Two Tactics For Finicky Ice Fish
Article written by: Scott Gerdes | Huntingne Founder - Scott G. Continued....
Regardless of species, these finicky fish need something to help them stick around and they need to obtain a certain level of comfort. Adding some sort of attractor is very critical in conditions like this. Dropping down something loud and flashy can sometimes draw fish in, but at times noise can be a detriment to these fish. Be careful how much noise you actually use. Something as flashy as a spoon or as subtle as a glow jig tipped with a wax worm or minnow is more likely to attract fish into your area.
Add A Second Line To “Lure Them In”, The Minnow Trick
A simple small minnow on a hook will do the trick. What this does is draw fish in and more often than not keeps them near your hole. The curious fish will relate to the struggling minnow. Even though they might not be interested in eating it, they still find it appealing.
The minnow trick can work for any and all species. You will just have to upsize the offering in order to entice the desired specie. As you know, minnows are great for all species, panfish will relate to a struggling/active minnow, so don’t neglect the fact that smaller fish will target the larger prey.
Artificial Structure? It Really Works...
When I’m looking for that added 1 – 2, punch I will turn to artificial structure in the form of plastic structures. As popular as they are on the infomercials, they really work. Adding structure into a structure less area, no matter what it’s made of, is worth its weight in gold during these conditions. If you ask me, one of those conditions is now when we are trying to keep the wandering school underneath us. Be creative with the material used for artificial structure but please ensure the structure can be easily retrieved.
Make no mistake about it, dropping down a series of structure on a string and using the second line methods will increase your chances at keeping those schooling fish in your area.
Good Fishing,
Scott Gerdes (Scott G.)
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