared to possibly catch a trophy sized rainbow trout, along with kokanee salmon, splake, and greenback cutthroat.
Most Important Items for Your Tackle Box for Ice fishing at night
Now I’m going to briefly touch on items for your tackle box and fishing or trout at night, under ice. You can find my recommended gear HERE. The anglers that prefer ice fishing, whether at night or during the day, count down the days until Jan 1st. This is the beginning, the opening day of lake trout winter fishing.
I stated earlier that the best time was January and February to catch trout under the ice.
Tackle & Bait for night ice fishing
You want to choose high visibility baits that are going to imitate the prey and forage that trout enjoy the most. If you are fishing in clear water, the trout can actually see your bait from quite a distance away. Stick to a white or color that imitates minnows. They are natural looking and highly visible. But do remember that trout are line shy. We will cover the line next.
Fishing line you should consider for ice fishing
When ice fishing, it is suggested that you choose braided line. It has less stretch, thinner diameter, and more strength than the traditional monofilament. With the almost no-stretch, you will be able to get a good hook-set in deeper water. Some less active trout, will hold at 20-30 feet deep, but will still strike your line if presented with the correct bait/lure.
Rods & Reels for fishing at night on the ice
For ice fishing, you want to use a longer than normal ice rod. These are going to help you when there are bigger fish on the ice. You will get more hook-setting power and more shock absorption when you are fighting the big trout. You want to make sure it is medium to medium-heavy action. The spinning reels will be more efficient for moving your bait around in the water. If you are going to be using heavier baits or baits with heavier hooks, then you will want a bait-casting rod/reel combo.
When you are fishing for trout at night, under the ice, some anglers prefer to use electronics. This makes it easier to spot the fish that are suspended throughout the water column. You can also choose whether or not to use leaders. This will be a personal preference.
Conclusion
Trout will bite at night, under the ice, when they are provided with the correct bait/lure. Do some extra research for the area that you are going to be fishing at. Also remember to check the rules and regulations and purchase your fishing license. Take plenty of warm clothes and other supplies so that there is no chance for hypothermia or frostbite.
Check back often, as we will be discussing more in depth, the items that you are going to want to have in your tackle box for catching trout. Whether it be day or night, ice or warm weather. We will do our best to provide you with all of the information that you need. Until then, Happy Fishing!
Check out these Recommended Ice Fishing Boots from Amazon.
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