Sometimes you ’ re better off Keeping Things Simple . And darn it , sometimes it ’ s just too cold out there to move around .
by Jon Mitzel Destination Devils Lake Magazine
There ’ s been a lot of innovations in the ice fishing industry over the past 30 years . Most of it positive . With the advent of ice jigs we ’ re no longer limited to plain old hooks with no color , no design , no flash , and no fish attracting shapes . Let ’ s face it , ice fishing techniques are limited . While you are able to move around the ice , fact is you can ’ t cover the amount of water you can during the open water season . You ’ re fishing through an ice hole in the ice . You can ’ t cast , you can ’ t retrieve and you ’ re basically just looking for a fish in a small confined area . And darn it , sometimes it ’ s just too cold out there to move around . But when the mid-winter bite becomes tough , we often rely on the plain hook tipped with a minnow . Small minnows for perch and medium sized for walleyes will produce . Jigging spoons , also , are great fish catchers , and are known to attract and trigger fish into biting . But when it comes to a plain hook , we prefer a long-shank , but small , perhaps a size 6 or maybe size 8 . By nature of their construction , smaller , thinner hooks are sharper . You ’ ll simply miss fewer fish . We also prefer a light line in clear water . Keep in mind that it ’ s really the minnow the fish wants . The lure or jig is merely an attractor . If you ’ d like to add some color to a plain hook rig for visibility as an attractor , slip a small colored bead onto the line and let it rest against the eye of the hook . This will work well . Tie the hook directly to the line ( unless fishing for northern pike ), then 18 inches above the hook place a small split-shot for weight , 1 / 16 of an ounce works good . Finally , finish it off at the top with a small bobber , just enough to keep the rig from sinking . This is usually no bigger than a quarter inch in diameter . Hook the small minnow for perch or medium sized minnow for walleye just below the dorsal fin to keep it lively , taking care not to pierce the backbone .
Experience some of the HOTTEST FISHING !
We still like to “ jig ” this setup from time to time , and by all means keep checking your bait for liveness . But keep it simple . Drop the rig into the hole and set it so your minnow is 6 to 12 inches off the bottom , remembering that a fish can see baits much better that are above them , but have difficulty finding things below its body . The fish ’ s best field of vision is in front of itself and above . Certainly , you can still move around a lot with the simple rig . Color is a great additive , but if the water is very clear , as it is often is during the winter months , go small and go subtle . There ’ s no substitute for punching hole in the area of a large school of fish . That ’ s why mobility is important . But the simple , basic rig consisting of a plain hook and minnow should not be overlooked , especially when the bite is slow and fish are finicky . •
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