Hardwater
Fishing in January
Across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and most of Canada this is the heart of ice season. Walleye bite at dawn and dusk on structure, yellow perch and panfish roam soft-bottom basins, and pike hit tip-ups on weed edges. Fish sit deeper than at first ice and feed in short windows, so drill a line of holes and keep moving. In the South the water stays open: crappie school in deep brush and bass hold slow and deep. In the UK and Ireland it is prime time for pike and grayling, and roach feed on rivers during mild spells.
Ice fishing guide: where fish hold under the ice
Late winter
Fishing in February
Ice is at its thickest in the north, but oxygen runs low in shallow weedy lakes and the bite slows there. Target deeper lakes and areas with current or springs, fish light line and small jigs, and expect short feeding windows on calm, stable days. Further south things start to move: in Florida and Texas largemouth bass begin their pre-spawn push toward shallow flats late in the month, and steelhead run the Great Lakes tributaries. In England and Wales the river season is in its last weeks, and big pike are on the move.
Ice fishing guide: where fish hold under the ice
Late ice and ice-out
Fishing in March
Up north it is late ice: meltwater brings oxygen back, perch and panfish push shallow toward inlets, and pike feed before spawning. Honeycombed ice pulls away from shore, so go early in the day and never alone. At mid-latitudes the ice goes out, and across the South bass pre-spawn is in full swing, with crappie moving onto shallow cover. In England and Wales the coarse fishing close season on rivers begins on 15 March, while most stillwaters and canals stay open.
Ice fishing guide: where fish hold under the ice
Spring warm-up
Fishing in April
Ice-out spreads across the north, and many states hold their trout opening days. Crappie spawn in the shallows, and river walleye run to spawn — in several northern states and provinces the walleye season stays closed until May, so check the regulations. Fish the warmest water you can find: shallow, dark-bottomed bays that catch the afternoon sun. On UK stillwaters carp and tench start to wake up as the water warms, while the rivers remain closed.
Spawning season
Fishing in May
Largemouth and smallmouth bass move onto beds across the northern states, and bluegill follow. Minnesota opens walleye in mid-May, and walleye feed hard on shallow sand and rock after the spawn. Pike cruise weed beds, and trout rise to the first big hatches. Mornings and evenings on warming shallows are the best windows. Many areas protect nesting bass, so know the local rules before targeting them. In the UK tench and carp feed well on stillwaters.
Early summer
Fishing in June
Summer patterns set in. Post-spawn bass spread to weed edges and points, walleye move to structure, and panfish are everywhere. The best bite shifts toward dawn and dusk, with a lull on bright, hot afternoons. Topwater lures shine early and late. Lake trout sink toward the cooler depths as surface water warms. In England and Wales the river season reopens on 16 June, and barbel, chub and bream draw anglers back to the rivers.
Peak summer heat
Fishing in July
The warmest weeks of the year push fish deep or into shade by day. Fish early, late and at night. It is prime time for catfish, and bass hit topwater at first light before retreating to deep weed lines and docks. Walleye hold on deep structure and bite best in low light. On deep lakes a thermocline forms, and most fish sit just above it. In the UK carp and barbel are the summer targets, with the best sport at dawn.
Dog days
Fishing in August
Hot water and heavy weed growth make the middle of the day slow, but late in the month the nights cool and predators start to feed harder. Salmon begin to stage off Great Lakes river mouths and along the Pacific Northwest coast. Walleye and bass hold on deeper structure, and a slow presentation near the thermocline pays. A drop in temperature after a long hot spell often switches the bite on. In the UK barbel and chub fish well on the rivers.
Early fall
Fishing in September
Cooling water wakes the predators. Pike and muskie feed aggressively, bass chase baitfish in open water, and salmon run the rivers in numbers. The bite spreads through the day rather than only at dawn. Lakes begin to turn over as the surface cools, which can scatter fish for a few days. Bigger lures and slower retrieves start to out-fish summer tactics. In the UK perch and pike become the main targets as the weed dies back.
Prime fall
Fishing in October
For many anglers this is the best predator month of the year. Muskie and pike feed heavily before winter, walleye move shallow in the evenings, and steelhead enter the rivers behind the salmon. Short days and cold water concentrate the bite in the warmest hours. Big baits work: fish are fattening up. In the UK many club waters open for pike from 1 October, and big perch shoal up on deeper water.
Late fall
Fishing in November
Open water is running out up north: late in the month first ice forms in northern Minnesota and much of Canada. River walleye bite after dark, and pike and muskie keep feeding in cold water. Further south bass and crappie follow baitfish to deeper water. First ice can deliver one of the best bites of the winter, but it is also the most dangerous — fish only small, sheltered waters with confirmed safe ice. In the UK and Ireland pike, perch and grayling fish well.
Ice fishing guide: where fish hold under the ice
First ice
Fishing in December
Ice forms across the Upper Midwest and Canada, and first ice brings some of the best perch, panfish and pike fishing of the winter while oxygen is still high. Fish shallow weed edges and breaks, and check the ice as you go. In the South the open-water bite slows: crappie hold deep and bass sit on slow, deep structure. In the UK and Ireland winter is the season for pike and grayling, with roach and dace on the rivers in mild weather.
Ice fishing guide: where fish hold under the ice