What's Up Outdoors: Late season ice fishing can be a hit — or a miss

I have to admit with the recent weeks of below zero temps I really had no interest in going to do anything that involves the outdoors. But with this week's warmer temps it was game on for fishing time.

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So it was time to head north and escape the crowds for a few days, and most lakes I had to myself all week. The only bad thing with the warm temps and little snow is my snowmobile is in need of a new hyfax even though I just put new ones on a few weeks ago, but it was worth it.

First it was time to chase rainbow trout and an early morning trip paid off. It's always fun drilling a bigger hole and sight fishing trout. Not only for entertainment but it really lets you see their reaction to different baits or presentations.

After a few hours of nonstop trout it was time to find some panfish. The first afternoon it really seemed too easy, but things can always change. I went to one of my favorite spots and literally drilled one hole and dropped my transducer down and fish were stacked. For the next four hours you could only use one rod and I eventually ran out of wax worms, and I thought I would have plenty for all week. It was a constant mixed bite of nice bluegills and crappies, with some largemouth mixed in.

Related: What’s Up Outdoors: The good and bad in ice fishing this month
The next day I tried some new lakes and found some average fish but ended up back at my hotspot for prime time and it was just as good as the night before, except I brought way more bait. So I had a couple friends come out for the last night for a sure thing, and that's where the good time ended. We drilled tons of holes, used the Panoptix, tried new spots and only marked a few fish, and even fewer biters.

So even when you think you have fish, a certain lake or a specific bite figured out, you don't. But it was sure fun when I thought I did have it figured out.

JAMIE DIETMAN, What’s Up Outdoors, may be reached at 218-820-7757.