So I haven't ever done the whole Ice fishing thing mostly because I haven't had the time in the winter. I usually try to snowboard or snowmobile 50+ days a winter but this year that has to change due to interning last summer which has cut down on the sled funds. Soooooo looks like its time to do a little hard water action.
So I see guys talk about paddle bugs......what are they and pics would be a huge plus.
What test line is recommended? Heard guys use between 2-8 lb test.
Are the cheap rod/combos at cal going to be an issue to use? Doesn't seem like the rod is even a big deal.
How much action should a guy be using when jigging? Active jigging best? or Dead hung better?
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I threw up this link to paddle bugs last year, but I've found them a good source so I'll put it up again. They have good customer service as well.
http://www.crappielures.com/paddle_bugs.php
I know for line size alot of guys go lighter, around 6lb or so. I use 6 or 8lb flourocarbon. The 6lb has less memory and more sensitivity, but I feel more comfortable when my line rubs the ice edges with the 8lb.
Chartreuse, white, and pink paddle bugs are a good place to start. The reason the paddle bugs work so well is they have a smooth gliding descent in the water and wiggly legs that drives the fish crazy. They will take it on the downward motion most times it seems. I also like the Gamakatsu jigs you can find at sportsmans. I do really well with little glow ice flies often when nothing else is working.
You can use about any rod, though some are better for specific circumstances. Softer rods are better for kokes and perch, while a bit more backbone is good for larger trout.
You will often catch more fish when jigging, and sometimes it's the only way to induce a bite. The nice thing about ice fishing is that you can use up to 5 rods, so you can do both at the same time.
Outside of that, all you need is an auger and an ice skimmer and you're good to go.
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To bad you don't live in the Boise area. A friend of mine is doing a seminar at Sportsman's on the 8th of December.
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Check out [url "http://www.maniaccustomlures.com"]www.maniaccustomlures.com[/url]
Get some Gizzilla's, 1-1/2" Cut'r Bugs and Gizzy Bugs. You won't regret it!
I use 6 and 8lb test For all of my ice fishing.
Buy some wax worms and meal worms to add to your jigs.
Good Luck and good fishing!
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Your questions are actually more complex than they seem at first. I would say 6lb test is a good compromise size. 4 works better most of the time, but you always chance breaking it off 8lb takes away from the action of many jigs.
I have bought many rod combos, the cheap ones are usually cheap. It is better to buy a rod you like and pair it with an okuma from sportsmans. Another problem with prerigged combos is the line is never good and has tons of memory. I personally believe memory is an enemy to all ice fishing.
Let the fish tell you how much action to give the jigs. I had times last week when the fish would only hit an active jig or only hit a dead one.
Windriver
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The cheap combos at Cal Ranch seem to work just fine, so long as you're not going after big fish. The rod doesn't have a ton of rigidity to it, and the drag on the reels can be really hit and miss. FishingRookie and I used em last year. My drag worked decently well, and his was pretty much like an on/off switch. It would either give too much or not at all. If you're hoping for bigger fish, I'd at least try and get a nicer reel.
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You can also just take the reels you normally use for soft water and add them on to an ice fishing rod. For the first two years I iced fish, I actually just used my soft water rods and reels and it worked out fine. If you are fishing in an ice tent, the longer rods won't work but if you are just outside on the ice, a 5 ft rod will work for ice fishing. You don't want a long stiff rod of course if you are using small jigs and trying to detect light bites. But the soft water rods, depending on length and action, will work. Just add a spring bobber so you can detect the bites.
I have used some of the cheap ice combos and the reel drags are fairly poor. The rods to me are the most important thing to get as I have a ton of reels I can just take off my other rods and put on my ice rods. A very flimsy rod can make it very difficult to hook fish. You will have a harder time feeling the bite with a short stiff ice rod. So to me the rod is more important than the reel because I know I have missed many fish before I actually knew what type of gear to use.
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[quote Ktrout]You can also just take the reels you normally use for soft water and add them on to an ice fishing rod. For the first two years I iced fish, I actually just used my soft water rods and reels and it worked out fine. If you are fishing in an ice tent, the longer rods won't work but if you are just outside on the ice, a 5 ft rod will work for ice fishing. You don't want a long stiff rod of course if you are using small jigs and trying to detect light bites. But the soft water rods, depending on length and action, will work. Just add a spring bobber so you can detect the bites.
I have used some of the cheap ice combos and the reel drags are fairly poor. The rods to me are the most important thing to get as I have a ton of reels I can just take off my other rods and put on my ice rods. A very flimsy rod can make it very difficult to hook fish. You will have a harder time feeling the bite with a short stiff ice rod. So to me the rod is more important than the reel because I know I have missed many fish before I actually knew what type of gear to use.[/quote]
I agree with K-trout in that rod selection is the most important thing. You need enough backbone in the rod to get a good hookset, but you want it to be sensitive enough you can detect the bites. I also, highly recommend the jigger totter for detecting light bites. If you have the JT's you can get by with a stiffer rod.
Rod first, then reel second, line size/quality 3rd. I prefer 4-6 lb line, but you can get away with heavier on bigger fish or with bigger lures/jigs. I started out with 8lb line, but I find that I get the most bites on 2-4 lb line. With 2-4 lb line sometimes I'll break off, so I've been migrating towards 6 again. Recently I bought some braided lines and use a mono tippet, but I don't like the way the ice builds on the braided lines, so I won't likely do that again.
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Thanks for the info. Lots of good stuff in there. Going to pick a few things up this week and give it a shot this weekend. If I catch anything it will be dumb luck but then again I seem to have lots of that these days.
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[center]Good questions, great answers.
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+1 to spring bobbers. If you're after panfish I'd say they are a must-have (YMMV).
Realized old guitar strings can be fashioned into great spring bobbers. Check them out on [url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQqssLMNZI0"]Youtube[/url] - this is my favorite style.
+1 to a teeter totter holder - I've got a couple Mr Jigger's. Cut a cork to add to the wire, and you're in business. Might try making some from wood or PVC.
I'm not gonna mention the Jawjacker - start THAT up again.[blush]
As for rods - one thing hadn't seen mentioned is the size of the eye-holes. I like a rod with more like a medium action, and bigger style eye-holes, so the line doesn't ice up as much. And with a medium action, plus spring bobber - you've got all the sensitivity, plus enough backbone if your perch turns into a tiger-musky!
I've wondered about the 'specialized ice-fishing lines' - are they really any better/different that regular line?
But by all means - any ice rod you buy, rip off the line that came with it, and reload fresh.
I got a rod that lights up and glows when you reel. Kinda fun for the tent (kids get a kick out of it).