fishing in the "ice box"?

[4426]

so i know its early yet to be thinking about fishing cool deep water under warmer water, but i want to hear everyones thoughts on it. Last season we would occasionally mark fish around 150-175'(near bottom where we were) and the temp line was way above them and all our fish were in the top 75'. Now ive had people tell me they'll always keep at least one pole down there in the "ice box" and ive also had people tell me not to waste our time. So whats everyones thoughts? Do certain presentations work better for the deeper fish? certain speeds? im all ears to any suggestions

Edited April 8 by 4426

[GAMBLER]

3 minutes ago, 4426 said:

so i know its early yet to be thinking about fishing cool deep water under warmer water, but i want to hear everyones thoughts on it. Last season we would occasionally mark fish around 150-175'(near bottom where we were) and the temp line was way above them and all our fish were in the top 75'. Now ive had people tell me they'll always keep at least one pole down there in the "ice box" and ive also had people tell me not to waste our time. So whats everyones thoughts? Do certain presentations work better for the deeper fish? certain speeds? im all ears to any suggestions

Those marks are sometimes lakers.  I used to fish them out to 220' on the bottom.  They could be kings and I have taken some down that deep.  White paddles with glow or white meat rigs have been my go to that deep.  

[rolmops]

I have caught fish down there. Often when the "normal " temperatures don't produce we drop one down there using a peddle and a purple magnum spoon.

The icebox is usually about 39 degrees and holds steady. This is a preferred winter temperature for fish, so it is not that amazing to find good fish down there. This temperature allows fish to conserve energy because their systems slow down a bit. The funny thing is that higher up in the column the temperatures are often lower down to 32 degrees. 2 years ago in early April I moved away from shore brown trout fishing and went out a bit farther until I found the 39 degree water at 105 feet down. It produced a king.

Edited April 8 by rolmops

[4426]

11 hours ago, rolmops said:

I have caught fish down there. Often when the "normal " temperatures don't produce we drop one down there using a peddle and a purple magnum spoon.

The icebox is usually about 39 degrees and holds steady. This is a preferred winter temperature for fish, so it is not that amazing to find good fish down there. This temperature allows fish to conserve energy because their systems slow down a bit. The funny thing is that higher up in the column the temperatures are often lower down to 32 degrees. 2 years ago in early April I moved away from shore brown trout fishing and went out a bit farther until I found the 39 degree water at 105 feet down. It produced a king.

Thank you for the information I appreciate it! So we have tried it on at least 3 trips last year and have yet to have a hit from the depths while pretty consistently marking ice box fish. I understand a million things can factor into if they want it or not but would you say the chances are generally pretty low for getting a fish to bite out of the ice box or are they not half bad? 

[4426]

12 hours ago, GAMBLER said:

Those marks are sometimes lakers.  I used to fish them out to 220' on the bottom.  They could be kings and I have taken some down that deep.  White paddles with glow or white meat rigs have been my go to that deep.  

Thanks for the information, haven’t really considered they might be lakers

[Legacy]

19 hours ago, 4426 said:

so i know its early yet to be thinking about fishing cool deep water under warmer water, but i want to hear everyones thoughts on it. Last season we would occasionally mark fish around 150-175'(near bottom where we were) and the temp line was way above them and all our fish were in the top 75'. Now ive had people tell me they'll always keep at least one pole down there in the "ice box" and ive also had people tell me not to waste our time. So whats everyones thoughts? Do certain presentations work better for the deeper fish? certain speeds? im all ears to any suggestions

 

In my home waters these marks are typically lakers. 150-200' and relating to bottom my bet most of the year would be on lakers. However... kings love to hang in ice water (39 degrees) 150-250' down over open water. Its not a surprise to see consistent king marks 150, 200, or even 250' down over a 400' bottom. I tend to see these marks mid morning and mid day. My thought on them is they fed all morning and they seek out deep, cold water for solitude, slow their metabolism down, and just digest their morning breakfast away from the crowd. They tend to be inactive however they have a tough time resisting a big paddle and meat in their face.

[rolmops]

8 hours ago, Legacy said:

 

In my home waters these marks are typically lakers. 150-200' and relating to bottom my bet most of the year would be on lakers. However... kings love to hang in ice water (39 degrees) 150-250' down over open water. Its not a surprise to see consistent king marks 150, 200, or even 250' down over a 400' bottom. I tend to see these marks mid morning and mid day. My thought on them is they fed all morning and they seek out deep, cold water for solitude, slow their metabolism down, and just digest their morning breakfast away from the crowd. They tend to be inactive however they have a tough time resisting a big paddle and meat in their face.

x2

Edited April 9 by rolmops

[Shattered]

Exactly what Legacy said. X2. I am one that always has a line in the ice water. Produces for us consistently. 

[HB2]

A few years back a study was done . They put trackers on kings and monitered them . 

 

They found that kings move up and down the water column throughout the day . Weather it's to rest or have sanctuary who knows . 

 

I was at the show and talked to the Magnum Metalz guy . He said half the kings he gets are below 150 ft in Lake Michigan 

[Yankee Troller]

On 4/8/2025 at 8:58 AM, 4426 said:

so i know its early yet to be thinking about fishing cool deep water under warmer water, but i want to hear everyones thoughts on it. Last season we would occasionally mark fish around 150-175'(near bottom where we were) and the temp line was way above them and all our fish were in the top 75'. Now ive had people tell me they'll always keep at least one pole down there in the "ice box" and ive also had people tell me not to waste our time. So whats everyones thoughts? Do certain presentations work better for the deeper fish? certain speeds? im all ears to any suggestions

 

It's never "too early" to fish deep water. All of my deepest Salmon have come in May up to 300' down.

 

It's tough for the average guy to waste a rod down there, but most times those are Salmon you're marking. They aren't down there becasue they're actively feeding, so it's a tough bite.

[4426]

3 hours ago, Yankee Troller said:

 

It's never "too early" to fish deep water. All of my deepest Salmon have come in May up to 300' down.

 

It's tough for the average guy to waste a rod down there, but most times those are Salmon you're marking. They aren't down there becasue they're actively feeding, so it's a tough bite.

 just curious when you typically are trying to target those specifically deeper fish; are you slowing the whole boat down and running most of your spread there, or as you put it , "waste a rod down there" meaning only one deep setup? when we were trying last year we were struggling with blowback some on the single pole we had at the depths, using a 16# torpedo weight on a downrigger with braided line, and a large paddle/meatrig combo

[Yankee Troller]

1 minute ago, 4426 said:

 just curious when you typically are trying to target those specifically deeper fish; are you slowing the whole boat down and running most of your spread there, or as you put it , "waste a rod down there" meaning only one deep setup? when we were trying last year we were struggling with blowback some on the single pole we had at the depths, using a 16# torpedo weight on a downrigger with braided line, and a large paddle/meatrig combo

 

There's a very good chance I have a rod down there if I'm seeing them, or fishing is slow. Most guys aren't set-up to fish down there "efficiently." We run 150lb braid on our Cannon Optimums (thinner diameter than 150lb stainless steel cable), and we also pull 20lb sharks to get down there.