Strawberry questions

[300matt]

I have some questions about what to look for when ice fishing strawberry. What kind of depth should I look for? Structure? Bait? Weeds? Maybe I should be close deep water ? Everyone is always helpful on here and I'm sure there is lots of great experience out there . Thanks to everyone that is willing to help me out !
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[Jedidiah]

Any other place I fish and I'd tell you what I do know directly, but with Strawberry the Fish-n-Maps map is better than I could tell you....others can do better but not me. The map has GPS coordinates and explanations of structure and features. Also, the trout are still shallow, less than 20 feet, probably less than 10. Also also....don't drive a 6x6 over the Big Hole area on the ice.....heh.

Your answers are going to depend on some things though...what species are you targetting, do you have ATVs/snowmobiles, are you fishing early/middle/late season.
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[Bmason]

In my experience, stay away from crowds, and stick within 50 yeards from shore at the most. The fish are shallow but hit really light at times.
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[cbassonafly]

I'll second Bmason. I've always done better away from the crowds and close to shore. sometimes in 5 FOW or less haha. Also use Google Maps as your friend and look for small creeks that feed into the lake.
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[300matt]

Jedidiah , I guess I'll have to get a fish n map for strawberry , didn't even know they existed . The fish are shallow for now anyway , that certainly helps narrow areas down. I'm not sure what driving 6x6 over the bid hole means , is that a place that might have thin ice? I target trout at strawberry and for now I'm wondering about early season. I have an atv
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[Jedidiah]

Early season trout can be ridiculously shallow. There's a set of springs out from the west shore called Big Hole that someone drove a 6x6 into on the same weekend I was there, though I didn't see it. The ice we were fishing was 12 inches thick so that gives you an idea how much thinner ice over a spring can be.
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[Jmorfish]

So --- what weekend were you there??? Am I right in assuming you're talking about "early season" last year??? My poor heart couldn't take the excitement if I thought you were already fishing there this year!!
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[Jedidiah]

Last season, though there have been some guys on Mud Creek, they had a report on here last week I think.
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[Lacrossplayer]

Once the ice covers the lake the fish come back up.
13 feet or so from the surface light bite
Try solier creek side
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[Bmason]

Now im by no means an expert, but from my understanding the trout begin to move more shallow in the fall once the water turns. Once there is ice above them, they seem to know that they are safe from predators from above and the cruise the shore line cornering little fish. My approach goes off of that logic. Where is the food going to be... i have decent luck on the deep side of weed beds, but ive also fished 20 feet of water and caught fish 2 feet below the ice.


....any corrections or input on my thought process is appreciated
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[Jedidiah]

That sounds about right. This year was a little strange because the turnover didn't happen until late November, and my experience was that trout weren't up shallow in big numbers until that time. What you're saying is exactly what I see in early season trout too: anywhere from 20 to 5 FOW and sometimes less. They'll be anywhere in the water column but on any given day you tend to see the mid-column fish in the same 1-2 foot range, or sometimes right at the top.

About the ice making them feel safer, one trick that seems to work for me is to put my tent on a snowy patch next to a clear spot in the ice and fish right next to the clear spot.
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[Fishin_dad]

Have you tries the soldier creek side? I have fished mud creek and chicken creek east in past years along with 100's of other people on the ice in the tent city....was not impressed. Went to soldier creek side and haven't had any reason to return to the tent cities. If you are in for a drive, take the wheeler down to the dam area. Don't try it in a truck. Every year someone tries it and sinks up past the axels...one year someone even tried it with a camper on back.....dummies.

I am a chicken so I stay on the road instead of cutting over the ice on my wheeler.

Anyways the soldier creek dam and the marina back there are my favorite spots. Away from the crowds and Plenty of fish.

Here is a video I took a few years back fishing the ice in the marina by soldier creek.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rZWrff66c1o
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[300matt]

Fish dad, what an awesome video , it did make me want to reach in and set the hook lol. I haven fished soldier end of lake yet but , I will try it soon .im wondering what the road looks like I drive a mini van and pull a trailer with 4x4, I'm going Monday and I'm guessing I won't be abl to safely drive my atv on the ice
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