Moving quickly, frequently

[Hamilton Reef]

Ice fishing expert advises moving quickly, frequently

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Many ice fishermen believe if they don't get bites quickly, it's time to move. Most define quickly as 15 minutes, 30 tops.
Dave Genz, one of the best ice anglers in America, has a different definition.

"One or 2 minutes is all the time we give them," he said. "Most people don't move enough. They sit in one spot. But in the daytime, fish usually aren't very active. You might be over a school of 10,000 bluegills, but only a few are going to bite."

http://www.freep.com/article/20081218/SPORTS10/812180475/1058

[Clinch]

For me it depends. If I'm crappie fishin it seems you dont have to move. Gills, I will hole jump all day. Perch, I found you can stay put and the fish will come to you, but I have hole jumped for them and did well. So I would say if your gill fishin than hole jumpin is definitly key. I have out fished many friends who just want to sit in one spot and jig all day for gills.

[DE82]

2 minutes is kinda crazy....IMO but I move a lot, I don't stay in one spot long, that being said I find it REAL hard to believe this comment "You might be over a school of 10,000 bluegills, but only a few are going to bite."

[icefishermanmark]

I'm with Dave on this one. With my new flasher and fish trap, I don't wait for the fish to come to me. Being mobile is so important.

[Ricky Missum]

Finally found a huge(not10,000) school of crappies' and it was holding some huge slabs and we counldn't get anyone of them to hit anything.(Thru the ice) I'm sure when they did turn on it was a big feeding frenzy? Have sat over a large school(on soft water) waited(after throwing everything at them) and when the bite was on it was topwater only, and some very nice smallies. It was just before dark and that bite didn't seem to last long(certainly, not long enough!)

[Ricky Missum]

Two minutes doesn't seem very long(don't usually time it) But if I got several holes in a area, and any are producing I don't like to spend alot of time at any one hole. I do agree with the above statement, if the crappies are in the area, I'll stay put.

[Fishbone]

"One or 2 minutes is all the time we give them," he said. "Most people don't move enough. They sit in one spot. But in the daytime, fish usually aren't very active. You might be over a school of 10,000 bluegills, but only a few are going to bite."

http://www.freep.com/article/20081218/SPORTS10/812180475/1058

:yeahthat:

This might be why some of us like to drill 50-100 holes. Hole Hoppin' SOB's for sure. When the fish are biting tough & the same fish keep getting poked at over & over, it's time to move to hole 62 & pick on some 'unbattered' fish. :lol:

[severus]

Good article. I have a hard time believing that Russian ice fishermen use real gold lures, though, even if they are heavier than lead ones.