Matthew Breuer posted on July 15, 2005 23:33 :: 5490 Views
If you're an avid ice fisherman, no doubt you've encountered negative panfish. Bluegills and crappies that you can mark on your electronics, but can't for the life of you get them to bite!
There are many factors in why a panfish will suddenly turn negative. Panfish, unlike walleyes, are very effected by cold snaps. With the invention of portable shelters that go up and break down with ease more and more people are venturing out on those colder than average days, with this, more and more people are encountering negative fish beneath them.
Hands down the Custom Jigs and Spins Shrimpo in a size 6 is my favorite bait, and the one that's on my line 90 % of the Winter, however, sometimes your favorites don't catch any fish and you need to try something different. There are several different things a person can do to get those negative fish a little more interested in eating. Let's go over a few.
Custom Jigs and Spins Shrimpo panfish
Downsizing is one effective way of turning on those finicky biters. As stated above I start out with a size 6 jig in most situations for panfish, for crappies I'll tip my jig with a minnow, and for 'gills I'll use euro larvae or wax worms. A size 6 jig is about 1/32 oz. and when that isn't working I'll downsize to something as small as a size 10, which is roughly 1/100 oz. Below is a common jig size to weight conversion.
Size Weight
Size 4 1/20 oz.
Size 6 1/32 oz.
Size 8 1/50 oz.
Size 10 1/64 oz.
Size 12 1/100 oz.
Size 14 1/200 oz.
Some jigs have a slower than average lift and fall rate. The Custom Jigs and Spins Purest has the most subtle lift and fall that I've found. It's the best jig I've found when chasing panfish that are downright finicky. A size 12 Purest can take 3 seconds to fall a single foot, putting the bait in the strike zone longer, allowing the fish more time to bite it. The Purest imitates the daphnia or freshwater shrimp that panfish feed heavily on. You can fish it bait less, or tipped with a single euro larvae or wax worm.
Bluegills caught on the Custom Jigs and Spins Purest.
Something in ice fishing that can't be ignored is the noise made over baits that glow in the dark. There is a good reason for their recent success! Many of today's baits have luminescent colors which make them more visible in deep or murky water. You simply use a handy thumb pressed LED flashlight to charge your bait for brighter and longer glow. Custom Jigs has the Nuclear Flasher which is great for making my baits glow brighter and longer! There have been many situations where I have had a fish hovering below my bait, and no matter what I do I can't get it to bite, that is until I reel up and give my bait a flash. When it's glowing bright I drop it back down, and the fish will inhale it! There are certain circumstances where this is all you need to turn the fish on.
Hopefully these tips will help you turn on those negative fish you encounter on your adventures on the ice this year, and will also help you catch those light biters. Don't forget about the great panfishing to be had in many lakes in the area this winter. Remember to only take enough for a meal, and limit your catch. Catch and release and selective harvest allows future anglers to enjoy the resources we've had available to us!
Good luck and have fun.
Matt is pro-staff for Crestliner Boats, Strikemaster Augers, Custom Jigs and Spins / Flu Flu, St. Croix Rods, Phelps Tackle, Vexilar / Salmo, and Aqua Vu Underwater Cameras
Matthew J. Breuer
Northcountry Guide Service
(218) 444-6479
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