If you’re an anxious angler like me, you can’t wait for ice out to head for your favorite crappie lake to wet a line in open water for the season’s first time. Those just after ice out trips sometimes produce good fishing, but at other times the fish seem to be non-existent. The fact is that as the water warms and weather stabilizes during spring, the crappie bite usually gets better.

As a fishing TV show host and fishing educator, one of my “jobs” is to help people find and catch more fish. With that in mind, I am constantly researching and experimenting with cutting edge fishing techniques, staying on the lookout for the latest in technological gadgets, and keeping a watchful eye for good bites that materialize across the Midwest.

March can be a bit of a difficult time for this open water angler. The weather is starting to turn for the better, so I am very anxious to be in a boat. Yet, lakes across the Midwest are still ice covered, meaning my boat and this angler are still on the sidelines! Nevertheless, there are some things that I, and we all, can do to get ready for when ice is off the lakes.