Ice Fishing Panfish

Pro angler Tommy Skarlis of Walker, Minn., grew up chasing panfish around the lakes and reservoirs of Minnesota and Iowa.

Skarlis grew up in Iowa where the best hard-water fishing is found on the man-made lakes across the southern third of the state. For the most part, it's flooded farmland where old creek channels are often lined with standing hardwoods.

"In any newer reservoir, fertility is high and critters like worms; grubs and aquatic insects relate to those pieces of wood and those trees," said Skarlis. "Almost every species that swims will relate to that wood at one time or another because of the natural predator-prey relationship.

"Fish around new wood, and you're going to be successful."

Most of the wood in these situations is visible, and once the creek channels or roadbeds are identified, an angler can figure out where the key inside bends and outside corners lay. Inside bends tend to feature softer bottoms that attract panfish species like bluegill and crappie, while the protruding corners usually consist of rock or hard bottom that draws walleye.

Skarlis said mobility is one key to attacking the wood along creek channels, old roadbeds and even fencelines.