Well when the fish are active my go to bait is the Northland Buck-shot rattle spoon tipped with a minnow head. This time of the year, when the bite becomes a bit more finicky, the Jiggle bug or Forage minnow jigs normally do the trick. Both of these jigs are slender baits that allow the minnow to look as natural as possible. So what are the rest of you using?
I usually use a tear drop or a small swedish pimple tipped with a minnow head. Last year on Winni, I caught almost all of my fish on a forage minnow. Also, my set line always seems to do well with just a plain hook.
How about color, it seems that color is not an issue when the bite is on but when things slow, either chartruese or blue out performs most others. Have you seen a specific color work wonders when the bite is anything but hot?
Whenever the perch get fussy and the action stops, I like to use a really soft (noodle soft) tippped rod without any swivels, boobers or extra sinkers. Tie direct to a 1/16oz perch eye imitation and tail hook a smaller than average minnow. Lay the rod on a satnd or even a bucket, sit back and watch the rod tip. The Perch will hold on to that small bait for plenty of time to pick up the rod, put a gentle load on the tip and set the hook.
I like the light line too, but some of my customers have poor results getting that fish out of the hole without breaking the line. I substitue 4 lb test, then use green and red magic markers to put stripes on the spool. The camo effect makes it a little harder to see that line in the clear winter water.
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