Ice Fishing Classes

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Learn ice fishing skills from the pros with upcoming classes

Interested in learning how to ice fish, or getting some tips and tricks from the pros to improve your hard-water fishing success? The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy – which offers in-depth, expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning – has several ice fishing classes this winter.



For more details and registration information for the following classes, go to Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.


Hard Water School

Jan. 22-23 and Feb. 5-6, Cadillac



This two-day class will cover everything from how to set up equipment, how and where to fish and when to be out on the ice to ice safety and rules and regulations. The focus of this class will be techniques for pan fish, walleye and pike.



We will spend the first day gearing up, rigging rods and teaching you what you need to know on the ice this year. The second day will be optional, and we will spend the day fishing. There will be a warming hut, augers and some shanties (available on a first-come, first-served basis) provided, but we encourage you to bring your own equipment if possible. We also encourage the whole family to come.



Cost is $40, which includes one-on-one instruction from a pro, lunch, bait and a goodie bag.



Advanced Hard Water School

Feb. 25-27, Roscommon



For this two-day class, each student will pick an ice fishing topic of interest and will be assigned a pro fisherman from Team USA, HT Enterprises, Clam Outdoors, Vexilar or Ice Force. There will be one pro for every five students.



We will spend the first night gearing up, rigging rods and teaching you what you need to know. The second day we will hit the ice and spend eight hours fishing. The third day we will meet on the ice and fish from 8 a.m. to noon. You must be mobile and willing to travel. Bring a quad or snowmobile, or be prepared to walk long distances. Lakes may vary based on interest, ice thickness and where the fish are biting. We may fish a different lake each day if need be. There will be a warming hut, but we encourage you to bring your own equipment if possible. We also encourage the whole family to come.



In addition to the instruction, the class includes includes two nights' lodging at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, two dinners, two lunches, two breakfasts, bait and door prizes/goodie bags for a cost of $260.



Ice Fishing on Lake Gogebic

March 11-13, White Pine



Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff will take you through the process of locating and hooking into Lake Gogebic's elusive perch. These large yellow perch are notorious for their light bite and swollen bellies, so large they teeter on the cutting board, hence their local nickname of "teeter pigs." Learn how to work the ice to locate active feeding sites and how to set up your gear to give yourself the best chance to catch one of these trophy perch.



The class includes two nights' stay (double occupancy) at the local resort (Konteka Black Bear Resort), two dinners, two lunches, bait, professional class instruction and, weather permitting, two days of on-ice fishing with instructors for a cost of $310.



This is not a fishing guide; you are not guaranteed to catch fish. It is an instructional class to teach you how to navigate this lake and how to set up your gear to catch these light-bite fish.