Ice fishing bait

[Ed Michrina]

What bait do you use.

Wax worms. I never had great luck with them.

Spikes. The are the bug of choice.

Mousies. They stay on the hook good. But I don't know if the fish like the way they taste.

Wigglers. Ya can't beat them in clear water.

Minnows . don't leave home with out them.

[Steely-Head]

Spikes for the pannies

Minners for the perchies

[Jumbo]

Can't count out them Pimples, any size, any color, it seems tho the BIGGER the bait, the BIGGER the fish, go figure~><>..Jumbo.:cool:

[MSUICEMAN]

spikes as I have caught damn near everything on em, they are cheap, lightweight, and you don't have to get your hands wet.

there are some times that minnows are just the ticket, so i will get those too very often.

Wigglers, well, work awesome, but if there are smaller perch in the area, they will pick ya clean real quick. Plus they are pricey and get my hands wet too. Kind of a double whammy.

steve

[ficious]

I do well on the gills with waxies, but for perch, it's spikes. I agree with Ed, no matter what you are fishing for, don't leave home without some emerald shiners!! Wigglers are good too, but they aren't aways in good supply.

Maybe if we get some of that snow, we'll get ice a little earlier.

CAN'T WAIT!!

[Gillgitter]

I start with Waxies for gills. If that doesn't work I go to Spikes. And I always bring minnows, they seem to bring them into the hole and keep them around it and interested.

And I usually put something on a tip-up.

I try to bring it all, whatever I don't have, they want.

[tubejig]

Spikes are the choice for me if I am going to use bait.

[mack300]

Always bring minnows. Even if they don't bite them, they seem to attract them. If they are in the hole just staring at minnows, will bring along all the little bugs to see what they will hit. It's usually the wigglers

[IT pimp 2002]

Last year I tried all the jigging spoons for perch with no bait. The ones with the sharp bend at the shank with a bead on it. I tell ya I had some great days fishing this way, but the fish need to be on the bite. Had way too many days last year where the fish woiuld come in, bump the bait and then back off. Minnows are the hands down must have.

[Joe_G]

Medium size to large minnow 6 inches off the bottom on a plain #6 hook. Fish decoy 2 to 3 feet off the bottom. Spear in hand, and total concentration. Fill your buckets!!!! (Compliments of Treeman).

[jstfish48162]

a jigging rapala..tipped with minnow...for the jumbo yella bellies.

spikes for other panfish.

ahhhh.....can't wait for the jumbo perch slammin' the jiggin' rap!!!!

[Ken Martin]

I haven't used bait for perch in two years. Anise beads on a Rapala or spoon. I used to use minnow heads with good success in the back basin at Metro.

Spikes for Gills with a teardrop and an ice fly.

Ken

[Houghton laker]

I use the beads till I get my first perch ..from then on it's perch eyes...always been my best producer!!

[Ed Michrina]

Anyone tried to use something non-traditional.

I once tried a small piece of sponge soaked in tuna fish oil. The fishing was slow that day so I can't honestly say it didn't work.

How about Chicken strips . perch belly strips?

I still have a few small bags of frozen in water, whole Smelt. the only question is do I use them on the ice for Pike or save them for the Spring river fishing?

[MSUICEMAN]

i got quite a few hole smelt frozen too, gonna be used under a tipup.... wish i speared some suckers, oh well.... hoping it'll be a stellar year on pike this winter.

steve

[niner93]

Waxies for gills
Spikes and shinners for perch.

Largest golden shinners I can find for Pike. 8-10" preferrably.

[Tin Can]

I've got two perch heads frozen in the freezer, just for the eyes. Saved them from the last fishing trip.

Perch eyes seemed to help on the problem days.

When your in a shanty and can see the perch and what they are doing. A small jig seems to work pretty good. I personnally need to see the fish so I know when to jig, otherwise I think I just spoke them away when sitting on a bucket.

If I'm on a bucket, minnows for sure then wigglers.

Tin Can

[jeremy L]

Waxworms i take everytime out, yet never have done real good with them.

Spikes tried a few times, never did well.

The best thing i have found is either a 1/4 or 1/8 ounce cleo or a stinger scropion spoon tipped with a minnow or minnow head. It works for everything from dink perch, to big browns. A slow up/down jig seems to work best, but fast sharp snaps and also just making the rod tip move sometimes does the trick.