LOTW jigging and deadsticking

[HawkEYE1]

We're heading to the big pond this Friday and it sounds like you need to experiment with many jigs and lures to find the one that's gets their attention. I was wondering if a particular size is recommended and is their a particular jigging technique that works better on LOTW. I was planning on setting up with a deadstick with a plain red hook tipped with a shiner and then jigging a perch colored chubby darter with a fathead tipped vertically. Last year at this time we caught our fish on buckshot rattle and perch colored chubby darters. What seems to be working lately? Any advise is appreciated.<P>

[Matt Johnson]

Deadsticking a plain hook and minnow has been a preferred method up there lately. I had luck on the <A HREF="http://www.jrstackle.com/reelcrushjigspn.html" TARGET=_blank>Real Fish Crusher</A> by JR's Tackle tipped with a minnow head. The Sunfish color worked good. Or else small jigging spoons have been working too. Gold, chartruese, glow red or blue, are a few colors that are working well up there right now. <P>I would deadstick an Ice Buster bobber cut down so it barely floats with a plain hook and shiner. And then I would jig a spoon like the Crusher or other flutter/flashy style spoon in another hole. Airplane jigs or Flyers are working too.<P>Good Fishin,<BR>Matt Johnson<P>------------------<BR><A HREF="http://www.firstchoiceguide.com" TARGET=_blank>First Choice Guide Service</A><P> [email protected]<BR><A HREF="http://iceleaders.com" TARGET=_blank>Iceleaders</A><BR><A HREF="http://catchn.com" TARGET=_blank>Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait</A><BR><A HREF="http://marcumcustomerservice.com/" TARGET=_blank>MarCum</A><BR><A HREF="http://stonelegacy.com" TARGET=_blank>Stone Legacy</A><BR><A HREF="http://www.jrstackle.com/index.html" TARGET=_blank>JR's Tackle</A>

[Dr. Bob]

Matt - <P>Thanks for posting that link. Those are great spoons! I have also done real well with their Slammer spoons in the 3/8 and 3/4 oz sizes tipped with a minnow head. My favorite patterns are perch and pink & white.

[fiskyknut]

I love that Sunfish Crusher, a true gem! These along with the venerable Angel Eyes are my goto spoons. WT's weapon the Sutton West River is a killer as well as I was shown by him on Friday during a tough bite. Funny how those Perch will just hammer those quite large things!<P>Airplanes and flyers like Matt mentioned are a great bait as well. Majority of my biggest fish the past few ice seasons have came on these.<P>Bare hook is a staple, and a dropper rig under a heavier spoon type such as a Glo Devil can sure make them snap at times.<P>So many things can work well on any given day, I know folks that swear by Jigging raps, folks that only bobber fish with gold rock n' rolls or jig-o bits. More than anything these folks have confidence in their presentations, and they get fish!!!<P>Fisky <P>

[HawkEYE1]

Thanks for the suggestions Matt. Does any particular jigging action work better on LOTW? It also sounds like having the minnow from the deadstick suspend off the bottom 5' - 10' has been a successful technique for larger fish.

[HawkEYE1]

And thank you too Fisky. Last year I was catching them on a chubby darter and my buddy was catching them on a buckshot rattle and we had one lure of each. I want to make sure this year we have a full arsenal to throw at them.<P>We are fishing out of Riverview and we're contemplating bringing up our Fish Traps in case they don't have us on the fish. How is the mobility on LOTW right now. Can a '79 Enticer sled get around OK. We brought them up last year and never used them. Assuming Riverview has us in the right depth how much does it matter where we are if they are biting? Any input is appreciated.

[fiskyknut]

Your old sled will get you around, my buddy was up with a 1980 Yamaha over the weekend and he made it out there a long ways without a worry. Those Chubby Darters can work really well, hang on as them Pike have a liking for them too, unfortunately for my stock of these spendy buggers!<P>fiskyknut

[yellowsubmarine]

Hawk,<BR>That was me up there with the '80 Enticer. No problem gettin' around, well, with the sled anyway. But thats a whole other story Actually, where we were at, going cross country with the sleds was smoother riding than sticking to the trails. As far as I know, there has only been about another 2 inches of snow since then, so I would imagine it should be great for you as well. Good Luck.

[HawkEYE1]

Is there a good bait shop with a stock of glow devils and ice buster bobbers in the Baudette area. Everything in the cities is depleted. Thanks for any info

[fiskyknut]

North of Baudette, right up near the resort area is Log Cabin Bait, this store has all the good LOTW stuff. Plenty of the items you mention and tons more too!<P>fiskyknut

[HawkEYE1]

Thanks Fiskynut. You, Matt J. and Curt Q. do a great job on these forums. The information you guys provide is invaluable to someone like myself who loves to fish but doesn't get out as much anymore. Thanks again.

[HawkEYE1]

bump

[fiskyknut]

Hey der thanks, sounds like you need to get out fishing more!<P>Regards....fiskyknut

[Matt Johnson]

Thanks for the kind words HawkEYE1! Take care!<P>Good Fishin,<BR>Matt Johnson<P>------------------<BR><A HREF="http://www.firstchoiceguide.com" TARGET=_blank>First Choice Guide Service</A><P> [email protected]<BR><A HREF="http://iceleaders.com" TARGET=_blank>Iceleaders</A><BR><A HREF="http://catchn.com" TARGET=_blank>Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait</A><BR><A HREF="http://marcumcustomerservice.com/" TARGET=_blank>MarCum</A><BR><A HREF="http://stonelegacy.com" TARGET=_blank>Stone Legacy</A><BR><A HREF="http://www.jrstackle.com/index.html" TARGET=_blank>JR's Tackle</A>