Top Five…

Ok, we have a thread going “whats new on ICE!?!?” How about a little discussion on your top five ice baits. Everyone knows I am a huge CJS fan…

So here are my five-I have these tied up at all times.

Lightning Spoon blue/silver foil- on a 36″ outside TB walleye sweetheart-

Slender spoon silver/blue- on a 36″ outside TB walleye sweet heart-

Diamond Jig- Glow White size 10- on a 28″ panfish sweet heart.

Gill pill- blk/wht size 10- on a 28″ panfish sweet heart

Ratso- pink/white size 6- on a 28″ perch sweet heart

The ratso pink and white might get replaced this year with the new two tone color lemon lime, or motor oil. They fished really well for me last year. Make sure to check them out in stores, or online as soon as we get the new products listed!

Those are my “fab five”

Whats yours!!!???

Ice fishing posts. It’s about time. Ok, so, um, I don’t know if I even have 5 things I put on. I have a #3 Swedish Pimple in Brass that I have tipped with a minnow head, usually catches a few wallys here and there. Jiggin Raps, Chubby Darters, and hmmmm, uh, yeah. Thats about it. I do like ratsos, but I usually don’t go gill fishing a ton. And gill pills are good as well. I think that’s five. I just usually go with what the fish want. I figure the fewer jigs you got, the easier it is to figure out what they want:) I do like my Croix ice rods. That’s about it. Yeah, BRING ON THE ICE!!!!!!!!!

My homemade jig
Blue/silver Castmaster
Blue hook and bobber
Gold pimple
Red hook and bobber

I’m too new to ice fishing to post. Maybe later on.

THese threads are getting me excited! Now if we only had ice. Although I guess if we had Ice we would have threads full of pictures.

5 Favorite baits…. hhmmm in no particular order would be

Slender spoon. those things are deadly!

Gill pill- red glow brite, and fire tiger.

Ratso- Pink/white

little cecils- doesn’t seem to matter the color most days the sunnies LOVE THEM!

Lighting spoon- fire tiger and Glow pink

That’s it the ice can not come soon enough!!!!!

6 inch red/white decoy

8 inch red/white decoy

12 inch sucker in harness

6 inch sunfish decoy

7 inch silver/black decoy

Later – The Backstabba

Hey Luke,

What are the Sweetheart rods, or who makes them??

As for anyone working Swedish pimples that Lightning spoon rocks out!! I work a variety of Lightning spoons all year for eyes up here. Don’t skimp on colors, but do not be with out the clowm pattern or Orange and Chart!!

As for Pannies that Diamond Jigs is lights out for monster slabs and Gils. For serious hole hoppers there is no other options for quick drops with a small profile. It is my understanding that the Diamond jigs are now being produced in a larger size?? If so I’ll take a pocket full!!

Top five for crappies –
#1 and favorite is a #6 Pink Glow Brite Demon Jig tipped with a minnow head.
#2 1/16oz Slender Spoon or Swedish Pimple Silver Chartreuse.
#3 a #6 FireTiger Demon Jigging Spoon
#4 Shrimpo #8 Glow Brite/Pink
#5 Rappala Jig n Rap, Blue/Silver

Top five for gills –
#1 Gill Pill #12 and later season down size to a #14, White/Black, Clown, FireTiger, tipped with waxies.
#2 a #8 Ratso and later season down size to a #6, Purple, Blood Red and Orange.
Sometimes this jig needs a little meet such as a waxie and other times they are hot without being tipped.
#3 Rat Finkee #8 Purple, Red, Black, Precious Metal – Gold/Orange and Nickel/Chartreuse
#4 Lil’ Cecil – Pink, Orange Chartreuse, Orange Black Dot, Glow Pink
#5 Mini Mert – Burnt Orange, Purple, FireTiger

Impossible for me to list just five

Chris-

Diamond jigs are still only being made in size ten as the biggest size-

You haven’t tried a thorne bros sweet heart rod yet? Oh no!!

Better start saving your money!!

sweet hearts

OOPs, my credit card bill just got a little bigger. Hey you guys wanna talk about MY new sweetaheart rod. Its my new gear for the year

Which one did you get?

Nice looking sticks. Might have to trade in a few willow branches.

Luke your top five are some of my favorites too. I was wondering if you would be willing to share what kind and size of line you are spooling these combos with.

No problem- I am using pline 2 lb test on the diamon, ratso and gill pill-

On the slender and lightning spoons, I am using five lbs pline. Sometimes for bigger walleyes or wipers I will use 6 or 8 lbs test if the water clarity will allow it. I have back up spools always rigged with lighter or heavier line in my tackle bag. I think I carry around eight back up spools with different line.

I might give the fireline crystal a try this year, I gave vanish a good try last year, and it really didn’t impress me.

Lil Cecils – crappies and gills
Mini Merts tipped with plastic – gills and crappies
Moon Glitters – gills and crappies
Shrimpo – Crappies and crazy gills
Gill Pills and Diamond Jigs for gills and crappies

And it’s not my fault that the green carp have to ruin a good day on the ice…bait theives !!!