Throughout this winter, In-Depth Outdoors will be doing a monthly giveaway of tackle, rods, reels or other fishing related goodies related to a specific pattern or bite. One of our Pro Staff will pick the gear and share some tips on how to put the gear to proper use so the lucky winner can hit the water outfitted and ready to catch fish!
November’s theme is “First Ice Panfish.”
Here’s the link to enter the gear giveaway >>> ” target=”_blank”>http://statictab.com/fs5i6rr
Joel Nelson will be sharing some basics on how to catch bull gills and big crappies as soon as the ice is safe enough to walk-on.
Presentation Basics – First Ice Panfish Tactics by Joel Nelson
- Line: Suffix Ice Magic Clear 3lb, 4lb, and 6lb test, 100 yd spools (603-003, 603-004, 603-006)
- Lures:
- VMC Pug Bug Jig, 1/16 oz. and 1/32 oz. – Glow Red, Pink Chartreuse Glow, Crappie Minnow (PBJ116PCGL, PBJ116GLRD, PBJ132GLRD, PBJ132PCGL, PBJ132CRPM, PBJ116CRPM)
- VMC Wax Tail Jig, 1/50 oz. and 1/32 oz. – Glow Red, Pink Chartreuse Glow, Crappie Minnow (WTJ150GLRD, WTJ150PCGL, WTJ150CRPM, WTJ132CRPM, WTJ132GLRD, WTJ132PCGL)
- VMC Flash Champ Spoon, 1/32 oz. – Glow Red Shiner, Perch, Shiner (FCS132GRSH, FCS132P, FCS132SH)
- VMC Rattle Spoon, 1/16 oz. – Glow Red Shiner (RTS116GRSH)
- VMC Tumbler Spoon, 1/12 oz. – Glow Pink Fire UV (TMS112GPFU)
- VMC 9650 Round Bend Trebles Sz 14 Tin Red (9650TR#14PP)
- TriggerX Mustache Worm – 1 ½” Pink Glow (TXMW15PKG)
- TriggerX Mustache Worm – 1 ½” Black (TXMW15BLK)
- TriggerX Nymph 1” Bloodred (TXNY1BLRD)
- Trigger X Spike Worm 1 ½” Bloodred (TXSPW15BLRD)
- Accessories:4” Panfish Pliers (RPP4), 36” Adhesive Ruler (RAFR)
First-ice panfishing is probably a top-3 ice pattern and presentation for me, both in terms of fishing success and overall enjoyment. Above are a detailed list of lures, line, and accessories to pull it off without a hitch.
First ice sees one of the most aggressive panfish bites of the season, but finding the fish isn’t always easy. Your search is aided by a couple factors. First, start small.
Both in terms of the lakes you choose to fish and also in terms of the structure you’re drilling out. Select small lakes under 250 acres if you can, as the fish will be easier to find with options being limited, and these lakes freeze first and best to begin with. “U-shaped” inside- turns coming out of deeper water are magnets for panfish activity, especially when they butt up against a weedline on the shallower bend of the “U”. Underwater, these areas look like “chutes” and are funnels for feeding fish coming from deep water to shallow. This is where I first start to drill, from 20 FOW, all the way up to the weeds. Good green weed-growth, particularly of cabbage and/or coontail is preferred but not necessary to hold fish. Because you’ll likely be using an ice-chisel to check thickness, use a detailed contour map to select locations near-shore keeping your safety the highest priority. These fish typically school, so if you’re not seeing fish on your Marcum, move on. Fish aggressively and quickly, this is not the time to hunker down and wait them out!
Even though panfish are typically very active during this time of the year, big fish, especially bull-gills will still display presentation and color preferences. Rig up 3 rods; one a spoon rod like the Tuned-Up Custom Rods (TUCR) Precision, a smaller/faster jig rod like TUCR’s QuickTip with fly-reel or small spinning reel, and another light jig rod like the TUCR noodle. Spool them each with Sufix Ice Magic 6lb (spoon rod), 4lb (jig rod), and 3lb (light jig rod), respectively. The idea is to fish fast, and always have an array of rods rigged with baits that cover the full gamete of presentations that these fish will prefer.
I start with a spoon like the Flash Champ, Tumbler, or Rattle spoon, paying careful attention to hook size on these baits. Big gills will slam a bigger spoon than most people think, but the hooks need to fit in their mouths. Feel free to switch out the trebles to those VMC 9650 Round Bend Trebles in size 14 that you just won. Load them up with spikes, or thread a red TriggerX Spike worm to sit horizontal in the water column. As you jig, the spoon will be vertical, but the Spike Worm will flicker enticingly to the side. Attract fish with this setup, and mind your drag, as these offerings will also attract big bass and pike.
If fish are marked but not responding to the spoon, downsize to the jig rod and a larger Pug Bug or Waxtail. For the Pug Bug rig that mustache worm through the center. The heaviest Pug Bug fishes fast, pounds bottom well, and does a great job when the spoon will attract but can’t get them to close. If fish still will not commit, downsize with the noodle rod and fish the smallest Waxtail or Pug Bug offering.
Experiment between live bait and plastics, especially colors on the plastics. Finicky gills especially are true connoisseurs of color. Don’t be afraid to get creative with that mustache worm. Rig several in an “X” pattern to add bulk, slow the fall-rate, and show off an ant-style pattern, or rip-off one of the tentacles and fish it with the single flicker. The nymph is also a great choice to rig on the Pug Bug, especially when fishing Perch on or near the bottom.
Stay tuned to this thread, In-Depth Outdoors online (www.idofishing.com), and drop me a line. I’ll be standing by to help, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions that might come to mind!
Joel Nelson
