12-17-2014, 12:48 PM
"Do these ice jigs have action, or is their appeal just that they're bright and easy to see from far away"
[#0000FF]Ice jigs usually only have the action you impart to them...by jigging your rod tip. Those with small spinner blades give off flash and vibration. But just the movement of a bit of wiggle helps get fishes' attention and bring them to your offering. And a bit of "sweetener" helps seal the deal.
Sometimes fish respond more to active jigging. Other times they prefer "dead-sticking". That's why it is usually a good idea to keep one rod soaking in a holder while you actively work another one.
Suggestion. You don't always need a colorful jig to catch fish...especially panfish. Try setting up those little gold crappie hooks with just a small split shot sinker a few inches above the hook. Put on some crawler, wax worm, meal worm...or Gulp. Drop it to the bottom and then raise it up so that the baited hook is just above the bottom. Jig it lightly or simply let it sit in a holder. There will be times the fish take the plain bait better than one with a jig attached.
Most of my ice jigs are on hook sizes 8,6 and 4. But I fish some larger stuff than many folks so I use larger jigs and larger hooks...and larger pieces of perch meat or crawler. I do make jigs as small as size 10 for buddies who prefer bitty bites but I can't remember the last time I fished one that small.
Your jig heads in larger sizes can work. Bait them up and give them a soak. If you get no love then downsize.
In shallower and clearer water you will usually do better in stealth mode. Fish smaller stuff and tiptoe on the ice to reduce spooking. Just be sure you are wearing cleats on your tippy toes or you gonna do a triple klutz. That don't help attract fish to your area.
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[signature]
[#0000FF]Ice jigs usually only have the action you impart to them...by jigging your rod tip. Those with small spinner blades give off flash and vibration. But just the movement of a bit of wiggle helps get fishes' attention and bring them to your offering. And a bit of "sweetener" helps seal the deal.
Sometimes fish respond more to active jigging. Other times they prefer "dead-sticking". That's why it is usually a good idea to keep one rod soaking in a holder while you actively work another one.
Suggestion. You don't always need a colorful jig to catch fish...especially panfish. Try setting up those little gold crappie hooks with just a small split shot sinker a few inches above the hook. Put on some crawler, wax worm, meal worm...or Gulp. Drop it to the bottom and then raise it up so that the baited hook is just above the bottom. Jig it lightly or simply let it sit in a holder. There will be times the fish take the plain bait better than one with a jig attached.
Most of my ice jigs are on hook sizes 8,6 and 4. But I fish some larger stuff than many folks so I use larger jigs and larger hooks...and larger pieces of perch meat or crawler. I do make jigs as small as size 10 for buddies who prefer bitty bites but I can't remember the last time I fished one that small.
Your jig heads in larger sizes can work. Bait them up and give them a soak. If you get no love then downsize.
In shallower and clearer water you will usually do better in stealth mode. Fish smaller stuff and tiptoe on the ice to reduce spooking. Just be sure you are wearing cleats on your tippy toes or you gonna do a triple klutz. That don't help attract fish to your area.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]