Genz Worms/Fatboys spinning

[Ice Fishing Kid]

Hey ice fishermen, I was watching Wisconsin Waters and Woods a year ago and John Gillespie and Larry Smith were ice fishing Castle Rock. they were using genz worms and fatboys and they had to tie barrel swivels about 1 ft and a half from the jig because otherwise it would spin. do you absolutly have to tie a barrel swivel on the line or have you guys caught a lot of fish on the genz worms and fatboys without the barrel swivel???THANKS

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JONATHAN SOBEK

[Matt Johnson]

I just tie direct, no barrel swivel. I can see where they would want to use a barrel swivel and I understand the purpose, but I've had good luck just tying straight to the jig. I believe I get more feel and control when working my jigging sequences, I've also not had a huge problem with spinning...

[Bob Horn]

If I was going to tie on a swivel it would be a ball bearing. Get a high end swivel the smallest you get find. I won't use one because the fish will hit the swivel sometimes and not your lure. I walk out my ice rods just like I do for my open water spinning gear. When it gets to bad I put new line on.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I think a lot of it depends on how deep you are fishing. IF over deep water, you can put a lot of twist in the line as it drops, but more so as you reel in to re-bait.

with that said.. I usually only tie on a small ball berring swivel on jigging spoons. Not lures like genz worms.

[MASON38]

Hiya Kid,

Good to see you soaking up info where ever you can get it!

I dont use a swivel with panfish jigs either. I'll go with a 4' leader of Vanish from the Power Pro right to the jig. I would make the leader shorter, but gills and crappie seem fascinated by the little knot from the double uni, so I moved it up higher out of the strike zone. Little trick if you are sight fishing, or able to see your jig with a camera...if the jig does start to spin, give a very gentle lift of the rod tip, will keep the jig from spinning on ya.

When I do use a swivel for all those walleye rigs you saw already, everytime it comes out of the water I'll put it in my mouth to avoid a quick freeze, and give it quick dry wipe, and back down the hole it goes.