Welcome to Fishing Guide

Crappie Ice Fishing Article

Thumbnail example . For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.

You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.

Tips for Using Ice Fishing Jigs

from:

Ice fishing jigs are undoubtedly one of the most important lures in a tackle box, and understanding the correct method of jigging for freshwater fish in lakes throughout the north is critical in catching the big fish. Incorrectly jigging will result in few if any bites, even if fish are present in the area.

One of the most important things to remember about using an ice fishing jig is that success will rely on the action of the lure, the bait used on the jig as well as action of the jig to attract the fish. Bait is an optional choice, but most ice fishermen use some kind of bait, a maggot, larva, pre-scented plastic bait or even a bit of fresh or frozen minnow if live is not available.

The next step is to find the jig action that seems to attract the fish. Ice fishing jigs are designed to mimic the action of a bait fishing moving up and down in the water, at about the level that fish are feeding. Depth finders and a fish locator can be ideal in helping to set the jig at the correct distance off the bottom. The jig should then be bounced about one to two feet off the bottom, with a lag of twenty to thirty seconds between jigs. The motion can be more or less pronounced and it is important to keep varying the ice fishing jig motion until you find the action that starts the fish feeding.

The jig can also be moved from side to side in a method called “thrumming”. To move the jig in a horizontal method rapidly move the end or the rod or the tip of the rod back and forth rapidly. By the end of the line this will result in a one to three inch sideways movement as well as an up and down bobbing motion. Ice fishing jigs that work well in this presentation are the hard bodied or contoured type jigs with a baited hook presentation.

Bobbers can be very effective for depth control of jigs. Once you have had a nibble or have landed a fish at one depth, try jigging one or two feet on either side of the jig to allow for maximum area coverage. Be sure to stay within the allowed number of lines for the body of water that you are fishing, and if you are using tip-ups follow the distance regulations. Most fishing regulations require that anglers must have a clear line of vision with all tip-ups in the water.

Crappie Ice Fishing News

Winter streak could mean Crappie Derby is on - News 10 Now

WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. -- It's a white-out inside Whitney Point's Dorchester Park. If this weather keeps up, the Almost Annual New York State Crappie Derby is on for January 31st. "Almost" is an understatement as the last ice-fishing event was in 2005 ...

Midwest fishing report - Chicago Sun-Times

FISH OF THE WEEK: One fish matters in Chicago this week: the 57-inch muskie with a 33-inch girth caught and released by Canadian Dale MacNair from the St. Lawrence River on Nov. 28. The replica will be unveiled in the Rick Lax Reproductions booth at ...

DNR: Ice conditions vary throught the state - MLive.com

Here is a quick update on ice fishing conditions around the state. While the warm up melted much of the snow making for easier travel on the inland lakes, caution still needs to be used as we lost some ice with the rain and strong winds, the Michigan ...

Local Sports: Outdoors — Michigan fishing report - Elkhart Truth

Ice conditions around the state continue to improve, but anglers in the far southern stretches of the Lower Peninsula may have to wait a bit longer for safe ice on the bigger waters, the Michigan Department of Resources said Wednesday in its weekly ...

Doug Smith: Does ice fishing mean we're crazy? - Post-Bulletin

Ice fishing is ubiquitous in Minnesota, home to the largest ice angler population in the nation. Most of us don't give a second thought when thousands of ice fishing houses and thickly dressed anglers show up each winter on frozen lakes and rivers ...