papaperch
Active member
HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL !!
As part of my tradition of getting ready for ice season. I always tie up a few more ice bugs. To give idea on size I put a #12 swivel there in the center.
I have been making these for a long time but just in the last few years figured out why they are so deadly. If you have been lucky enough to watch panfish under the ice on a good underwater camera. You have probably noticed how often a fish hits the bait and it is never felt. They suck it in by creating a vacuum by expelling water thru their gills and opening their mouths. The lure or bait is sucked in and expelled out so fast that its amazing.
Tie these things with the aim of getting as close to neutral buoyancy as possible. Reason being is as when the fish suck it in the lighter the lure is the deeper it goes and hook ups are increased. I tie these things with either small brass beads and plastic. I place a small split shot about 24 inches up on the leader to get them to sink.
Seems like all colors and combinations work as long as they are kept small.
They are extremely effective for bluegill and crappie IF they are on a bug pattern. Usually if you are fishing a soft bottom and catching crappie they are keying on bugs as prey. The harder the bottom the crappie tend to be on a minnow pattern.
Any small jig hook or fly hook will work salmon egg hooks are also effective. The plastic beads can be slipped on over the barb by heating the hook with a heat gun. Brass beads for flying will often slip over the barb and curve of hook by using the small hole to enter and the larger hole to exit. These thing do not have to hang perfectly horizontal to work. Because the real bugs swim willy-nilly they work about in any presentation.
They are somewhat of a pain to make but well worth the effort. Try and work some transparity into your creation. Have fun with them.
When fishing make sure to use loop knot on no bigger than 4# test. Any type of metal clip will ruin these tiny lures action. I love to use the new braids that that test 3 and 4 lbs but are 1/2 pound - 1 pound mono equalivent.
As part of my tradition of getting ready for ice season. I always tie up a few more ice bugs. To give idea on size I put a #12 swivel there in the center.
I have been making these for a long time but just in the last few years figured out why they are so deadly. If you have been lucky enough to watch panfish under the ice on a good underwater camera. You have probably noticed how often a fish hits the bait and it is never felt. They suck it in by creating a vacuum by expelling water thru their gills and opening their mouths. The lure or bait is sucked in and expelled out so fast that its amazing.
Tie these things with the aim of getting as close to neutral buoyancy as possible. Reason being is as when the fish suck it in the lighter the lure is the deeper it goes and hook ups are increased. I tie these things with either small brass beads and plastic. I place a small split shot about 24 inches up on the leader to get them to sink.
Seems like all colors and combinations work as long as they are kept small.
They are extremely effective for bluegill and crappie IF they are on a bug pattern. Usually if you are fishing a soft bottom and catching crappie they are keying on bugs as prey. The harder the bottom the crappie tend to be on a minnow pattern.
Any small jig hook or fly hook will work salmon egg hooks are also effective. The plastic beads can be slipped on over the barb by heating the hook with a heat gun. Brass beads for flying will often slip over the barb and curve of hook by using the small hole to enter and the larger hole to exit. These thing do not have to hang perfectly horizontal to work. Because the real bugs swim willy-nilly they work about in any presentation.
They are somewhat of a pain to make but well worth the effort. Try and work some transparity into your creation. Have fun with them.
When fishing make sure to use loop knot on no bigger than 4# test. Any type of metal clip will ruin these tiny lures action. I love to use the new braids that that test 3 and 4 lbs but are 1/2 pound - 1 pound mono equalivent.
