Three rods rigged and ready for battle!

[Jim Uran]

Success on the ice is correlated to using what we have learned, and being prepared out on the ice. Gone are the days of being a one gun angler, instead, we pack our bags with the full arsenal prepared for anything that is thrown our way. We go to the fullest extent to make sure that our augers are running perfectly, we make sure our tackle boxes are full with the latest and greatest lures, our shelters are our mini bunkers out on the ice and they are ready to rock, but, do you still go out with one rod thinking it will suffice?

Having three rods rigged and ready is what has put more fish topside for me this winter than I could have back in the day. When I thought one rod and the ability to bite line and to retie on a different lure as quick as lightning was Ice Fishing 101. The ability to have three rods ready, with three different presentations is the norm for me presently. I have five combos packed in my Clam rod locker, but really, only three of them see constant action. The other two are just to make me look cool, no, in actuality one of them is for emergency use, and the other is a float rod. I think three rods is the right amount to have, I'm sure other folks have their balanced amount, but this is mine, and I'll tell you why.

We have learned from many great ice anglers over the years, that fish are typically in one of three moods. Positive aggressive fish, neutral normal fish, and the dreaded negative tight lipped fish. So why not have three rods rigged and ready, one for each one of those situations.

When I am crappie fishing, this is how my rods are rigged. I'll have one plastics rod, usually a small 3mm or 4mm tungsten jig with my favorite plastic on it, the next rod will have an OPS flutter jig with a minnow head, whole minnow, waxies, or plastics. I leave it up to the fish to see what they want it tipped with. I really enjoy using these jigs because of the nice big hook gap, multi-colors, and easy to re-tie with the large hook eye! And last, but certainly not least, the Lindy Darter is on my third rod! The 1 1/3” Darter in chartreuse glow hasn't left my rod since I've tied it on in early January.

My typical search lure or the rod I'll grab first is the flutter jig with a minnow head on it, once I start marking fish I'll let my Vexilar tell me how the fish are reacting to my presentation. I'll go through a few jigging cadences with it and see how they react to what I'm doing. Having the other rods rigged and ready helps me adjust to what the fish are telling me on my Vexilar before they move on.

I love using the Lindy Darter as a search lure also, typically I'll see what kind of mood the fish are in before I drop it down, but sometimes I'll go hole hopping in areas that I've gone through and haven't marked anything, and use it as a fish call or sorts. Sometimes they will come screaming in from the side, and smack it, or come screaming in and just check it out. That's when one of the other rods comes in handy.

So when you are on the ice, make sure your rods are rigged and ready, have them rigged with different presentations so you can adjust quickly and get a different presentation down the hole before your screen goes blank. These are my three go to presentations when I'm out chasing crappies. Have fun stay safe, and God Bless!

[JacobG]

I couldnt agree more with you Jim. I would like to add another quick technique if you dont mind. When out fishing with friends and we are on a big fish lake with neutral fish, marking the same fish for a long period of time (almost always hole hopping) I will call one of my fishing partners over and when ready Ill reel up in a hurry and usually at the same time he will drop down with his jig or spoon. This way the fish is always entertained and doesnt leave from below the hole.

Interestingly tho, and I have adopted this from Muskie fishing. Is that my partner could be using the exact same bait color and all, but the way he might fish that jig is entirely different than how I was or do fish that jig. And the fish will bite.

When you have caught as many fish as some of us have, and youre not afraid to let someone else in the group catch a fish youve marked this can be another deadly technique. And usually they will give you a holler later in the day and return the favor.

[Rick G]

Great read as always Jim

[TruthWalleyes]

Good read Jim, I too have 3 rods setup for the 3 moods (though mine were geared toward walleye) as well as a float rod and a big fish rod.

Time to switch them over to panfish for the weekend.

[Wes Ellis]

I went on a lake sunday and had five rods riged. one with a red tear drop and bobber, one with a risto with a tail. one with a lindy rattel flyer, one with a chubby darter, one with a hot tommile(JR'S) cought crappies on all lures but the chubby darter, but it would bring them in. It was the 2.5" one. The crappies were small but fun.

[Gun Slinger]

HA! I keep four rods rigged.

[Jim Uran]

JacobG, tag teaming a hot hole is an awesome tip for those roaming basin fish!! Great point!

[amateurfishing]

thx for the great info Jim...do you use same type of rod/reel setups for all 3 presentations or do your combos differ depending on lure/bait?

i now have 2 powernoodles in my arsenal but wondering if they are too sensitive for a rattlin flyer or darter?

[Jim Uran]

Definitely beef up the rod for a darter. . Heck I use a stiff old ugly stick

[MN BassFisher]

I would definitely echo your points Jim. I'm never on the ice with less than 4 rods, usually it's around 6. Everything varying from size and color. If I'm on a good bite or marking fish the last thing I would want to have to do is tie on a different jig. Come as prepared as you can and it will help. This is probably a carry over from me being a bass guy and have wayyy too many rods rigged up but I think I think having 3-4 rods ready is a very great tip.

[amateurfishing]

Definitely beef up the rod for a darter. . Heck I use a stiff old ugly stick

medium, medium heavy?

[Jim Uran]

Medium to ML would suffice!

[Scott M]

I'm usually rolling with a couple rods for the chase...different jig profiles, sizes, and aggression levels for each and less time lost retying. Sat next to Jim a few weeks ago and he was rotating through the rods - kept him on fish too!

[paceman]

Wow great tips Jim. I have multiple rodds rigged up with different colors but none that address the different moods of the fish. Very interesting.