BlogDecember 2024

5 Things to Know About Winter Solstice Fishing in North America

5 Things to Know About Winter Solstice Fishing in North America

By Debbie Hanson

Dec 13, 2024

The winter solstice, which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year around December 21st, has been celebrated for centuries as a time of renewal and transition. If you’re ready to try winter solstice fishing, learn how to shift your strategies and mindset to account for changes that take place during this notable time of the year.

Check out five things to know about winter solstice fishing—an experience that combines a greater awareness of seasonal influences with focused adjustments in fishing techniques.

The Solstice Brings Prime Ice Fishing Conditions

If you live in a northern state, like Minnesota or North Dakota, ice fishing during winter solstice is part of the local culture. Lakes and rivers in these northern states are often frozen solid by mid-December, making it safe to drill holes and catch fish through the ice. Freshwater fish species like walleye, perch, and northern pike are popular targets in these waters during the winter months. As temperatures begin to stabilize under the ice, fishing patterns become more predictable, making it easier to find and catch fish. Using an ice fishing sonar device or fish finder can be incredibly helpful when it comes to finding the best spots.

Water Temperature Changes Shift Fish Behavior

Knowing how winter solstice fish behavior changes can affect fishing conditions is a big key to success. Fish metabolism slows down considerably to conserve energy in the cold water. This makes fish less active and more selective about when and where they feed. Fish tend to move to deeper parts of lakes and rivers where water temperatures are more stable. By adapting your approach using smaller lures (like small jigs or wax worms on ultralight tackle) and slower, more subtle movements, you can boost your chances of catching.

Number of Daylight Hours Affects Seasonal Fishing

Since the winter solstice brings the shortest number of daylight hours and longest nights of the year, you can switch your focus to targeting walleye and crappie around this time of year. Walleye are known for having light-sensitive eyes and feed more actively during low-light conditions (around dawn and dusk). Crappie also have large eyes that make it easier for them to find and hunt for prey after dark and in low-light conditions. Fewer hours of sunlight can mean cooler water temperatures as well, which may require you to fish slower or even “deadstick” baits by allowing them to sit idle.

Cultural Traditions Around Winter Solstice Fishing

The winter solstice is viewed in many cultures as a period of reflection and renewal, often holding a deep meaning and spiritual connection with nature for Indigenous Peoples of North America. Water is an element associated with rest and is symbolic of how nature is interconnected with human life. For the Inuit of Alaska and Canada, the winter solstice is associated with ice fishing, traditional games, and community feasts.

Winter Solstice Fishing Builds Resilience

Fishing during the weeks around the winter solstice requires more patience and resilience. Unlike other seasons of the year, winter fishing is slower and requires more preparation (checking ice thickness for safety, wearing layers of warm clothing, drilling holes through the ice). However, the feelings of accomplishment that come with catching fish during this time of year can be incredibly rewarding and memorable.

Seasonal fishing around the winter solstice is about more than catching fish – it’s a time to connect with the rhythms of nature, slow down your techniques, and enjoy the serenity of winter. When you understand the seasonal shifts that take place and how they the natural world, your ice fishing experiences will be more successful and meaningful.

Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson
Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.