I have been doing very well this year at Island Park , and all the big fish I have been catching are full of Crawfish . I only have one lure that looks like a Crawfish and was wondering if someone could help me figure out a ways to use it Ice Fishing . I know it's a crankbait but was just wanting to try and jig it off the bottom . Thanks Curt G.
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I suppose you could try sliding a sinker down to just in front of the crankbait so that it sinks then just jig it on the bottom. No idea if it would work or not, but couldn't hurt.
What's the ice like up there right now? Do you need a plank to get on or are the edges ok still? Also, are the fish still primarily shallow as of late? I'm planning to hit it Monday and maybe Tuesday morning this next week, so any info would be appreciated.
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you can get soft plastics that are really good crawfish imitations. I've never even used them for trout let alone ice fishing, but I don't see why they wouldn't work if you fished them really close to the bottom. you could rig them up on a jig head just like anything else. One thing that I've noticed when using crawdads is I catch more fish if I cut off at least one of the claws. I guess the fish figure that less claws means less of a fight. good luck.
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A plastic crawdad on a stand-up jig head is a killer for big trout. I've never used it ice fishing yet but I don't know why it wouldn't work.
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Last week there was 20" of ice . I didn't go up on my day off this week because it was 31 degrees below zero Tuesday . I will be up there next Wednesday . I have not had any trouble getting on the ice . The best fishing has been very close to the bank in 6 to 10 feet of water . Thanks for the ideas I will try them . Curt G.
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I would go with a pink paddle bug. There are also several soft plastic craw baits for bass that would work. Maybe even a rubber legs creature bait called an itsy bittsy in craw color.
[url "http://www.buyfishingstuff.com/strikekingbitsybugjig.html"]http://www.buyfishingstuff.com/strikekingbitsybugjig.html[/url]
Good Luck and let us know if you find the answer.
Windriver
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I bought some rubber crawfish from Sportsmans. I would also try catching some crawfish for bait. Island park is full of them. I've caught them threw the ice by putting a worm on the bottom and then pulling it up real slow, they will stay on, and you might catch a big one while pulling the crawfish up.
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We also had noticed the larger fish eating crawdads, and so I thought I'd give some of those soft plastic crawdads with a good size jig a try. The brand I used was Zoom, I think.
They worked great! We tipped them with a part of a worm and put them right off the bottom. The largest fish we iced was a 6+ lber. I can't wait to give them a try at Ririe, just as soon as I can get out there.
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I read your report , thats why I started cutting them open and sure enough they have been eating them . Your reports are what got me fishing shallow also . Thanks Christhefish . Curt G.
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While crawfish diving at Ririe I noticed the small mouths would go crazy when I would catch a small crawfish and let it go. It was like a feeding freenzy. So I bought some rubber crawfish jigs and couldn't get a bite [frown]. I also tried using real crawfish for bait up there with no luck. So let me know if you have any luck at Ririe, I would like to know what I was doing wrong. I wonder where the small mouths are in the winter, never heard of anybody catching them through the ice?????[:/]
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Never seen or heard anyone catch a smallmouth through the ice around this area. My buddy did catch one just after ice off last year though and the water temp wasn't far from ice. One guy in a boat said his reading was 36 Degrees F. Personally, at that temp it's all freaking cold. That was the most lethargic smally I've ever seen.
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There are lots of great crayfish fly patterns-I think they would provide advantages over a hard sided crank bait in vertical fishing situations. To present them through the ice you could try a drop shot rig with the weight 3-6" below the fly. Once your weight gets to the bottom the natural material would flutter and move with very little movement of your rod.
Here is one example of a good looking crayfish pattern. After pulling the real deal out of the fish- you will have a good idea of size and color for I.P. .
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Seems to me that your standard Cutterbug or Paddle bug would do a pretty good job of imitating a crawfish.
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Just use a 1-1/2" Cu'r Bug in color# 013 or Crazy glow with the tail split on a 1/16 oz round head and catch fish.
[url "http://www.maniaccustomlures.com"]http://www.maniaccustomlures.com[/url]
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Found this video of a guy catching a big smallie through the ice.
[url "http://www.fishfever.com/node/435/play"]http://www.fishfever.com/node/435/play[/url]
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