Spikes and wigglers and mousies...Oh my!

[VanillaIce]

The other day I stood in front of the refrigerator at the bait shop, and was torn between getting spikes, wigglers, mousies, wax worms, minnows, etc. I ended up going with my "old standby" of spikes, but that's only because I've never really tried anything else. (What the heck is a mousie, anyway?)

Any thoughts or recommendations re: the "live" portion of my presentation to the fish? I usually use a small lead jig tipped with a wiggler or spike. But, I have recently also tried jigging Rapalas, Ken's spoons, and Swedish Pimples.

I usually catch perch, but I'd just as soon pull up blue gills, crappies, and/or pike...as long as it's something with fins and scales coming outta the ice, I'd be happy. Oh, and something over 4 inches would be nice, too.

Maybe it's a simple matter of taking a little of everything and mixing it up each time I go out?!?!?

[tommy-n]

All I ever use is spikes, but, on occasion someone with wigglers will kick my but. God, I hate that when that happens :lol:

[salmonslammer]

Maybe it's a simple matter of taking a little of everything and mixing it up each time I go out?!?!?


Bingo!!! I have spent alot of time on LSC chasing the perch around....Somedays they won't touch a minnow, then I use spikes or wigglers on both rods.

If the minnow bite is hot, I fish a dead stick and a jigging rap tipped with a red egg. I like the blu/slv or firetiger, the smallest ones.

[Joe Archer]

A Mousie is pretty much like a spike, 'cept a little larger, softer, and with a tail. I like to put one mousie between two spikes on a sweedish jig and fish for perch, gills, and crappie. I don't ever buy minnows, and do extremely well fishing with this method.
I didn't go out this weekend, but last weekend I cleaned over 100 very nice size gills, crappie, and perch.

[MIbowhntr]

I like all of those baits. This year I have had great success with wigglers, even outperforming minnows for perch. Nice because they dont put up a struggle :bash: