Northwest Fishing Magazine October 2025 Volume 5 Issue 2 - Flipbook - Page 10
Hooks and Jigs: Size 8-12
hooks for bait such as
worms, maggots, or
mealworms. These baits
are Bluegill's favorites, while
Crappie will indulge under
a Slip bobber.
hues (White, Brown, Olive)
or bright colors such as
(Pink, and Chartreuse) excel
in catching limits. Oh, and
remember... "It doesn't
matter what color it is as
long as it's Gold"!
Slip Bobber: A slip bobber
will allow you to precisely
control the depths of your
bait, adjusting until you're
right above the fish. Critical
for suspended Crappie.
Presentation Tips
The way you present
your baits is often more
important than what's on
the hook.
Live, real baits work in all
seasons but can make the
difference for finicky fish.
Rods: Light or ultra-light
spinning rods (5'-7' feet)
offer the sensitivity to
detect soft bites. For ice
fishing, I like the same
action in a (24"-32" Inch)
rod.
Reels: Small 100-200 series
reels with a good, smooth
drag and bearing system
are ideal.
Line: I typically will run
2lb-6lb monofilament
or fluorocarbon for most
situations. Braid with a
flouro leader works well
when fishing deeper water,
like 30'-50' feet at Curlew
for those Jumbo Perch.
Artificial Lures &
Presentations
Artificial baits often outfish
live baits when fish are
aggressive, or when you
need to cover water quickly.
Small Plastics: Tube jigs,
curly tails, and micro swim
baits mimic small prey and
can be fished fast or slow.
Spoons: Flashy and effective,
especially for Perch and
Crappie under the ice. Use
subtle jigging motions to
trigger bites.
Panfish on a Fly: Don't be
timid about pulling out the
Fly gear on these shallow
bedding fish, or a beaded
head fly under a bobber, or
under the ice. Possibilities
are endless!
Experiment with different
sizes, profiles, and colors.
Staying more in the natural
Match the Mood: Aggressive
fish respond to faster
retrieves or sharper jigging.
Neutral or negative fish
may want a slower retrieve
or movement about the
water column.
Depth Control: In
suspended situations, keep
your bait just above the
fish, as most panfish feed
upward. This is where the
Electronics come into play,
while you can see the fish
and your bait.
Pause and Hold: Especially
in cold water, when fish are
not as active. Pausing your
bait can trigger strikes from
hesitant fish. Often, we ice
anglers will always have a
"Dead Stick" fishing not too
far from us.
Adjustments for Ice Fishing
Winter panfishing
demands extra precision
and extra clothing.
Drill in Grids: I like to drill
a grid pattern of holes over
