Ice Fishing Rookie Skunked Again on a High-Rated Solunar Day—Need Advice

[waterfrontdinning]

Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and just started ice fishing this winter.

Today, I was ice fishing at Miner’s Bay on Gull Lake and rented a hut there. By the way, the hut was very clean and in great condition compared to the other three huts I’ve rented elsewhere. I deliberately chose today because, according to the solunar calendar, fish activity was predicted to be very high (96 out of 100 on the app). I’ve fished on a 15-rating day twice and got nothing, and on a 55-rating day, I caught 3 or 4 small perch. So, I had very high hopes for today—until I got skunked again. To add to the sting, my neighboring hut caught two arm-length lake trout. It hurts a little, not gonna lie.

This was my first time targeting walleye and lake trout. The hut operator helped me set up a dead stick with live minnows, which I relied on throughout the day. I got a few bites but wasn’t able to set the hook. I was fishing in about 40 to 50 feet of water. I also knew the barometric pressure had recently risen (mostly clear skies), which might have played a role.

I’m feeling a bit confused and would love to know what went wrong. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Edited March 15 by waterfrontdinning

[limeyangler]

I went through a very brief period 20 years ago following the solunar chart, it took six months to realize I had done well on days touted to be great days but had also had awful days with similar ‘best’ day forecasts,  similarly I had great days and bad on ‘poor’ solunar forecast days. Just wondering if you have a sonar unit? Definitely helps. Deadsticking trout can work, but the LOVE to chase. 3”-4” white tube jigs, blade baits and lipless cranks a good start for lakers.

Edited March 15 by limeyangler

[waterfrontdinning]

6 hours ago, limeyangler said:

I went through a very brief period 20 years ago following the solunar chart, it took six months to realize I had done well on days touted to be great days but had also had awful days with similar ‘best’ day forecasts,  similarly I had great days and bad on ‘poor’ solunar forecast days. Just wondering if you have a sonar unit? Definitely helps. Deadsticking trout can work, but the LOVE to chase. 3”-4” white tube jigs, blade baits and lipless cranks a good start for lakers.

That’s very reassuring to hear. I guess the fish were active but just not near my hut. A sonar unit is something I’m considering, it seems to be challenage to make a "run" for the trout without one. I guess I’ve reached the point where I need to decide whether to commit to being a serious ice angler or to keep it more casual.

 

Thanks

[Orca]

On 3/15/2025 at 12:06 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and just started ice fishing this winter.

Today, I was ice fishing at Miner’s Bay on Gull Lake and rented a hut there. By the way, the hut was very clean and in great condition compared to the other three huts I’ve rented elsewhere. I deliberately chose today because, according to the solunar calendar, fish activity was predicted to be very high (96 out of 100 on the app). I’ve fished on a 15-rating day twice and got nothing, and on a 55-rating day, I caught 3 or 4 small perch. So, I had very high hopes for today—until I got skunked again. To add to the sting, my neighboring hut caught two arm-length lake trout. It hurts a little, not gonna lie.

This was my first time targeting walleye and lake trout. The hut operator helped me set up a dead stick with live minnows, which I relied on throughout the day. I got a few bites but wasn’t able to set the hook. I was fishing in about 40 to 50 feet of water. I also knew the barometric pressure had recently risen (mostly clear skies), which might have played a role.

I’m feeling a bit confused and would love to know what went wrong. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Well you sure have done your homework!
Have you seen the LiveScope sonars?
The fish don't stand a chance.  Not within many peoples' budget, at around $3K.
Im making do with Flasher.
First you find the fish...

[waterfrontdinning]

5 hours ago, Orca said:

Well you sure have done your homework!
Have you seen the LiveScope sonars?
The fish don't stand a chance.  Not within many peoples' budget, at around $3K.
Im making do with Flasher.
First you find the fish...

I know, it blew me away when I fisrt found out the price. Even the flasher is like $500+. 

So when you say "first you find the fish", do you mean using the flasher to see if there is fish, if not, then move on to a new spot?  And you preplaned those spots?

[waterfrontdinning]

On 3/15/2025 at 5:40 PM, limeyangler said:

I went through a very brief period 20 years ago following the solunar chart, it took six months to realize I had done well on days touted to be great days but had also had awful days with similar ‘best’ day forecasts,  similarly I had great days and bad on ‘poor’ solunar forecast days. Just wondering if you have a sonar unit? Definitely helps. Deadsticking trout can work, but the LOVE to chase. 3”-4” white tube jigs, blade baits and lipless cranks a good start for lakers.

What about barometric pressure? Is that something you take into consideration?

[limeyangler]

1 hour ago, waterfrontdinning said:

What about barometric pressure? Is that something you take into consideration?

No… lol… maybe I should. I just go fishing and if they bite they bite. You don’t have to spend loads on a flasher, just get the cheapest regular colour humminbird or garmin , the iceducer would be extra but you could easily just put the boat transducer that comes with them on a stick and drop it down the hole. Get an old cooler and mount it in that with room for a battery. Battery, Fishfinder and cooler probably under $280.

 

 

I use the one above with an ‘iceducer which runs about $140. Basic but does everything you need. 

[waterfrontdinning]

16 minutes ago, limeyangler said:

No… lol… maybe I should. I just go fishing and if they bite they bite. You don’t have to spend loads on a flasher, just get the cheapest regular colour humminbird or garmin , the iceducer would be extra but you could easily just put the boat transducer that comes with them on a stick and drop it down the hole. Get an old cooler and mount it in that with room for a battery. Battery, Fishfinder and cooler probably under $280.

 

 

I use the one above with an ‘iceducer which runs about $140. Basic but does everything you need. 

Thank you so much, I'm definitely going to look into it.

I was a bit obsessed with the thrill of a 'fish-on' moment, but i've colled down now and realize that spending time relaxing with friends and family on ice is the real cake, and catching fish is just the cherry on top.

But I still going to improve my knowledge and equipment. Other than not catching much fish, my wife and kids love the experiences.

Edited March 17 by waterfrontdinning

[CrowMan]

On 3/15/2025 at 12:06 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

 

I’m feeling a bit confused and would love to know what went wrong. 

Don't beat yourself up...fishing is just that...fishing, it's not always catching.

There was an Ice Fishing Derby  in Elliot Lake this weekend...182 anglers participated and payed $100 each to enter, and not a single fish was caught. It can happen to the best of us..

 

https://www.elliotlakestandard.ca/news/elliot-lakes-fishless-ice-fishing-derby

Edited March 17 by CrowMan

[waterfrontdinning]

Woah, what are the odds! 

You are right, it is not always catching which is the bueaty of fishing. 

[Reelpro]

On 3/15/2025 at 12:06 AM, waterfrontdinning said:

Hi everyone, I’m new to the forum and just started ice fishing this winter.

Today, I was ice fishing at Miner’s Bay on Gull Lake and rented a hut there. By the way, the hut was very clean and in great condition compared to the other three huts I’ve rented elsewhere. I deliberately chose today because, according to the solunar calendar, fish activity was predicted to be very high (96 out of 100 on the app). I’ve fished on a 15-rating day twice and got nothing, and on a 55-rating day, I caught 3 or 4 small perch. So, I had very high hopes for today—until I got skunked again. To add to the sting, my neighboring hut caught two arm-length lake trout. It hurts a little, not gonna lie.

This was my first time targeting walleye and lake trout. The hut operator helped me set up a dead stick with live minnows, which I relied on throughout the day. I got a few bites but wasn’t able to set the hook. I was fishing in about 40 to 50 feet of water. I also knew the barometric pressure had recently risen (mostly clear skies), which might have played a role.

I’m feeling a bit confused and would love to know what went wrong. Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

A couple things can make a huge difference to success or not.

If you are on a lake that allows live or dead minnows,  - grind up with pliers, knife, whatever - a minnow or 2 for each hole, bring some worms, do the same - fish "smell" better than you would imagine - brings them to your bait.

Also noise - a vibrating "blade" bait - I use Showdowns - or a rattle bait on a jigging rod, very aggressively jigged up and down to create a commotion below where you are can also bring fish to your baits - sometimes the lure gets hit, sometimes a nearby tip up.

If you start fishing and you don't get bit fairly quickly, there usually are not any fish below you, so you either have to move, or get the fish to come to you -they move around pretty slow in winter so it sometimes takes a while - but I have had many days on the ice where a noisy bait and a bit of smell has "called in" a bunch of fish.

GL

 

[Essox]

I watched the lunar calendars for some time. If I was honest weather and time of season makes a lot more difference. Got skunked on new moons and full moons. And to be honest how many of us haven't tried to figure out some scheme to improve our odds when fishing. The theories are endless..... I'd say  in all likelihood you went not over a feeding pod of fish.  

[limeyangler]

5 hours ago, Reelpro said:

If you are on a lake that allows live or dead minnows,  - grind up with pliers, knife, whatever - a minnow or 2 for each hole, bring some worms, do the same - fish "smell" better than you would imagine - brings them to your bait.

I would be careful with this, I think this could be illegal on two counts:

1. 

Bait

It is illegal to (or attempt to) deposit or release into, or within 30 metres of, any waters:

• live or dead bait or baitfish, including fish eggs, gametes or fish parts
   
• 2

• Chumming

  Chumming (baiting an area to attract fish) is allowed for common carp and for attracting other fish species, but only with plant-based baits as defined in general fishing regulations.

[CrowMan]

10 hours ago, limeyangler said:

I would be careful with this, I think this could be illegal

Was discussed here a few years back:

 

[Reelpro]

Yes you are right - regs say no chumming .

So when you are fishing with live or dead minnows or worms - where that is allowed - you would have to be very careful when you added a minnow to your jigging spoon, or a piece of dew worm.

If you were jigging it too aggressively, the minnow or part of the minnow or worm might fall off down at the bottom of the hole.

Then you are just fishing with live bait, and NOT chumming, , perhaps not t(e most efficient angler in terms of how many worms or minnows you might need for an outing.

Also if you are fishing with live minnows or dead ones, take a good look at them , like very closely, to see what they are.

As a guide over the years in Muskoka and Halliburton m and Kawarthas , I would very often have some minnows on board purchased from various bait shops.

I very carefully LOOK at every minnow before using it. 

The bait shops DO NOT 

I have purchased minnows from many different bait shops and have found all sorts of Non baitfish mixed in with them.

A 5” Brown Trout, a 4” Walleye, many perch minnows, many catfish minnows, burbot , all sorts of “minnows” that are not legal baitfish - so have a good look at them before use - they kinda all look the same in a minnow bucket of a couple dozen.

 

Re dumping “fish guts” back in the lake , make sure of 2 things. 

1 - Only ever the legal game  fish you catch from that lake , river.

2 - not on or along the shoreline, but out  in the deepest water you can find.around the area -  no one wants stinky fish guts on their shorelines, beaches .

If a fish from that lake dies of old age, it doesn’t get scooped up and put in a PLASTIC garbage bag to go to a Landfill.

It sinks to the bottom and decomposes and feeds the bugs, and leeches and turtles,- NATURE - sometimes it floats for a bit and the birds get at it until it sinks.

So “fish guts” minus the filets, do the same when dumped back.

One less plastic garbage bag goes to a landfill.

[AKRISONER]

Number one rule of fishing, dont "overthink" it.

If youre attempting to ice fish laketrout without electronics...good luck

If youre hiring a permanent hut from an operator at the end of the season? Good luck

you say you are deadsticking minnows...but what does your presentation look like, do you have all sorts of "cheater" mechanisms all over your line, like snap swivels, too big of jigs, big hooks etc? good luck.

To me at least in my experience, the devil is 100% in the details, but overthinking about fishing on this day or the next or not is a load of whatever as far as I am concerned.

In my observation, the moon has impact on two things, 1 in the spring for bass, the first full moon when the water reaches 60 degrees, youre going to see a huge wave of a spawning.

2. if its perfectly clear and calm during a full moon, ive observed that the fishing can be tougher as I personally believe the fish have fed a bit more through the night than normal.

as far as the moon having any impact on fish that are below ice that cant see the sky, or observe any water level change on a small lake thats not tide impacted...ehhhh

the presentation of your bait, the line your using, the knot, the hook is far more important.

Permanent huts are the equivalent of going and fishing in your boat on the same shoal every single day all day...Seems crazy to think that the fishing is going to be excellent all of the time for the whole year doing that no?

staying mobile, adjusting depths all matters, at the end of the day though, ice fishing is a giant unproductive PITA. As far as im concerned its something to do during the winter, but the really "banner" days are few and far between no matter how hard you grind at it.

Laketrout specifically, its hard to get around them, once you are, then its hard to get them to bite, then if you do, its hard to land them. Thats the name of the game, youre either in or your out.

The payoff can be pretty sweet, nothing in ice fishing beats catching lakers through the ice, but holy heck id much rather target them from a boat!

Ill add, im totally aware that this is a lot of complaining...but your talking to a guy that has the snowmobiles, the livescope, the huts, heaters blah blah blah and spent 12(ish) full 8 hour days out there this winter chasing lakers, caught some, skunked some, literally didnt have any "great" days all winter this year, still did it!

Edited March 20 by AKRISONER

[waterfrontdinning]

On 3/19/2025 at 4:51 PM, Reelpro said:

A couple things can make a huge difference to success or not.

If you are on a lake that allows live or dead minnows,  - grind up with pliers, knife, whatever - a minnow or 2 for each hole, bring some worms, do the same - fish "smell" better than you would imagine - brings them to your bait.

Also noise - a vibrating "blade" bait - I use Showdowns - or a rattle bait on a jigging rod, very aggressively jigged up and down to create a commotion below where you are can also bring fish to your baits - sometimes the lure gets hit, sometimes a nearby tip up.

If you start fishing and you don't get bit fairly quickly, there usually are not any fish below you, so you either have to move, or get the fish to come to you -they move around pretty slow in winter so it sometimes takes a while - but I have had many days on the ice where a noisy bait and a bit of smell has "called in" a bunch of fish.

GL

 

Great tips. We were renting a hut, we traded mobility to confort...

[waterfrontdinning]

On 3/19/2025 at 7:39 PM, Essox said:

I'd say  in all likelihood you went not over a feeding pod of fish.  

Not at all!!! lol

[waterfrontdinning]

On 3/20/2025 at 10:46 AM, AKRISONER said:

Number one rule of fishing, dont "overthink" it.

If youre attempting to ice fish laketrout without electronics...good luck

If youre hiring a permanent hut from an operator at the end of the season? Good luck

you say you are deadsticking minnows...but what does your presentation look like, do you have all sorts of "cheater" mechanisms all over your line, like snap swivels, too big of jigs, big hooks etc? good luck.

To me at least in my experience, the devil is 100% in the details, but overthinking about fishing on this day or the next or not is a load of whatever as far as I am concerned.

In my observation, the moon has impact on two things, 1 in the spring for bass, the first full moon when the water reaches 60 degrees, youre going to see a huge wave of a spawning.

2. if its perfectly clear and calm during a full moon, ive observed that the fishing can be tougher as I personally believe the fish have fed a bit more through the night than normal.

as far as the moon having any impact on fish that are below ice that cant see the sky, or observe any water level change on a small lake thats not tide impacted...ehhhh

the presentation of your bait, the line your using, the knot, the hook is far more important.

Permanent huts are the equivalent of going and fishing in your boat on the same shoal every single day all day...Seems crazy to think that the fishing is going to be excellent all of the time for the whole year doing that no?

staying mobile, adjusting depths all matters, at the end of the day though, ice fishing is a giant unproductive PITA. As far as im concerned its something to do during the winter, but the really "banner" days are few and far between no matter how hard you grind at it.

Laketrout specifically, its hard to get around them, once you are, then its hard to get them to bite, then if you do, its hard to land them. Thats the name of the game, youre either in or your out.

The payoff can be pretty sweet, nothing in ice fishing beats catching lakers through the ice, but holy heck id much rather target them from a boat!

Ill add, im totally aware that this is a lot of complaining...but your talking to a guy that has the snowmobiles, the livescope, the huts, heaters blah blah blah and spent 12(ish) full 8 hour days out there this winter chasing lakers, caught some, skunked some, literally didnt have any "great" days all winter this year, still did it!

Great points, I had a very unrealistic expectation. I thought I know enough, only realise it was not even the tip of the ice berg. I'm glad that so many of you share experiences here with me and I learned alot from this forum.