Ice Fishing Plastics... What you guys like??

[hanson]

When it comes to plastics... there are a ton of options out there. Some options are marketed towards the ice fishing crowd but many aren't.

The stuff you see on the shelves around Minnesota will typically be Lindy and Custom Jigs & Spins. Who hasn't used a CJ&S Ratso?

But there are other great plastics out there as well, Little Atom is one company that makes some fantastic plastic products. Makiplastics is another company that makes some pretty interesting plastics as well. Both companies are not well know in these parts of the country but are definitely known among serious ice fisherman.

When you look at open water tackle... Berkley makes some great plastics with ice fishing applications (2" Power Minnow and the Micros series of plastics), Storm has some small minnow plastics, and even Southern Pro has a ton of plastics with ice fishing potential.

Like a lot of ice fisherman, I used to be a live bait guy only. Its taken some time but I have learned you can catch plenty of fish with no bait. The simple idea is your live bait no longer creates the movement, the angler does. You have much more control over how a plastic looks and acts in the water vs a live minnow, waxworm, or eurolarvae. The live bait does what it wants to, with a plastic, you can control to motion.

One of my major goals this winter is to establish a plastics only pattern on Lake of the Woods. I think it can be done, and I think it can be done very effectively. LOW eyes and saugers will respond very well to jigging spoons tipped with minnow heads, plastics are one step away! Right?????

Who wants to talk plastics?

[Shack]

Nothing warms the hart or makes a man more gitty, than opening up the ice jig box. Better than opening up the summer box.

Hanson brings up a good topic. I just peeked into my jig box and see almost no plastic. I might have to pick up some of these new "gulp" style things and give them a go round.

At LOW, I have had good luck on a jigging spoon with out even a head on it. This would be a good spot to try some of the differnt plastics. Mille Lacs could come close, but it is the norm to have meat on your hook or no fish will even look at it.

In the end, I do not use plastics, but will visit this the next time I am at Sporting Goods store or bait shop.

[harvey lee]

Plastics for ice fishing has become a huge option for my ice fishing. Almost all of my panfishing in past three winters has been done with numerous plastics. As far as eye fishing goes, for me its spoons and a fathead. Plastics will be given more of a workout this coming ice season for sure.

It's so nice not to have to drag live bait along all the time.

After fishing with Matt J. for a winter or two, one learns how to use plastics well to catch fish. One just needs to continue to use the plastic and the fish will come.

[hanson]

Quote:

---

After fishing with Matt J. for a winter or two, one learns how to use plastics well to catch fish. One just needs to continue to use the plastic and the fish will come.

---

Sometimes I think thats what it takes to figure this out. If you can hit the ice with a few guys that have confidence in plastic fishing, and pay attention to what they do and the kind of success they have, the much easier it is to try it yourself and gain confidence in the technique.

I have all the confidence in the world to try plastics on LOW after the success I had on URL last winter. I could not believe how many walleyes were hitting plastics only on URL, not just hitting plastics but destroying them.

Sharp auger blades, lots of auger gas, and a good workout here I come.

[Jim Hudson]

Plastics are definately the new craze in the ice fishing scene, and rightfully so... As has been mentioned, plastics downright catch fish.. Sure, there are those times when only meat will get you bit, but 99% of the time, you can catch fish on some sort of plastic. Be it a hot bite, a neutral bite, or a negative bite.. It can be done.. Just have to have the confidence to make it happen..

Plastic manipulation is key for success day in and day out with plastics. Making the plastic more lively.. Deadening its movement... adding just enough resistance or less for a slower or faster drop rate ... a subtle change of color or plastic type... all these things play a role in helping getting bit on a consistant basis!!

And to get good, leave the live bait at home and concentrait on just plastics. And when the bite slows and the fish are still there, manipulate things.. Think outside the box by hooking plastics differently and present them in ways that show the fish something far from what they might have seen before.

So many options... Not enough time...

[Borch]

When the plastics first came out for ice fishing I was very skeptical. However, after being schooled by multiple anglers at a FM get together using plastics I was much less skeptical. Now plastics use a lot of space in my ice box. I use both tiny and large plastic baits with success. It's not unusual for me to not even both bringing bait along on many trips.

Some of my favorites as Little Atom Nuggies, Noodles and Wedgies. Also Custom Jigs and Spins Rastsos and Shrimpo. Plus in the past year I added the Power minnows and various tubes. I'm still doing some experiementation with other "Non Traditional" ice fishing plastics this winter.

Think outside the box!

[MASON38]

When Berkley first came out with their ice fishing plastics, I bought em. Thought it would be good to have some back up if I ran out of bait. I worked them in the hole once, and that was it, out they came. No movement and stiff. I put the idea on the shelf for 8 years or so.

Rick DeBaere came out with his plastics at Little Atom, and I knew a good guy who used them, so I gave it a shot finally last year. Finished 11th at the Chisago tourney last year fishing for gills and crappie with nothing but Nuggies and Wedgies. Cant wait to try his new "minnie" Nuggie when they come out this winter. They are life like, soft and the color combinations he offers are great. Would take a lot for me believe there is better product out there. Try t-boning a noodle with a wedgie behind it, good presentation for crappie and perch.

[Jigginfireman]

Plastics.... Ah there is nothing quite like the smell of ANISE on your fingers after threading a tail of your choice onto your favorite ice jig.... When talking about plastics I think many people think of plastic tails. I condsider one more brand of jig/plastic to this category. I love the Purest for panfishing. This jig has been around for as long as I can remember. I can recall my Dad teaching me how to use a Purest when I was a small child. Of course he would be doing well with his presentation, and I never really did ice any fish. Now they are a peice in the tool box. There re days that the Purest will outfish a jig and tail, and visa versa.

The picture listed below is my plastic box. I like to have a variety of colors and sizes to cater to the fish's mood.

I like Little Atom for their life like presentations. Spending many hours watching a camera with a jig and a tail on it has made me a better ice fisherman. With each passing year you hear others presentations, and share what you have learned will help ice more fish. Like Mason said, I can't wait for the Little Atom new arrival. Should be a great addition.

For those reading this who would like to try plastics, let this ice season be the year. You don't need to purchase every color, size, and shape on the shelf. Buy a couple of colors that will produces for your body/bodies of water. Next try to find a tail that you can shorten if the fish are just bitting the tail. When you put them on keep the tail straight. If the jig/tail combo spins then the fish will be more skidish. Try and keep them nice and straight on the hook. Then find out how the fish want the thing. Keep those tips in mind and it should help you catch more fish.

[hanson]

Oooooohhhh!!! Look at all those Nuggies.

On most of the lakes I fish, start with White, and work from there. I like a pink jighead or pink/white jighead with a white Nuggie tail. Sometimes glow but that depends.

Another tip to help with the plastic learning curve is tip your presentation with 1 Eurolarvae. Once you catch a bunch of fish jigging a plastic with a little meat, leave the meat off and you'll find they keep hitting. Couple days of that and you'll be sold.

[ndsufootball]

I do agree with you on the plastics, I have learned by trial and error over the alst year on how to use them and fish them. I had some success with them on Mille Lacs, but honestly last year the Walleye on Upper Red were hitting almost anything.

[Coon]

what you guys recomend for jig heads for the plastics?

[Luck e 1]

Are the nuggies the round headed ones with the tiny tails that I saw in the box? How do you fish those? With the really large and round head I would think it would make for a wierd looking presentation.

[MASON38]

Yep those are the nuggies, kind of look like tadpoles. You can use them with just about any jig in your arsenal. Even off of a treble hook on your spoons or swim bait. With your smaller jigs, run the hook through in the top portion of the head.

[Borch]

Quote:

---

what you guys recomend for jig heads for the plastics?

---

Depending on the plasics I use Little Atoms Optic Stealth and Optic Jigs. I also use 1/32 & 1/16 oz collorless jigs by various manufacturers. Also at times I use the Custom Jigs and Spins Diamond Jig as well.

[Jigginfireman]

Quote:

---

what you guys recomend for jig heads for the plastics?

---

Coon-I like to seperate my ice jigs into a long vs. short shank jigs. I like a heavy short shank jig (ie: Little Atom Optic Stealth, Your Boobers Down Tungsten Jig) when the using a smaller tail. To be considered a smaller tail I go by any tail under an 1" would go on my shorter shanked jigs. With tails over 1" I like a longer shank hook(ie: Little Atom Optic Jig). Any tail over an 1". This is not a rule set in stone for me just a guidline I like to use. The longer hook shanks hold the longer tails better and will prevent the fish from always pulling off the tails. Play around with differnt jigs and don't be affraid to try your tails on your Vertical Jigs either...

[Coon]

thank you borch and fireman

[Bruce Mosher]

Last winter I fished alot with a Genz bug and Lindys plastic tails. Like Hanson said be sure to play with different colors. We caught alot of Bluegills and Crappies with an asortment of little jigs and tails. Once in a while it helped to but on a maggot or two or a waxworm. If you put a long skinny plastic tail on you must be sure to keep it straight off the hook. Otherwise your jig will just spin on you when you are jigging.

Fun Fun!!!

I can't wait!

Bruce Mosher