New to Plastics

[irishjigs]

Hey All,

I am a walleye guy in the summer,so I don't know a whole lot about plastics. I would like to add them to my normal arsenal for winter fishing. So I am practicing putting a plastic tail on a Genz bug..the plastics with the paddle tail. How in the world do you get those plastics striaght on those little jigs? I am having a heck of a time. Thanks to all for the input.

jigs

[Borch]

With practice.

Really sometimes they bite better if they are crooked or T-Boned.

Welcome to the world of plastics!

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

My plastic seldom runs straight down on that jig. Make sure each time that it goes off to the side. Also a suttle jiggle goes a long way. Get a glass of water and practice so you know what your jig is doing so you can react to the fish's mood towards your movements. Most important is scent. Lots of kinds to try but get some kind of berkley or worm juice. My buddy calls his beaver juice. Now i don't know if thats becauce he uses it on sweet beaver plastics in the summer or what. But I do know he will out fish you 6 to 1 if you don't squirt a little beaver juice on your bait. It is a proven fact that scent plays a key factor in cold water situations. And finally, I love a spring bobber for fishing them and light light line. Favorite line is Gamma Floro ice 2# test. Great knot strength, limp, and aslo alive. Hard to find all of that in Floro line. Good Luck.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Liek the others have stated, its really not all that important for it to be perfectly straight. Some times an angle upwards to it or downwards will out produce straight. Fish a heavier jig than you normally would to get better action. I like the optic stealth jigs or the marmooska/diamond jig type lures for fishing plastics.

I too for panfish at least... like the 2 lb Gamma. The lighter the line the better action you get.

[Jim Hudson]

At times, aligning your plastic straight is key... But for the most part on most days you can get away with some crookedness.. Biggest thing is to make sure is that the lure does not spin constantly with the plastic angle. Check this prior to sending the lure/plastic combo down the hole..

And like Deitz stated, different angles of the plastic can be the difference in making plastics work for the day.. Hooking them one way can deaden the movement and hooking them another can increase their movement.. Ie for inactive, neutral, or active fish...

[gvg_uwec]

I am having trouble finding 2" power minnows... any leads on where to keep getting them through the winter?

[flyfish]

Thorne Bros had them about 3 weeks. Call and ask for Pat or Matt

[Matt Johnson]

A common mistake made by a lot of ice anglers when it comes to plastics is that they try to thread on too much of the plastic. Remember, you're trying to create a finesse presentation, so more action is better, and more of the plastic that moves means more action. Some of those smaller plastics are best used when only small portions of them are threaded onto the hook. Just thread on a small 1/4 or even 1/8 inch section instead...

Also try upsizing your plastic by using 2-inch Power Minnows and 1-inch Power Tubes. Larger Shrimpos and Ratsos work wonders too. And the Little-Atom Nuggies are one of my gill favorites under the ice...

And we have a lot of Power Minnows left at Thorne Bros

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Quote:

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the Little-Atom Nuggies

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What are those

[Jim Hudson]

Ice-Man

Nuggies are made by a company called Little Atom.. Do a search, and you should find Rick's HSOforum.. The plastic has like a salmon egg type head and a small tail off of that.. Added to the plastic is C9 scent formula. Pretty deadly little plastic.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

Thanks Jim I'll check them out!

[irishjigs]

Thanks All for the help!

jigs