Plastics newby

[Stickjiggler]

All right guys and gals. I would like to start using plastics for panfish. I have never really used them yet. Any advice on what to use. Photos of them rigged up would really help. What has or has not worked good for you.

Thanks! Stickjiggler

[Lusid]

I got some Maki Plastics and they have performed for me.

I just used them this year for the first time so I'm a plastic virgin.

Thing with plastics is you have to make them look alive! So move/shake/rattle and roll! Right before you think they will strike slow down the movement - set hook and reel in.

[Jim Uran]

I like using something with small appendages, or something with a tail, paddletail, etc..

Color can be important with plastics. Once you gain confidence in plastics you will rarely reach for livebait again. Some lakes will be better than others. In fact, one of my favorite lakes I've tossed every plastic at them and only really found one that works in the winter time, a red 1" tapeworm Northland Impulse plastic.

Maki Plastics, make some awesome plastics that I really haven't had the chance to experiment with too much, I have a bag of different varieties but not sure what the names of them are.

Riggin them right so that they are straight on the hook is key, use your Vexilar to see how they are reacting to your presentation, and adjust from there.

[Rick G]

I have been using the Impulse plastics quite a bit this wineter with great success. The have a line of rigged baits, it takes the guess work out of weather your bait is rigged right.

Gulp alive also has a good line of baits for ice fishing. My favorites are the minnows, minnow fry and the minnow heads.

Like Jim said keep your bait straight. If it is rigged off to the side even slightly your bait will do circles when you jig it.

The biggest thing is to experiment and gain confidence with the plactics. Don't give up if the first couple times you try a new plastic and it dosen't work, it takes a little time to get the action down. Once you get the hang of it you will reach for the live bait less and less.

[clayton08]

I would also second the northland impulse red tapeworm that thing is hottttt. I also use the finesse glow and pink colors from custom jigs and spins those are usually my go to plastics. Northland has a huge selection of plastics and some really good ones my favorite are the tapeworm and bloodworm they also have the mayflys and the stoneflys the mayflys work wonders also. I have an arsenal of plastics every lake is different and dont give up they will usually always hit them its just tough to get used to them and how to fish them. Once you get the hang of it you wont leave home without them.

[cps420us]

Tungsten jigs and Little Atom Micro Nuggies is what I've been using 90% of the time this year.

[bk_MN_iceman]

I first tried plastics this year. I don't know what the ones I had success with were called they were a small cylinder with a skinny tale that branched off into a flat, wider tail. They were maybe only 3/4" long and I used them on a horizontal jig. I bought white and pink. White was much more successful for perch. I'm looking into getting more into plastics next season!

[DLD24]

This is my first year using plastics also, I have had some success with the Custom jigs and spins line, but I'm still trying to get my confidence with them...The shrimpos and diamond jigs tipped with CJS finesse plastics have worked for me...I would buy the ones pre-rigged when you first buy them, just so you know exactly how to rig them,thats what I did anyway

[Farley]

Northland Impulse mayflys are the bomb. I also use the 2" gulp minnows. Its pretty nice catching a mess of fish and not having to change your bait at all.

[Sherman]

I use plastics 90-95% of time fishing. I have more success than live bait. I also tend to hop hole a lot and with plastic its easier than live bait. If I do use live bait, it's on my dead-stick. My go to are custom jigs/spins diamond head with a glow or red ratso tail. I catch variety of fishes even a big fat golden shiner (6-7 in) at demontriville this one day. Didn't use it as bait cus I have only small pole. Would been a good pike/bass bait on tip-up and of course this was when season was still open. But for some sample of plastic set up look in the St. Croix River forum and under "lure staples" some good pics.

[gill man]

Tungsten jigs and Little Atom Micro Nuggies is what I've been using 90% of the time this year.

Same here. A wolfram jig with a Little Atom Micro Nuggie is usually hard to beat. Rig it so everything is straight out the back of the jig. Jig and tail hanging horizontal and straight back (not hanging off to the left or right side).

Sometimes I use a regular size Nuggie if the fish are more agressive and want it and sometimes a wedgie for inactive, spooky fish.

Little Atoms are scented which I think can help.

[BeenACrappieDay]

can anyone posts some pics of these presentations and how you mean they need to be mounted correctly? I've never done plastics and have not a clue what to use or how to use it, I'd be very curious to see examples. this is an intriguing thread...

[silverbulletguy]

youtube "ice fishing plastics" gives you many videos that will help

[clayton08]

pretty much go buy some tungstens and some plastics hook em up an start jigging. If you see the bloodworms like dld24 said you will pretty much figure it out. Beenacrappie day I know you fish pelican alot and the red tapeworm and red maylfys by northland with a mooska up there work like crazy up there. Thats what I used for the tourney up there.

[Valleye]

Plastique! The way to go but not the only way. I primarily work with a horizontal jig, a gold wolfram w/ red or glow bead. From 2-5mm, depending on the favored size. Never be afraid to use the smallest jig. I've had some of the biggest gills hit on a tiny 2mm. As for plastics I specifically use plastics that a friend has made. I call them my little sailors aka Ice Seamen! LOL

This first picture is of how to generally place plastics on your horizontal jig. If you google images of ice fishing plastics you will get a lot of pictures.

This second picture is of My Lil Seaman plastics that my buddy makes these three colors are killer. I think once you try plastics you will see a change in your arsenal that may benefit you. But don't foget about waxies and spikes they always have their time and place.

Good Luck

[Valleye]

Forgot to add this.

I have used the Little Atom plastics from the the micro nuggies to the jumbo nuggies. I have also used the wedgies from micro to jumbo. They all work its what you have confidence with!

Again Good luck and lets see some pics of the fish you catch with your PLASTIQUE!!!!

[Stickjiggler]

Thanks guys. Hopefully I can get out this weekend and use some of advice given

[DLD24]

And if it's a tough bite don't be afraid to shorten your plastics...like yesterday they would hit but just bite the tail so I bit segments of the plastics off until it was small enough they would inhale the hole thing...and just experiment with different color combos...I'm new to plastics,but in the last 2 days I've caught 40+ slabs..I'm hooked on plastics now

[Tom Sawyer]

Haven't bought any live bait for panfish since plastics hit the ice scene. With so many options of profiles and colors and recently the addition of scented products, finding a combo that fish will bite has been fairly easy. Weather and time of the ice season seems to be a factor in what combos shine.

Lately dark and bulky combos on cloudy days have been the ticket for putting slabs and bulls topside.

[Borch]

I've also had good luck t-boning LA noodles. Can be deadly presentation when the standard rigs shown thus far just aren't getting it done. By t-boning I mean hooking the noodle in the center so the ends hand off to the side and the plastic run perpendicular tot he jig. When fishing is slow experiment in hooking the plastic in a different way and change colors/profiles. Some days it makes all the difference.

[mattpaumen]

I haven't fished live bait for panfish for a few years on ice or open water. There are so many good plastics out there to choose from. I really like the Northland Impulse baits, especially the 1" minnow and the tapeworms. I've also had decent success with the Mayfly. I also use some Little Atom wedgees and nuggies and J&S Plastics from time to time.

A new jig that I absolutely love for fishing plastics is the Kodiak round ball. It has a little bigger hook shank which works well for plastics. The only place I've seen them at is Thorne Brothers, but they are awesome jigs. A little spendy, but well worth the price imo. I only have around 15 of them right now, but it will be the only jig I use as long as they are available!