Vertical jigging with ice jigs - open water

[mainbutter]

So I'm going to try to see if I can't make something happen in deeper water when I get out fishing sometime this week. I tend to ignore deep water, because I tend to leave electronics at home, disregard maps, and am generally ignorant of structure I can't see through polarized lenses.

I'm going to break out the fish finder and GPS for the first time since ice fishing, hit up a lake I've never fished before, and hit some deep spots first.

What do you guys think about dancing some jigs, jigging raps, and darters directly below my canoe? Think it's a good way to call in fish and get some predators to eat in the summertime, or am I better off with deep swimming cranks?

[Grum]

Only one sure way to find out, give it a try. Let us know how it worked out for you.

[Stick in Mud]

Well I went out with a weirdo this spring (pushbutton, if you want to know who it was) who was jigging with a buckshot for walleyes while I was fishing bobbers. I think I hooked more fish, but we had about the same number of bites, so it can certainly be done.

[bobbymalone]

i stay away from ice jigs during open water season just because they are so light. It's easy when the water level is static and you're looking down a hole, with a little drift and a bit of waves, good luck keeping a tiny jig in the eat zone.

I don't see why a chubby darter or a jigging rap wouldn't work in the summer though.

[YiGGiN4SLoBS]

Intersting thought.... i use open water jigs ice fishing and i know that works... So why not ice fishing jigs open water fishing??? Let us know how it goes

[pushbutton]

Well I went out with a weirdo this spring (pushbutton, if you want to know who it was) who was jigging with a buckshot for walleyes while I was fishing bobbers. I think I hooked more fish, but we had about the same number of bites, so it can certainly be done.

Hate to go back to this again, but if there were not 4 FOOT WAVES...would have had a better chance at hooking up

As Bobby(always hear Whittney in my head) mentioned the biggest issue is how to keep the lure where you want it. You can upsize the jig, but this only works if the fish are biting aggressively. If it is possible, try to down size the hook on a larger presentation; or else split shot will be your friend. Was using a small frosty tipped with a minnow this weekend on relatively calm water in less than 15 ft but still needed to add weight because of the "current"....if not just for feel alone.

[LPCrowRiverFisherman]

Went out today with the kayak, and an ultralight pole with some ice fishing crappie jigs. Stuck a powerbait wax worm on and worked 8-16 ft of water and did well for sunfish and crappies, even got a 16.5" Walleye on that setup.

[goose89]

http://youtu.be/uefZBGokFfk

[CANOPY SAM]

Not to be nit-picky, but ice-fishing jigs, and ice-fishing spoons are two different things, and there are plenty of ice-fishing jigs out there that are plenty heavy enough to work in deep water during the summer.

No reason why Angel Eye's, Buckshot spoons, and numerous other "jigging spoons" wouldn't work great tipped with a minnow, leech, or even crawler working an outside weedline.

Best of luck, be safe, and let us know how you do!

[mainbutter]

[Stick in Mud]

Ah yes, pushbutton, it was that night. How could I forget?!?

[Kyhl]

They can work. I have used some larger jigging spoons in the summer in place of round jigs. Very similar to large sweedish pimples.

I seem to have less luck with them but it's fun to experiment.

Now that you brought it up, I may have to try it again next trip.

[TruthWalleyes]

Vertical jigging with ice jigs...All i have to say is go get a large supply of LIVE FORAGE RIPPIN SHAD...Walleyes love em!

Caught fish trolling them on leadcore, vertical jigging, casting/retrieve...

[newoodhntr]

Here is an ice fishing show I seen about jigging with Raps.

http://www.fishingclub.com/magazine/news...fishingfor-eyes

[Dark Cloud]

We have a deep mud hump on a lake we fish that the eyes school up on in september... A gold swedish pimple casted and snap jigged back to the boat can be killer at times...

Aslo every summer I get into some deeper gills that I can anchor up on and verticle jig with a flasher and ice jigs...

[Stick in Mud]

I also recommend the use of a flasher (if the conditions are right)....it's just about as much fun as it is in the winter, only I seem to have more fish swim through. I tried it on the flats on Mille Lacs one (calm) night, and I had a blast. I imagine it'd work for other things, too.

[Jarrod32]

My vertical perch ice fishing presentations...halis, buckshots, swedish pimples...are usually among my first choices for jigging up summer bluegills, and also when we get on the nice perch in the summer as well.

[gunner55]

I have seen & read a number of pieces on using jigging raps for deeper crappies & walleyes in open water.I haven't tried it yet though.

[Moose-Hunter]

Chubby Darters! That's all I'll say on that.

[OnAFly]

For panfish I've found they are too small to be effective for actual jigging. I have put them under a bobber with success before. You have to use the heavier jigs and a smaller bobber to get it to float right, but it works pretty well.

[Selmer]

I've caught hundreds of perch, walleye, and northerns jigging a buckshot spoon over the side of the boat. Change out the treble to a large eye single hook and bait up with a chunk of leech or crawler. I also use little ice jigs for bluegills over the side of the boat - Lindy Little Nippers, Bro jigs, etc. Just place a large split shot 8" above the jig and go to town. I often use an ice-fishing rod to do it as well. I'll outfish the next guy with a standard rod or slip bobber almost every time.

[Jmarksman]

I never put my hard water jigs away, I use them year round. Broke many slabs with forge minnow spoons and small raps.