St Croix Icefishing lure staples. (pictures)

[Turk]

Nice report! Good job.

[AuggieDawg11]

minnows were definitely the ticket yesterday.

[sausageman]

This morning I mentioned that I had a difficult time attaching the minnow head and treble hook to the fast attach. Sometimes when pushing the treble hook eyelet up through the minnow head it would come out the eye socket or mash the skull real bad. Anyway, because I had a slow morning fishing I had time to think of a better way to attach the minnow head to the fast attach.

This is what I came up with. I took a paper clip and made a small hook at one end and a larger finger hole at the other end. Anyway, this is what it looks like.

The next step is to push the small hook through the minnows mouth out the back and then hook onto the eyelet of the treble hook.

The next step is to just snug up the minnow head on the treble hook and attach your hook remover to the eyelet of the treble hook.

From here it is really easy to minipulate the minnow head/treble hook onto the fast attach. You don't have to attach the minnow everytime you bait the hook but it sure is nice to have this option if the fish are biting lightly.

[AuggieDawg11]

nice work. I will have to try this out.

[trollingguy]

Looks great, where did you get the fast attach at?

[sausageman]

I got the fast-attach at Thorne Brothers. Last night I took a replacement Hali chain and cut it in half and added a split ring to the chain end. This setup is slick. It's cleaner looking and easier to attach the treble hook.

UPDATE (January 29, 2010)

The Hali Chain broke after catching about 12 crappies and white bass. I was hoping it would be more durable because it's a slick rig. I may try using power pro line as a dropper and a quick snap next.

[ItsaCrappieLife]

These are great ideas for any body of water. Does anyone have any good presentations that can be used on tip ups?

[Turk]

SM,

Very interesting. So, I must confess I'm not up to date on this fast attach stuff. Seems to me like it is more work than necessary. I have done good just using the head on the treble. Though I am sure you have valid reasons for doing this extra work.

How much better is this fast attach vs. the way the buckshot comes out of the package?

Thanks!

Turk

[fishuhalik]

I just noticed this post. The fast attach is an awesome idea, I can't count how many times I've missed fish after fish using spoons w/ a minnowhead. I'm driving to thorne bros after work tonight and am gonna buy a dozen of 'em. Thanks for the tip!

[sausageman]

SM,

Very interesting. So, I must confess I'm not up to date on this fast attach stuff. Seems to me like it is more work than necessary. I have done good just using the head on the treble. Though I am sure you have valid reasons for doing this extra work.

How much better is this fast attach vs. the way the buckshot comes out of the package?

Thanks!

Turk

I'm with you Turk, it's about a minute of extra work that I don't have in most fishing situations. Ninety percent of the time I just attach the minnow head like normal. However, sometimes the walleye, sauger, perch or whatever are biting lightly and after missing a few hits, it's nice to have the "option" to hook the minnow head in such a way that is almost a guarantee hook set. To this end...it's effective.

The first time out trying the fast attach, a couple suspended fish were nipping my buckshot/minnow head. I kept missing the hookset and losing my minnow head. I took the minute and attached it like I showed in the above post and caught a couple 5" to 6" sunfish. I have no idea how the treble hooks even fit in those little mouths.

The InFisherman program where I got the idea from mentioned that the "easy" pivot of the hang down portion, makes it easier for the fish to bite it. Whether that's true or not, I don't know.

I'm using a fast attach on my jigging rap and I think I'm catching a higher percentage of fish then I did with the normal treble. I know Nil Master jigging raps have a long shank treble hook that hangs much much further down then it's Rapala counterpart.

Is the fast attach better then the out of the package spoon??? I would say "yes" for no other reason then some days it's nice to have an option to catch those fish that are biting light and you want a positive hookset. Most of the time just hook the minnow head on the treble hook like normal and start fishing.

As far as the fast attach making it easier for the fish to take the bait....in my mind it makes sense, but is hard to prove.

[croix walleye 6]

there is to many times on the river or any other body of water that the fish are bitting light hooking the minnow head on the fast attach increases your catch ratio ten fold. if the fish grabs on to the minnow with the fast attach it's bound to get one of the hooks. with out the fish will just get your minnow head and you are fishing baitless. it takes a little time to rig it but on normal conditions you can catch 3 or 4 fish on 1 head versus 1 on a normal rigging. i personally haven't done this yet but i've also gotten my a$$ handen to me on certain days by the master sm.little tricks like this can make a day bad or excellent.

[sausageman]

i personally haven't done this yet but i've also gotten my a$$ handen to me on certain days by the master sm. little tricks like this can make a day bad or excellent.

croix walleye 6

When we are discussing the topic of "baiting"....please please please don't throw the word "master" out there. Jeez!

PS Enjoyed fishing with your dad tonight. Tisk Tisk...you two have been holding back info on me.

[walleye3k]

I know the info u are talking about. see u in the morning.

[WalleyeChaser]

How have you guys been doing out there? I gave up out there for the rest of the year, been having ok luck on the lakes. Unless i hear the bite really picks up!! Even been hearing fishing is tough all over. Changes by the hour almost. One hour is good the next is bad and then good again. I'm not seeing as many posts from SM. So either he feels bad or the fish really quit biting as he is the one to put fish on the ice when no one else can.

[croixflats]

BUMP!

-

I will tell you I sometimes feel like that 10 year old being introduced to the ice(often and I love it). With great guys sharing info like this just raises the blood flow to keep us warm for the potential bite. Can not say more than thank you with out hugging and it is appreciated beyond comprehension.

[AuggieDawg11]

here we go! I was looking for this last night and my computer battery died so I gave up.

[Craigums]

What a wealth of information in this thread, great bump

[fishwater]

I noticed that custom spins and jigs came out with a larger size #8 diamond jig. Tungsten is the way to go on the river, but a bigger diamond jig is a nice cheaper option.

[Craigums]

I noticed that custom spins and jigs came out with a larger size #8 diamond jig. Tungsten is the way to go on the river, but a bigger diamond jig is a nice cheaper option.

Last year I tried using a Little Atom Optic Stealth and noticed the current would make it hard for my flasher to pick up. You guys think Tungsten would help?

[DonBo]

In the current, a smaller heavier jig will stay more under your hole than a larger lighter one. I actually cut my ducer hole a couple feet downstream from my fishing holes. This seems to help. That being said, my flasher is older and at 30+ feet I have a hard time seeing my jig with just a small plastic or maggots on there no matter what.

[AuggieDawg11]

I noticed that custom spins and jigs came out with a larger size #8 diamond jig. Tungsten is the way to go on the river, but a bigger diamond jig is a nice cheaper option.

I'll have to look for these now before they are all bought up.

[croixflats]

Is there away to ad weight to a jig with out deforming it like a clear sleeve of some sort that can add the 71% difference in weight tungsten has over lead. Dang! I felt the tungsten against a bigger jig it blew me away. Think of the drop when you are trying to entice.

[sausageman]

Ice fishing the St Croix River the past couple years has become increasingly difficult.

Sharing lures or techniques doesn't hurt one's fishing like sharing "hot spots" or specific areas.

With this in mind, about a year ago, I posted some of my "go to" lures when fishing on the St Croix. I'm still waiting for some other people to post lures or techniques that have been working on the Croix.

Come on guys...what has been your hot lure or lures this year?? SM

[croix walleye 6]

i just use a purple jig head on a deadstick that works the best for me

[slipperybob]

My hot lure is always tried and true. Forage minnow jigs and demon jigs. Red glows

I did get one bite on the Northland Live Forage Fish Fry Minnow Trap, but...I didn't get the hook up. The lure got fouled on the bite.

[fishwater]

I mostly use jigging raps and shads (gold) with a fallback to a couple of rattle type jigging spoons. The silver with glow eye and red glow rattlin' flyer have worked. I usually rotate through tackle quite a bit on other lakes, but on the river seems like I only use 5-6 different lures on the ice. For deadstick I use a plain hook or some sort of demon type jig. Green worked once, probably going to use purple next time. For smaller stuff, mostly use gold, white and orange diamond type jigs. I like the fiskas schoolbus color pattern.

I really haven't been ice fishing enough down there lately, going to start soon. February is going to be epic.

[sausageman]

Last Saturday I witnessed an interesting thing called the http://tipdown.com/. A couple guys were out fishing and I saw that they had six tipdowns set up, so of course I had to talk to them about how effective they were. While I was talking with them they caught about 6 crappies. Sweet.

Here are some positives that I can see about using the tipdown.

1) They are very visible and can be set up 10, 15, 20 yards apart unlike bobbers which require that you have to have two holes drilled close together and also requires one to crouch over the hole and stare at the bobbers.

2) Unlike tipups these tipdowns are very sensitive....really sensitive. It is also adjustable for heavier presentations.

3) The tipdowns pack up quickly and are very portable.

I just ordered three. Here is my plan of attack for fishing the St Croix for crappie going forward. As I mentioned in my first post, I don't like to bobber fish. The only reason I don't like bobber fishing is I feel like I'm anchored to one small area. I'm too A.D.D. to sit still and stare down at a bobber. Can't do it.

Enter the tipdown...I'll drill a lot of holes like always and set up the tipdowns where I can see them clearly while I hole hop with my St Croix Legend rod and my trusty fiska's tipped with maggots or wedgees.

A few years ago, fishing was so good, you only needed one line to get enough for a meal. I think we can all say, that fishing the Croix has become more difficult recently.

In short, I'm excited about trying a slightly different fishing style.

[sausageman]

Saw someone inquiry on what are some good lures to use on the croix. Instead of typing out some advice, I decide to retrieve this one from a couple years ago.

The jigging rap as been good for me again this year for walleyes and saugers.

[DonBo]

Fiska jigs tipped with Little Atom nuggies and Custom jigs & Spins "Finesse Plastic" have been a great producer of bigger fish recently.

[sausageman]

Last year I started using a tipdown while I was ice fishing on the St Croix river. After a few mistakes on line selection and jig weighting problems, I replaced the original tipdown rod with a HT jigging rod. I used the tipdown on many lakes and rivers around Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with very positive results.

Here are the pro's and con's of using a tipdown as I see them:

PRO's

1) They are very visible and can be set up 10, 15, 20 yards apart unlike slip bobbers which require that you be crouched over a hole so you can see the bobber. This advantage allows me to hole hop.

2) Unlike a tipup the tipdown is very very sensitive. My present setup adjusts to weight easily.

3) The tipdowns pack up quickly and are very portable.

4) When the tipdown is setup outside a light breeze will gently rock the tip of the rod. Also with my present setup I can watch the minnow swimming by just watching the tip.

5) Tipdowns also work great in permenant houses or wheelhouses where the hole is 2' lower then the floor. No need to be hovered over the hole is a larger fish house.

Con's

1)Requires that you hand over hand the line like the old days.

2) On cold days the hole has to be continually cleared....just like when using a slip bobber.

Yesterday, I went out fishing for a couple hours and did some filming of the tipdown in action. The fishing was slow, but I managed icing 13 crappies in two hours.

Tipdown specifics: HT rod and plastic spool with the sensitive tip (Fleet Farm $10.99) Gum ball jigs 1/32oz jigs or a #6 red hook.

I posted the video on youtube under "Ice Fishing Crappie with a Tipdown" or something like that.

[video:youtube]http://youtu.be/uPbm2qchmh8