Sometimes we forget the simple things:

Boy, do I feel like a moron–sometimes the answer is right before your eyes.
There I was, just like everyone else in the cemetary-not catching much. The place is loaded with fish, the marcum always shows them, they come up for a look; stare at it; and then down they go–that was the story of my day. Now, most that know me also know I’d rather fish out of my boat 365 days a year and ice fishing is just passing the time. But on that note, I am the crabbist person on the face of the earth when not catching fish and happiest when catching fish–better than prozac. So, being a normal ice fisherman-my waxies have been sitting in God knows where and what pocket for weeks and are half to full dead. Well, on the hook they go-nothing. Another jig with old waxies-nothing. 20 jig changes later-nothing. same old song and dance-look, stare and go away. Now, it is really easy to just chalk it up to the rotten weather, cold fronts, massive high pressure systems and no stability–but the fish have to eventually eat something. So, out of pure frustration I grabbed a fresh pack of PowerBait waxie lookalikes. and slapped one on a gill pill–down it goes and whop, bluegill on. Then another.
Then it hit me. Al Linder (big Al) as stated forever with livebait–if it is not fresh and lively, don’t use it.
If you think about it, dead (or dying) bait will not have the same flavor nor attraction as fresh and lively–all a fish has to do to taste something is touch it with its lips or aquire the oder from water itself(related to smell). If the bait is bad or slightly “off”, most likely away he goes or gently mouths it and puffs it out. Think about it, we all have put a piece of candy in our mouths and then spit it out with a sharp “yuck!”. Off tasting baits get the same repect. Now my powerbait was not “active”, but the taste was there to seal the deal.

I know this was a long winded explanation to merely say “always use fresh, lively bait; but my old waxies and spikes are now in the trash and I am seeking out only livebait that is active enough to arm wrestle me. Also, in my arsenal is going to be a variety of powerbaits and gulp–just in case my bait starts dying off.

Might be the best high pressure tip yet.

Doc

Great tip’s Doc, I’m ready to get back to Menomonie

Doc…good advice, does the old rule apply to gulp, and powerbait (both unopened and resealed )as well?

I would agree with that, just like food going stale.
Wonder how that new gulp liquid (the stuff in the tubs) would work at keeping bait fresh over time–would be easy to try with the little jars the gulp comes in. IMHO, scents and attractants make sense in a lot of fishing situations, possibly most with ice fishing since every bait can be scrutinized to a greatly magnified level.
Doc

Good advice!!!!
The same advice regarding baked goods !
Keep it fresh & often!

Doc, I have never tried the powerbait waxie imitation, but it makes sense because once you put the hook through a waxie it is dead and done moving. So if the powerbait has the extra smell I can see how that can be the deal breaker.

That gets you a bonus beer for thinking outside the box.

Just a note on Powerbait….. I was out on a real small lake in central MN a few years ago that was really stained. I mean you lost site of anything more than 3 feet down. Anyway,…the guy I was with was catching crappies using crappie minnows and so was I. Just to try something different I stuck on a white 2″ power grub on the pain hook just to try it where I knew there were fish. I started outfishing him at least 5 to 1. I mean as soon as it reached the fish, they had it. Not to mention not having to rebait all the time. For that day, lake and conditions that 2″ power grub flat worked. I have a less success with the smaller powerbaits made for ice fishing, but have caught fish on them, especially perch.