ABOUT THE TIME ice starts peeling off Northern natural lakes, hardcore anglers like St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers pro Garrett Paquette are eagerly awaiting the boat ramps to clear of snow and ice.
Like many Northern anglers, he’s learned that you can have a fabulous day on these lakes the minute they thaw enough to get a boat into the water.
“You don’t have to wait until all of the ice is gone, either,” says the northern Michigan angler. “As long as you can get out there, you can catch fish.”
Sure, the water is still cold, and the weather often is raw. That can be a good thing, says Paquette.
“Now, a heavy wind can make it tough because you have to make precise presentations,” he explains. “But if I get snow in the forecast, I make a point to be out there. Some of my best days have occurred in a snowstorm.”
