Ice fishing requires specialized lures and fishing techniques to be successful. Fishing through a small hole in the ice can be difficult because it limits your possibilities for bait presentations and fishing techniques. As a result, you need to be creative and versatile with your fishing lures and techniques during the ice fishing season.
Don't Jig Aggressively
Most fish species, such as the crappie, are not very active and don't feed aggressively during the winter. When you are ice fishing, remember to jig slowly by lightly moving the bait in front of the fish. Use jigs, such as spoons or glow jigs, along with a float for the best natural bait presentation. Steve Ryan, outdoor writer and avid angler, recommends setting the rod down occasionally and allowing the jig to remain motionless. Watch the float until it starts to dip slightly in the water, indicating a strike. Softly set the hook and reel in the fish.
Pounding the Jig
Touch the bottom of the water with swimming lures, such as the Jigging Rapala or Jigging Shad. These swimming lures are effective at catching aggressive species during the ice fishing season, such as lake trout or perch. While bouncing the lure on the bottom to stir up the mud and debris, pound the jig by quickly moving the rod tip up and down about an inch or two. By creating a cloud of debris, you are attracting nearby fish as they normally feed only a few inches off the bottom. Other lures that can be used for pounding the bottom include flash spoons such as the Swedish Pimple and Acme Kastmaster.
Peek Into the Hole
After drilling your hole, stick your head next to the surface of the ice and peek into the water. Use brightly colored lures that hang horizontally in the water, such as hot pink or chartreuse jigs. The bright colors will make the lure more visible in stained water or greater depths. After dropping the lure into the water, look for fish swimming around and striking the bait. This technique is effective for catching bluegill, perch and suspended crappie during the ice fishing season.
Glow-in-the-Dark Jigs
When you are fishing in shallow water, the light penetration through the hole can potentially spook fish. After dropping the lure into the water, cover the hole with ice shavings to block out the light. Ryan recommends using a glow-in-the-dark jig when using this technique to help the fish see the lure with the limited light. This technique can be effective in clear or stained water lakes.
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