Ice Fishing Lures and Bait

[johncolson]

I purchased a bunch of Ice Fishing lures recommended on this board and the Ice Fishing board. I had to guess on the sizes, I bought some 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 size lures. What size would be recommended? Some of the spoons came in 1", 1.5" and 2" sizes. What size spoon would be recommended?

What live bait should I tip these lures with for perch and walleye?

Thanks for the help,

John Olson

[dolsmi]

I personally tip the jig heads with the pinched head of a fathead minnow.

As for the lures you will have to test and try whatever you think might work. All the sizes you have mentioned seem to work.

I haven't been up yet this year, but last year for walleyes an orange colored single hooked 2" jig worked the best for me. (Smaller sizes for perch)

Good Luck!!

Careful on the ice. Keep your eyes open and never assume the ice is good everywhere on Mille Lacs with the constant cracks and heaves changing. Especially early ice.

[rodmaker]

Hopefully you purchased a few glow jigs also. I like to use Golden Shiners with these. 3"-5" work well. Hook like you would using a plain hook, towards the tail. Use this on tip ups or your rod if not jigging.

[TrophyEyes]

You need a variety of sizes. There will be a situation where you just need to change something up. Hook the shinners between the dorsal and the tail. When jigging only use the head of a fathead minnow.

Favorite lure: Northland Eye dropper jig in orange. More fish caught on that lure than any other.

[rodmaker]

Yep. I was just referring to using shiners on the glow jigs. I always have fat heads and rainbows along. When I jig, only the head of the minnow.

When are you going to head up??

[pike doctor]

Hey TropheyEyes, I just bought some of those orange eye dropper jigs the other day. You use them as a deadstick or do you jig with them? I put one on a tip-up for this saturday and i was thinking I would put a nice-sized, live shinner on there.

[Team Otter]

I predominantly use 1/8 oz. lures but occassionally take it down to 1/16 oz. I tip jigging spoons, etc with either the head of a minnow or a gob of wax worms or euro-larvae, depending on the situation (i.e. bait fish presence, etc).

[rodmaker]

Another "trick" to try when using minnows on just a hook. Get a piece of either red, orange, bright green, pink , piece of yarn (yes sewing yarn) cut a piece about 2 inches long. tie it evenly just above of the hook eye so you have about an inch on each side. You should see how that yarn dances with a good minnow, I've been doing this for years!!! Give it a try.

[TrophyEyes]

Rodmaker, Early season I hit up my cabin on Pelican. I won't be to Mille Lacs until January, pending getting a kitchen pass.

Pike Doctor, I have had great success with both. On Mille Lacs I have great success jigging in on the bottom and then raising it up about a 1 1/2ft. As an FYI you might want to use a swivel with this lure as it spins on the way down. I know on Pelican I use it as a dead stick, but still only use a fathead minnow and sometimes only use the head, even though I am not jigging. That doesn't mean that it doesn't work on Mille lacs, and to be honest, I haven't given it a try lately. It all matters what mood they are in. I truely have caught almost every species on that jig. I like the bigger size as well.

[rodmaker]

Give me a shout if/when you go in Jan.

[TrophyEyes]

Rodmaker, will do. Did I ever send you the ice fishing cordinates that we just killed them last year? I will have to send those to you, and you can let me know if they are still hot this year. We caught 15+ 17"-19" eyes in an hour and a couple jumbos off this spot, not to mention the 4 pout as the sun went down.

[rodmaker]

No,

when you get a chance please e-mail them to me. Thanks!!!

[jvjohnson]

me to please

[THEPROFESSIONAL]

I have fished mille lacs for years and my reliable lures consist of red,yellow,green,purple and glow hooks. Try placing a bead or rubber bobber stop along with them and you would be surprised by the results you get.

Great mille lacs jigs are hard to come by in local sporting good stores, trust me I look at them all. Lundeens has a great selection of bannana jigs that work the best, red purple, trout glow patterns seem to work the best summer and winter. try it out let me know how you do!