Have spots ready: Don’t explore new water with kids in tow. Visit areas you’ve scouted that have safe ice and have potential for plenty of biting fish.
Live bait is best: Tipping panfish jigs with maggots or a piece of nightcrawler goes a long way to helping beginners get bites. Minnows do the work for you when set beneath tip-ups and are an important addition to lures if after walleye.
The next best thing: Carry some scented soft baits. Last year on an impromptu trip where we didn’t have live bait, a sliver of Berkley MaxScent on a small jig helped my kids catch moody perch.
Go for numbers: Kids want action. A day filled with popping tip-up flags and hammer-handle sized pike trumps icing a few big fish. If your kids are like mine and prefer actively jigging, get some ultra-light gear and target panfish using small spoons or ice jigs.
The sonar game: Watching fish on a sonar or an underwater camera is fascinating for kids and good entertainment. Be sure to teach them how to use electronics to tweak their jigging and catch more fish. They’ll catch on quick.
Watch the lean over: Kids love to lean over a hole and watch as a fish is brought up. Don’t let them do it. An unbuttoned bait can quickly become a dangerous projectile.
Pick your day: If kids get cold, your day is done. When possible, fish on a mild winter day. My family’s best outings have been from mid-March on. Earlier adventures are better in a heated shelter.
Have some quiet time: When fishing shallow, keep noise to a minimum as best you can to prevent spooking fish. Don’t let this ruin the fun, though. Ice fishing shouldn’t feel like being in a library.
The snack-time diversion: This is a no-brainer for most parents, right? Bring plenty of food and drinks to keep youngsters’ energy up and in good spirits. Munchies are also a handy distraction should the fishing action wane.
Focus on the experience: Catching fish is fun, but it’s far from the only ingredient for an enjoyable adventure. To fresh eyes, ice fishing is a world of wonder — you are walking on water, after all. Pulling an ice sled, studying patterns on the ice, using an ice scoop to clean holes, and getting hot chocolate on the way home are just a few highlights for my kids.
End it on a high: Aim to finish fishing while everyone’s still in a good mood and wanting more. Do this and your kids will have fond memories of the trip and likely be eager to do it again soon. Staying for “just one more fish” can be a slippery slope.
Safety sense: Keep auger ice blades covered and off-limits to kids. Only walk on solid, clear ice that’s at least four inches thick. Bring a first aid kit, and leave an itinerary with someone at home.
Pro Dad tip: Experiential learners may not heed your advice to not put their boot down an ice hole or jump in slush. Have extra boots and socks. Really, an entire change of clothes is a good idea. At the least, have some milk bags to combat wet feet.
Originally published in the Nov.-Dec. 2023 issue of Ontario OUT of DOORS
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