Flies for the ice

[TKA6213]

Dose anyone use flies for panfish ice fishing? I would try some this year. What would be some good patterns to start with? Thanks Travis Good Fishin

[Fishin4fun_MN]

I have some ordered but have not received them as yet. I have tried a few other styles commercially available from both Northland and Flu Flu in the past with little luck. The ones I ordered are hand tied in the USA and I have used then from this company for open water and really like them. I ordered black jig heads with red body/tail and red jig heads with black body/tails. just trying to mimic winter forage.

[mainbutter]

I got some perch last year on home-tied flies.. but it wasn't easy, they just didn't fall fast and needed more weight for 20 FOW. Trying to get enough weight but keep a fly small is difficult.

[efishsport]

There is a guy named Barry Williams out of Michigan that makes ice flies. You can check those out. Just google him.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

The ones I ordered are tied on 1/32oz. jig heads.

[blackdog1101]

I've used some bead head nymphs before for sunnies, but I have a strong preference for horizontal jigs, so I've eliminated vitually all virtical jigs from my box. I've tyed up a dozen jigs like these ones on 1/80 oz gold and silver jig heads, so they will basically be bead head nymphs with a larger "bead." I'd think any of the standard trout nymphs would work. I may tie some more with peacock herl bodies, since it's such a good color for panfish. These ones are Zug Bug, Pheasant Tail, Pink Squirrel, and Killer Caddis.

[icefly]

A tungsten bead head then tie any nymph pattern (natural colors) work the best.I have tied and use ice flies for over ten years.Sometimes I will tip them with a wax worm but most of the time just plane. I take around 40-45% of my fish with Ice flies.

blackdog1101 has some good looking patterns.

Paul

[MikeRaetz]

I hand tie my own hair jigs for winter and summer panfish. I used 80th oz jig heads and they fall kind of slow but that's what I am looking for in my hair jigs. I get hit a bunch on the fall. I use them mostly with no bait but if it is a little tough I will put on in impulse mini smelt.

[FishinFools]

Black dog, gotta ask...do you buy those hooks? Or bend them yourself? Also, those beads look like they fit on the turn of the shank. Yes?

My son and I would really like to tie some of these...

[OnAFly]

You can get them at Cabela's. They are in the fly tying section. The beads you can get at a craft store like Jo-Ann fabrics. You'll pay the same price for 10X the beads.

[blackdog1101]

Black dog, gotta ask...do you buy those hooks? Or bend them yourself? Also, those beads look like they fit on the turn of the shank. Yes?

My son and I would really like to tie some of these...

FF, these are regular jigs, in 1/80 oz weight with size 10 hooks. They are distributed by Wapsi, which is a common "brand" in most fly fying shops. They come in silver, gold and unpainted. I think I got mine at GM if I remember right. I see they are available at Cabelas.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/744626.uts?WT.tsrc=CRR&WT.mc_id=crrdtfd

I also see lots of small jigs on the big internet auction site, many of which are colors, flourescent or glo. I may buy some glo ones for fishing at night.

Good for you for getting your son interested in ice fishing and tying his own jigs. My hat is off to you!

PS, I just tried PM'ing you and your mailbox is full.

[pikestabber]

As someone else said, regular flies take forever to sink, but they were the only thing that worked late ice a couple years back...I think that ridiculously slow, floating action really turned them on. They turned their nose up to everything else that day.