Going Small

[fishingbuddy]

I have read from Matt to go small when fish are finicky. Does this mean cutting the Waxie small too? Some times the wax worm is bigger than the jig. Dumb question I know but consider the source

[BDR]

I would say yes. Try Euro's. They are much smaller than waxies usually. I have been having good luck with finicky fish with a JR's #12 Moon glow or a #12 Custum J&S Shrimpo tipped with 1 Euro. I have been fishing quite shallow so no wieght above the jig. Many of the fish have been hitting on the fall.

[Lost]

If you want to go small, get ahold of some of the plastics. They are tiny!

Take a look here:

This is a ratso from Custom Jigs & Spins. I've got one that I use for early open water season fishing also. Works great!

[Matt Johnson]

Definitely you can cut a maggot. When conditions are tough you won't always have to rely on the movement of a live maggot, and actually, the movement the live maggot can even have a negative affect on the fish. Moving maggots have a tendency to spin the presentation causing the fish to shun away. I'll sometimes tip a jig with a smashed maggot or and piece of a waxie.

I agree with Brian as well, Euro Larva or spikes are the way to go. I almost exclusively use euro's or spikes when rigging with maggots during the winter. I honestly don't think I've used a wax worm all winter. Euro's and spikes are smaller and stay on the hook better. They can also come in an assortment of colors and that can play a role some days as well. An all red presentation can really work wonders on negative fish, and when you have a red maggot it just ups your odds.

Plastics are another excellent choice and can even outperform livebait on occasion during the winter. You won't see the effectiveness like you do during open water, but plastics still play a huge part in the ice fishing scene. The Ratso and Shrimpo from Custom Jigs and Spins are phenomenal baits! One of my mainstays lately has been the size 10 Shrimpo, and I've had pretty consistent luck with those. The Ratso is excellent for sight fishing and for instances when fish are in the mood for "tasting" the baits instead of striking out of aggression. Plastics have definitely changed the way we ice fish for panfish as well. And yes, I would recommend plastics on negative situations as an option too.

Going small is usually the answer (or an answer) when the fish turn negative. More often than not it'll be the move to go smaller that triggers the fish into biting or to approach the bait at all. The use of a finesse indicator like a spring bobber is a must. Many ice anglers think those fish that come up to the bait and go back down weren't biters, but many times they are, you just don't notice the bite. Even some spring bobbers can't pick up very subtle bites. I usually hit the ice with a size 10 jig and a spring bobber as a good medium for a lot of conditions. I might have to downsize on occasion, but usually I can get by with a size 10 or 12 jig. Moving to a size 8 happens quite often as well. I just try to keep in mind what these panfish are feeding on during the winter, which are microscopic organisms... a fraction of the jigs we use. Yes, there are times when larger baits with outperform smaller baits, but as a general rule of thumb we're using smaller baits during the winter.

That's the part of fishing that keeps people on their toes, you never know what the fish want on any given day. No two fishing outings are the same and everyday brings a new adventure. The opportunities are endless (and it seems like the tackle options are endless too ) so enjoy it!

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson