NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: https://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1542285
16 Nebraskaland • December 2025 Sometimes the holes that have already been cut are a hint as to where you can find fish that day, like these rainbow trout at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park's CenturyLink Lake. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND IN THE FIELD After ice-fishing a couple of sandhill lakes last winter with no luck, I thought about what I could have done differently to catch fish. If you're like me, you have limited time to fish, and every bit of information and preparation can help make trips on the frozen water more successful. First off, I should have checked the Fishing Forecast and used the interactive maps on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website. These resources alone would have helped me target species in a particular waterbody as well as locate possible structures and lake depths. Here are more ideas to make your trips more successful, ones I should have paid more attention to. Mark the Spot In previous years, I ice-fished in the same places I fished in the warmer months. I didn't get to that this year, and a little homework at these sandhill lakes would have done me some good before ice-over. Marking GPS locations of where you've caught fish is helpful for finding them during the rest of the year. Also, downloadable lake maps from LakeMaster, Humminbird, Omnia Fishing, onX Fish or Navionics can help you find places to fish before you even leave the house. At the least, take photographs so you can refer back to landmarks to re-create a great trip from the past. When and Where to Fish Fish during peak feeding times, like mornings and evenings, and in front of fronts. Pay attention to barometric pressure as well and the fish's response to these conditions. Fish finders can also make ice-fishing a lot easier than simply guessing where the fish might be under the ice. But if you have to fish blindly, look for other anglers and fish nearby but not close enough to intrude. If no one is around, look for previously made holes and hope the maker had some luck in those spots. If someone is around, ask if they have had success. You can also ask locals or baitshops and marinas about locations to fish. And if none of these options pan out, it might be time to purchase a fish finder. Other Equipment Bring tip-ups and several ice fishing rod/reel jigging combinations so you're prepared to catch larger fish such as catfish, bass and northern pike, along with smaller species like bluegill, perch and crappie. Move when the fish aren't biting and be prepared to change lure and bait depth. Try different lures and bait for different presentations. You never know which presentations fish will like on any given day, so bring different lures and legal bait to switch things up if needed. By Julie Geiser ICE-FISH WHERE YOU'VE NEVER FISHED BEFORE