Ice fishing tips: safe ice, best times to fish and how to find fish

Ice fishing tips for beginners and regulars: how thick ice must be, first ice vs late ice, the best time of day, weather and moon for ice fishing, plus gear and species tips.

Ice fishing is fishing with the hard part (getting to the fish) made easy and the important part (staying safe) made essential. Here's what makes the difference between cold, empty days and flags going up.

Safety first: how thick does ice need to be?

General guidelines for new, clear ice (white or snow ice is about half as strong):

Ice thickness	Holds (roughly)
under 4 in (10 cm)	Stay off
4 in (10 cm)	One person walking
5–7 in (13–18 cm)	Snowmobile or ATV
8–12 in (20–30 cm)	Small car
12–15 in (30–38 cm)	Medium truck

Check thickness with a spud bar or auger every few steps.
Avoid inlets, outlets, current, springs, pressure ridges and dark spots.
Carry ice picks, a throw rope, and wear a flotation suit or life jacket.
Never go alone, and tell someone where you'll be.

No fish is worth going through the ice. Check with local bait shops: they know the ice better than anyone.

Best time of the ice season

First ice: often the best fishing of the winter. Fish are still active and roam shallow weed beds. But ice is new: be extra careful.
Midwinter: the toughest period. Thick ice and snow cut light, oxygen drops, fish slow down. Fish deeper and smaller.
Late ice: as melting begins, oxygen and light return, and fish feed heavily before spring. Another excellent window, but ice gets weak quickly.

Best time of day to ice fish

Dawn and dusk for walleye, perch and pike. The first and last 1–2 hours of light are prime.
Midday for panfish (bluegill, crappie, perch) on sunny days when they feed in the weeds.
After dark for crappie, burbot and walleye. A light down the hole attracts baitfish.

If a solunar major lands at dawn or dusk, that's the window. See walleye fishing tips and best time to fish for crappie.

Weather and pressure

Stable weather and steady pressure give the most consistent bite.
Before a storm: a falling barometer often triggers a feeding spree.
After a cold front: high pressure and bluebird skies make fish sluggish. Downsize and fish slower.
Snow cover dims light under the ice, which can make walleye bite longer in the day.

More in barometric pressure and fishing.

Ice fishing and the moon

Ice anglers have noticed for generations that the days around the full and new moons produce better bites, especially for walleye at dusk. Under the ice, light is limited, so the moon's effect on light matters less than on open water, but moonrise and moonset still often coincide with short feeding bursts. The 2026–2027 winter moon dates are in the solunar fishing calendar.

Finding fish under the ice

Drill many holes, and move if you don't get a bite in 15–20 minutes.
Fish structure: drop-offs, weed edges, humps, points.
Use a flasher or sonar to see fish and how they react to your bait.
Start shallow at first ice, go deeper midwinter, come back shallow at late ice.

Gear checklist

Auger, skimmer, rods (short and light), small jigs and spoons, tip-ups for pike and walleye.
Bait: waxworms, spikes, minnows.
Flasher, shelter for windy days, heater with ventilation.
Ice picks, cleats, spud bar, rope, warm layers and spare gloves.