Amateur question for someone with 25 years of ice fishing experience

[gunner55]

Most years they start getting scarce about Labor Day. Gulp leeches?

[Pat K]

I tried some leeches I had saved a few years ago. They curl up in a tight little ball in the cold water and the fish didn't show any interest in them.

[RebelSS]

Leeches aren't real lively in cold weather. Best used in warmer weather and waters IMO. Minnows and waxies or spikes still have to be the best winter bait.

[PurpleFloyd]

For the record. The Perch were biting pretty good the other day on an unnamed lake and while minnows were getting hit hard, I decided to try

 

-Pork bait

-Gulp minnows

-Gulp Crawlers

and the result was nothing bit. They would rise up to the bait but once they got a sniff so to say they were gone. Put a minnow back on and they started to bite again. 

[pikestabber]

4 hours ago, lawnbuilder said:

Tried crawlers one winter and couldn't get even sunnies and perch to bite that were going crazy for everything else. 

 

Heh. Not starting a fire, I promise, but I used crawlers once and caught gills and crappies after waxies and minnows produced nothing. I think it's just a matter of what looks, smells, or feels right to the fish on that particular day. The reason most don't use crawlers in the winter is lack of access, but I have had success on several occasions with them.

 

[bobbymalone]

5 hours ago, RebelSS said:

Minnows and waxies or spikes still have to be the best winter bait.

That's because you haven't tried hot dog chunks, soaked in pickle juice for at least 24 hours, and then sprayed with WD40 right after they go on the hook.