Changing Your Approach on the Ice

[Matt Johnson]

Extremely light biting fish call for a very light/finesse action rod. Spring bobbers and noodle rods are what I have in mind here. We need to go below the concept of ultralite rods and approach the realm of the "noodle". I hit the ice in search of crappies, and mainly just the opportunity of catching maybe only one fish, but that fish would hopefully be big. Early ice is prime for these situations, and big crappies are more eager to approach what you drop below an ice hole, but on the flip-side, they are also very picky once they reach the strike zone. Having a very sensitive rod and a well balance jig are key. I'm big on horizontal jigs, and the JR's Tackle Ice Minnow or Pumkinseed are two of my top choices. The Ice Minnow immitates a lot what crappies are feeding on right now, let alone much of the year. Tipped with a maggot or two and you're armed with a deadly fish catching weapon.

There is more to the outfit though, you also need a rod that will detect the most minute/non-existent bites, and the Power Noodle or Finesse Plus rigged with a spring bobber by Thorne Bros is the rod for the job. The Power Noodle is light enough to fish without a spring bobber, and that's what I was equipped with today. Now, ultralite rods like the 24 incher from JR's Tackle or the Sweetheart Plus from Thorne Bros are both great rods and have a place in my asernal, no doubt about it, but certain times call for finesse approaches, and today was just one of those days.

The weight of the jig was enough to put a slight dip in the rod tip, and when the crappie inhaled the bait, all that happened was that the rod tip returned to normal position. Now, I'm talking a movement of about a half a centimeter by the rod tip. That's all there was, once that happened I set the hook...the battle begun and soon after a fish in my hand.

I managed three fish using this approach. And I'm confident it can work for you in the right conditions. Here's one the fish...

It measured in at 16.25 inches...

It was caught on a JR's Tackle size 10 Green/White glow Ice Minnow just after sunrise. I was also was lucky enough to catch two 14 inchers along with this one within 45 minutes of each other. The fish were relating to shallower water, I'm talking about 8 feet and off the initial break. These fish are roaming and circling structure insearch of forage.

JR's Tackle Ice Minnow

These fish are not holding where smaller fish are. Schools of smaller crappies will turn these bigger fish away, but you can often times find these bigger fish close by. Small moves is all it takes to locate these bigger fish. I was about 400 yards from a prime early ice crappie spot, a spot where you can catch more 7-9 inch crappies than a person knew what to do with. I had the first ice jonz in my bonz, and I wanted to catch fish, but I forced myself to tread somewhat new water and move away from where I knew I could catch smaller fish all day. Instead, I found an isolated hump just off the first break and I punched a series of holes and worked the area.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is don't be afraid to try new water. Look at a map and search out areas that you think might produce. I know it's tough to pass up prime early ice spots where y ou know the crappies congregate, but you never know if those slabs are right around the corner holding in a spot where there isn't a person in sight. I'm not saying that this is a for sure thing, but the possibility is always there. Do I catch slab crappies everytime I hit the ice? Definitely not, actually I stumble across a true slab crappie bite maybe a couple times per winter on a good year, but its worth it and I like to go out of my way to try and catch them.

So, I encourage you to try "new approaches" to targeting crappies. Try new areas and don't be afraid to explore. And, having a finesse rod that detects very light bites is important too. I honestly don't believe I would have caught those fish without a finesse rod. The bites were virtually undetectable.

Have fun on the ice, but be very cautious and safe, the ice conditions are still very poor.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Northlander]

Dang Matt thats a SLOB! Good job! I have a noodle rod that I often use for deadsticking walleye. Not much backbone but with a little backreeling I can get most in. Im headed out tomorrow and may have to put the old noodle in the bag. I really like those pumpkins. They drop fast and fish heavy.

Again good job! beautiful pic. Who took it?

By the wy is that your biggest Crappie?

[Sportland_Bait]

Nice slab Matt, I'll be reading your tips more often. I know that crappie fishing is tremendous at late ice. Do you guys get into the big crappies during early ice as well? Most of the time I'm chasing walleyes or working at the shop in the early part of the season.

Jason Erlandson

[Matt Johnson]

Steve,

I was by myself and that picture and I had to using the timer on my camera. You should see the other two pics, my head is missing in one of them and the fish's tail is missing in the other Atleast one turned out. My biggest crappie I got last winter. Actually, my two biggest I got last year, about 5 minutes from each other... 17.25 and 17.75 inchers. I doubt I'll ever see any other crappies those size, that was one of the best days of my life. The skies opened up and things were shining on me that day

Jason,

Early ice is normally when I catch my biggest slabs. Late ice is when I catch my biggest bluegills and perch. I target crappies at late ice, but the perch and gill bites can be so fast and furious that its tough to pass them up. I chase crappies all winter long, and if I get a chance to get on some jumbo perch during late ice I like to give them a shot I enjoy early ice because the fresh sheet of ice is usually very strong and you can target the biggest slabs in the particular water system while they are migrating and beginning to stage for the long winter. Once midwinter rolls around it will be much tougher to catch those slabs, and often times it ends up being a mainlake basin, deeper bite. I've had pretty good luck in the shallower depths at early ice where I can intercept the migrating crappies on their way to deep water patterns.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[ivegottabite]

Matt-

Great info. It is just what I was looking for after getting skunked on crappies the first time I fished for them. I use 2 light action Genz rods but maybe adding a spring bobber would help me out with those finicky crappies.

Great fish, I hope I have the oppurtunity someday to get a fish like that!

Always great fishing knowledge

[Eric Wettschreck]

Gotta tell ya Matt, I love reading your posts. It's a world of tips.

[rod bender]

Now that's a pig! How about really wowing us with pix of the 17"+ers.

[LEECH21]

Great fish Matt! Congrats!

[mjhowe]

JEEZ Matt!!!

I think my smile would have been a little bit bigger!!!!

Let me add one thing to consider, I have used a spring bobber on a rod that was TOO noodley and cost me some hooksets. BALANCE as always is the key, as is using quality gear to begin with. Match everything, reel size, line weight,jig weight, the right rod and a GOOD quality spring bobber and you will have a combo thats hard to beat. Lastly, fresh line. If your jig wont uncoil the line, youre wasting your time!

AND, if your using a REALLY REALLY small jig, a fly fishing strike indicator is sometimes better than a bobber, but they wont hold much weight so you will have to experiment with different amounts of the indicator. I have even used just a small strip of pipe sealing tape tied to my line to detect light biting Kokanee, you see just a quiver in the thinnest strip of tape and thats as hard as they bite, especially 45-55 feet down...

ANYTHING to gain that edge!!!

[Iceman12]

That is a nice slab Matt!! I'm not looking for your spots or anything, just wondering if you found some fishable ice in the metro area? I ahve been dying to get out but the weather just doesn't seem to be cooperating.

[Matt Johnson]

Well put Mike. Most noodle rods don't need a spring bobber added, actually, I don't believe I've seen a noodle rod yet that would need one. The noodle rod itself is enough. Spring bobbers are great for light action rods or perch jerkin rods. I'm talking rods where the tip isn't ultra-sensitive but yet still fast. I've also played around with spring bobbers on walleye and catfish rods out on the ice too.

iceman,

I've heard that people are out on Coon Lake in the channel catching some small pike on tip-ups, but most of the Metro area lakes are still unsafe.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[dojigger]

Did you throw it back?

[Matt Johnson]

Yep, all those crappies are still swimming.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Captain B.R.K]

Excellent post Matt, great job! That is one thing I have never owned is a noodle rod. Always laughed when I had it in my hand (not the TB one's). I guess I should reconsider the next time I'm in the shop and have one in my hands.

Glad you were able to get 1 out of 3 pictures correctly- otherwise you would have been cursing up and down the wall

[dojigger]

Glad to here you threw it back matt. That shows good catch and release practices!!

[buzbunni]

I have a cheapo noodle rod and it works great. I do want one of the nicer ones, but for detecting that light bite, it's great. Like Matt said, the tip basically is a spring bobber, so you need nothing else.

Certainly spring bobbers have their place, but I would rather use a noodle rod in the appropriate situation.

[PikeTipper]

Hey Matt,

I won't ask what lake you caught those crappies on but what lake did you release them on???

Nice fish!!!

[Bob Horn]

That`s the best you can do? Excellent job Matt!!!That just goes to show everyone that a good rod even though it cost more is worth the money. Thorne Bros makes great rods and the new St. Croix rods with the spring bobber will be a great addition to your line up. Don`t sell yourself short when it comes to the rod. We all spend big bucks on a shelters, electronics,augers and get the cheapest rod we can find. The fishing rod is what is going to get you the fish not anything else. If you can`t see the bite you won`t set the hook if you aren`t setting the hook you aren`t catching!!! [PoorWordUsage]t buy a good rod not the gimmick.

[mrclean]

Nice fish Matt,by the background in the picture I know your exact location.

Well said Bjorn.I know alot of people that buy the best shelters, augers, even boats,but then they buy cheap rods and reels.Thorne Bros do make quality products.I love my sweathearts.