Not catching fish? Try these ice tips

Ice fishing is not a sport for everyone. Most of my bass-angling buddies trade all fishing activities for sweat pants and warm fires come winter. The more I talk to these guys, I realize that they hate ice fishing because they never catch anything.

How about this common line: "I'm not going to go stand out in the freezing cold for eight hours to catch nothing." I hear this one all the time and I suspect many readers do as well. My answer for all of these wimps is that they simply don't know what they're doing on the ice.

These quick tips and tricks will help increase anyone's chances of having a big day on the ice -- and maybe turn some opinions about the sport.

Find vegetation

In general, ice fishing is not much different from open water fishing. Fish like vegetation. Why? Oxygen and cover. If you can find fresh weeds that are still green and full of life under the ice, then you are definitely on to something.

Oxygen levels in the water are decreased during ice season, especially since a lot of the plants under water are dying due to lack of sunlight, so any area that is still pumping out some fresh oxygen is going to hold fish.

In addition, fish still like cover and protection from predators. All year round, healthy vegetation provides the cover necessary.

Don't sit on your butt

The most common mistake for ice anglers is sitting around in one spot all day. Unless that spot has proven its success to you time and time again, you are wasting your time.

During the winter, schools of fish move all over the lake -- fast. You could be missing them by a few feet or by several hundred yards. It can be difficult to gauge where they'll be when.

When I start a day on the ice, I always begin by drilling an initial 12 holes. If I'm fishing a lake for the first time I take a look at the land around me and drill holes where I would have liked to cast my pole in open water. This start gives me a good feel for what's under water and the type of structure I'm working with down there so I can start finding some patterns.

If I've fished the lake before and know the structure under water, check out my next tip.

Find weed flats near drop-offs

Drop-offs, much like vegetation, are always a hot bed of fish, all year round. The easiest way to find the drop-offs is to know about them. You can look at a lake contour map or use some of the technologies available to search the area.

When I know about a drop-off, I drill a hole all the way across it every five feet. I slowly move across it until I find the school. Drill as many holes as it takes to cover the span of the drop off. It's best to drill them all at once rather than to catch a fish and drill again -- it will save you a lot of time when it counts.

Switch it up

Different from not sitting on your butt, try all kinds of different things. Don't be afraid to go to the complete other side of the lake. I mentioned that I always start by drilling 12 holes, if nothing is producing always drill another 10 to 12. It's best to drill all in one shot, as mentioned above.

Try different presentations. In one pass try a spoon and in another try more of a compact jig. Changing presentations will always be beneficial to finding a pattern.

Never set it and forget it

Save for a tip-up, setting down your jigging rod and walking away is pointless. You won't catch a thing. Fish like to eat living things, and jigging is the only way to give it that appearance.

Jig your rod at different rates and intervals and then always rest. Don't move the rod for about a minute, but no more. Then try jigging a different style again. Eventually you will figure out what pattern is attracting the fish.

These tips will surely help change your mind about ice fishing, or at least give you something new to work with.