Flashers for ice fishing

[TubeDude]

As always, Pat, thanks for all the well written advice on everything you comment on.

I have been doing some experimenting with flashers through the ice, not the kind you wrote about, but small thin flashers normally associated with trolling.
The first I tried was the "Lake Clear Wabbler".  I dropped it into the hole, down about 15' and it took off.  I flipped the bail and it snapped the 4lb test ice line.  The "Strawberry Wobbler" is another flasher I have used with success as a vertical presentation.  Not for pan fish, but trout seem attracted to them along with other large game fish.
There are distinct action differences in the spoons depending on weight and shape and some days one works and the other does not and visa versa as well as weather conditions affecting presentation.  On windy days the heavier flasher is easier to control.

Thanks for the kindly comments.  I and a few other guys I know have also experimented with a lot of different weights/attractors/flashers under the ice.  Findings have been like yours...that larger and flashier options have worked best for troutkind.  Smaller stuff is better for panfish.  But almost anything will work for something...some of the time...unless you get really ridiculous.  (Forget trying to fish pop gear under the ice.) 

Have you ever tried reversing the position of the flasher and jig?  I had some small (1") weighty wobbling spoons that I experimented with...using them as a bottom sinker and then rigging my jig dropshot style a few inches above on the line.  There were trips when that was the hot ticket.  You could see fish come in from outside the sonar cone and check out the jiggled spoon...and then tip up and slurp in the smaller baited jig.  That rig is also good for the tactic of pounding the bottom to create a small mud cloud.

I also pour and paint some small lead jigging spoons...in 1/4 oz. and 3/8 oz.  I make them in a lot of colors...some with glow.  Ryno...over at Flaming Gorge...has used some of the white and red two-tone to catch kokes through the ice.  And being made of soft lead, you can put a curve bend in them to get some more fluttering action on the lift and drop.  I have done well with these just jigging them with a small treble or single hook...and bait.  But I have also used them both for inline "flashers" and to put on the end of my line with a plain hook or small jig rigged dropshot style above.