The year long queston. Jig selections for Craps and Sunnies?

[Seabass77]

I had a pretty solid system for crappies and gills last year. When fishing dusk, this was my method.

½ hour and earlier than sunset – pounder w/two waxies and dropping a crappie minnow under a float with a plain hook.

½ hour during and right after sunset – crappie minnow and plain hook under a float & small glow jig with crappie minnow.

½ hour after sunset – when the crappies start to prefer the flow, if they do, I go all glow with a demon under a float and a jig and minnow. If I’m lazy, too jigs, two floats, two minnows.

If the bite is tough, I will keep with the waxies on a tiny glow jig, like a pounder or markmooska, with one waxie and a spring bobber. I like jigs with a positive hook set. Thus the pounders. They also sank fast and showed up well on the vex. I guess they discontinued them this year. Will have to find a replacement.

[slick2526]

Thanks. Im going to really try to fill up my jig box with different variations and colors of jigs b4 the hard water hits.
So im just trying to get some opinions. The two spot, who makes that? Also what what size, models, and colors of some custom jigs and spins would you suggest?
I used a Genz Fat boy on URL one day last winter. Seemed to really produce, was in the red glow. I seem to always go back to the Lunar Grub but it didnt help me out all that much this past season.
Seemed like I almost caught everything on a rat finkee and a fat boy.
Is their a certain type jigs you would choose more in stained type water, compared to a more clear type water MJ5?

Keep the comments commming.

[willowcat]

The Purple-twerple was my fave for a long time but I think they quit making them. Other wise the moon glow,periz,and rat finky work well also.

[Guest]

Seabass77,
Sounds like you got quite the system going. Does that system change depending on the period of winter? Like say early ice, midwinter, and late ice?

I've had to change my presentation during midwinter a bit but it stays the same during early and late ice.

I kinda do the same thing when I'm sitting over one of my favorite crappie spots. Jig and maggots on one line and float or deadstick and minnow on the other.

How many times have you had that cruising pike come by and take the minnow? Seems to happen to me quite often and it sure is a rush trying to get those in on 2-4 pound test line.

I found a school of largemouths last winter and they pulled on that 2 pound test to its max.

Sure can't wait to hook into that first fish out on the ice.

Good Fishin,
Matt

[Guest]

slick2526,
Two-Spots are made by Custom Jigs-n-Spins. They make a pretty decent product for ice fishing. I use some of the smaller sizes like 10 and 12. 8 will work too sometimes, but mostly 10 and 12. The weight of the 10 and 12 is the same but the length is just slightly longer on the 10. Sometimes that makes the difference when trying to catch that hesistant gill that you see on your flasher. The toadie, poppee, and demon work well to by Custom Jigs-n-Spins. I also used the slip droppers too, but I like taking the trebles off of buckshot rattle spoons instead when using a dropper rig.

When I fish stained water I'll use a red glow fatboy or other glow jigs (I've had best luck with horizontal presentations), dropper rigs, small jiggin rapalas, or a plain hook and minnow. I like to break open the maggot too, it adds scent and even a produces a cloud in the water. Anything to help the senses of the fish. Vision is important but vibration and scent are key in these types of sitautions. JB Lures makes a nice product that has tiny little blades attached that creates vibration and flash. Another good choice. A lot time it can be just guess and check before you find the right presentation. A lot of these presentations work well in clear water as well.

I had luck with red glow fatboys up on Red Lake last winter. Blue glow worked too but red was more dominant. I also caught a few fish on a upside down tailed hooked minnow on a plain hook. It has a really awkward action and seemed to draw in those negative fish.

Feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any more questions or just post.

[email protected]

Good Fishin,
Matt

[This message has been edited by MJ5 (edited 09-30-2003).]

[Bobb-o]

am i the only one who has trouble getting hooksets on the Genz worms? no matter how much i sharpen the hooks i cant get a solid hookset.

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Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein

[slick2526]

I know this has been brought up quite a few times but it is always intresting on what people have to say.
I like the lunar grubs in pink glow allot for crappies. Also the black ant jig with glow green dots for crappies and sunnies. Plain hooks are also a fav.

What do you like to use and what colors? Depending on the clarity of the lake and etc.

[Note from Rick: Please check out the TackleCity Ice Fishing Jig kits. Superior quality, outstanding price and deadly panfish jigs.
CLICK HERE for Crappie Jigs-Sunfish Jigs-Perch Jigs-Angel Eyes-Glow Devils]

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 11-04-2003).]

[Guest]

I've had a lot of luck with Two-Spots in red and glow for crappies. Genz fatboys in red glow have worked well in stained waters for crappies too. Plain hooks with small crappie minnows do the trick as well. I have a lot of jigs in my tackle box and use just about all of them at some point in time in some sitaution. Most of the time there is one that works better then others and it can take several trials before I find the right one. Gotta adjust the presentation and try little things that seem like they won't make a difference but they do. Like bending the hook a certain way, type of knot, number of maggots, minnow placement, etc.

If I had to break it down for my most productive jig last winter for crappies and gills it would go something like this:

Crappies:
(Tie) Red Two-Spots or Red-glow Fatboys

Gills:
Red or green-glow fatboys

I had a lot of luck with Genz Fatboys last winter. Fished them using the kicking method and that seemed to draw in and trigger a lot of fish. When I'm not hole hopping I typically deadstick a minnow below a plain hook and small crappie minnow. A few days last winter the crappie minnow out produced the jigging method. The jigging method was most productive though.

I also found that dark colors produced last year moer frequently then in years past. Black Ratso's tipped with maggots caught several crappies and gills. Jigging spoons also tagged a few when fish were active.

I found a school of crappies willing to attack small jigging rapalas too.

It all depends on the situation and the factors that come into play. But we'll leave that one for another topic.

Good Fishin,
Matt

[can it be luck?]

Does anyone else do this? WHENEVER I stop for bait on the way to Red lake, or any lake to ice fish, I ALWAYS buy at least one or two(or more!) jigs. Usually those red or pinkish glow ones. By the end of the season I have them in my truck's ashtray,visor,glove box,dash,stuck in the seat, everywhere! They're in there now!

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 10-01-2003).]

[FreeFlySpy]

I use #10 and #12 rat finky glow jigs all winter long. I cut the plastic off of the then use custom plastic ice tails of various colors. I change the colors depending on the mood of the day.The jig and presentation is one thing but you also need the right rod to fell the bite. Throw away you bobbers!

[Deitz Dittrich]

For crappie I like A mepps cyclops spoon with a small dropper to a tear drop tipped with a minow head.

For bluegill, am surprised I have yet to see anybody mention a MARMOOSKA.. my personal fave!

[Seabass77]

I typically make my adjustments based on the weather, and what I see happening on my vex, rather than time of year. If the fish are coming in at several different depths, jigging will obviously work better. Depending on the number of fish I see, and the activity level, I will make adjustments to lure size, position of split shot on my line with relation to hook, etc.

I would never get rid of my bobbers, ever. I wouldn't be able to watch the bobber move from one side of the hole, to the other, and then slowly pull down. I wouldn't miss that for anything. Plus, use correctly, a float is a very effective way to catch fish. It's not for every situation, but a great tool. When itroducing someone to ice fishing, it is also helpful to start them with a float system.

[Guest]

Bobb-o,
You might want to try bending the hook to the side just a little bit. The jigging action basically stays the same and you should see more hook sets. I've had similar troubles in the past with horizontal jigs.

can it be luck?,
Yup, I do the same thing. Always seem to come home with a few new jigs every other time I go out ice fishing. I can't go into a fishing store or baitshop without buying something.

Exudedude,
I thought that your favorite method of catching fish would have been your dad. He always seems to stack the fish on the ice. He will have to come out with us again this year.

Seabass77,
I like your on adjustments based on weather. Thats another factor that I think a lot of anglers miss. They use similar presentations regardless of weather and often times you need to change it up. I jig the most when I crappie fish because, like you said, the fish are constantly coming in at different depths in many situations. Its nice to be able to quickly change the depth of your jig when those roaming crappies come by suspended 3 feet off bottom and then another school appears 10 feet off bottom.

Good Fishin,
Matt

[email protected]

[This message has been edited by MJ5 (edited 10-01-2003).]

[Bigred70]

When I target bluegills, I use exclusively marmooskas and waxies...they are deadly, and I love the high density of the jig...it fishes like a big heavy jig, but is relatively small. For crappies, gotta go with an angel eye, or a larger marmooska.

[Guest]

united jigsticker,
The pinched minnow head worked for me occationally last year too. Worked well for perch and walleyes too.

Euro larvae is the way to go in my opinion for several situations when fishing crappies and gills.

I found a little jigging spoon up at one of the bait shops near Mille Lacs two winters ago and it has produced a lot of fish. It was one of those cheapo's by the register but it sure catches fish. Went back this past winter and couldn't find them. Green glow with a perch front. Awesome lure.

Good Fishin,
Matt

[email protected]

[Uncle Grump]

Exudedude

You beat me to it - I was going to say Marmooksa's - smaller the better.

I had them on a Thorne "Sweet xxxx" (something or another) last winter - deadly on crappie and gils. The jig fishes heavy, yet the feel is there w/ the THrone rod.

UG

[united jigsticker]

Most productive last winter was jigging spoons for me.

Before dark, in darker stained color water I used the gold plated back with the orange pattern face most consistently.

In clearer water, the white back and green pattern front did the trick, and in afterdark situations, the glow back and green pattern front did the trick, even on URL time and time again.

The best part about using these jigging spoons is the hooking percentage because of the treble hooks.

I usually tiped 2 hooks with eurolarva, using one red, and one white, to add a little variety.

Also working well, was pinching off the head of a Crappie minnow and using that hooked through the bottom of the lip.

Don't forget, Angel Eyes and Angel Eye Juniors are one of the best jigging spoons out there for Panfish, Crappies, Walleyes, and Perch.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[slick2526]

Thanks for your info and opinions. I have never tried the drop shot method. About how long should i make the leader? Also use a split ring im guessing?

[Guest]

Another vote for the Marmooska! I love those things!!!
My #1 color combo was the pink/white.

[Scott Steil]

Marmooska's have a great hook gap and fish heavy, that is about the only two things I like about them.

For those Red Lake Slabs or crappies in general it is tought to beat the Red Glow phelps Tick Jigs or Demons is you are fishing minnows.

All around the best hook for me is the Genz worm. Crappies or Gills it is the number one producer for me. The hooks leave a lot to be desired, but it works!

If you haven't used the Red Glow yet in winter, give it a try this year. Scenic Tackle has the best red glow there is and it is HOT. It was by far the best color last year. This weather has a guy really thinking about early ice.

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Mille Lacs Guide Service
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[slick2526]

bump

[CNY Tim]

Glow Finesse Plastics, rat finkees, copeds, marmooska's for panfish and crappies. Shearwater Thumpers, buckshot rattle spoons and forage minnows for perch.

[Rick]

For you guys who would like to see some of the best Crappie - Sunfish Ice Fishing Jigs and spoons on the market...
CLICK HERE for Crappie Jigs-Sunfish Jigs-Perch Jigs-Angel Eyes-Glow Devils]

[Guest]

Red and green glows were the weapon of attack last year, we had real good luck at Red Lake with red glow "tubes" they also worked well down here also for eyes and pies.

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Pies and Eyes for all.
Stay dry and on the fly if you find them they will bite..

[Finlander]

Demons, glow white/orange the smallest and the next size up are crappie killers!