Ok let me start this out by saying I am on a mission with the ice fishing as of late due to having several folks calling  or email me about guiding on the ice.   Before I do this I have been putting lots of time both on the back waters of the mighty Mississippi River and some lakes here in south east Minnesota.   

With this being said I have had some absolute great days on the ice.   Mainly on the big perch bite.  I have caught them on several small jigs, tip downs and bobbers with minnows.   I can tell you hour by hour it changed which technique they wanted to bite on.  Patients was definiatly what you needed.  As you can see by the pictures below they have been some really nice sized fish.  

Pictured below is Drew, my daughter Helen with her first time on the  ice and a few pictures of the ones we had for dinner a couple times.  

Water depths I have caught my fish in have ranged from 3-10 foot with most fish coming in the 3 foot areas.   Ice conditions have been different in each area ranging from 3-6 inches.  By the way when fishing the back waters and the river is rising be extremely careful by the shorelines I fell through twice  in one day.   Just to my knees but still dangerous.    I will be out quite a bit next week doing my homework on more lakes before I start guiding on the ice    If anyone sees warmer weather give me a text email or call and we can get the boat out too    

Good luck out there guys and gals !!!!!! 

Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Pool 3, Pool 4, Walleye Fishing, Sauger Fishing, Red Wing, Hastings