My first Ice in Years

Finally reliving the ice abstenance from several years! I have been at spring training so to speak getting ready for this! What jig should I start with and what color? Well, just so happens I had a CJS new tungsten already tied on….works for me! :]

We did get bites right away but mostly small fish. I also noticed I was missing a few bites as well. Being one to experiment and years of preaching profile advice I thought perhaps I should try some advice given to me by one of our IDO ice heads. ” lighten up” your presentation if missing some fish and “dont forget the shrimpo”. Tungsten is great for deeper water, but not always the only game in town.
Long story short, smaller profile & weight matched the bite for the day. Detecting a up-bite or a shy bite wasnt in the cards today with a heavier jig. My TUC noodle was just the ticket with a shrimpo to dramatically detect visually and feel the shy ones. The size quality of the fish were dramaticly increased as well.

Also of note, a dog fish and 3 large mouth bass were landed and a biteoffs from presumed Pike were part of our day. Those bites were no different than the panfish. Perhaps, even softer?

A few crappies showed themselves as well. My old friend Gator living up to his name showing this gator crappie. This pic does not do this fish justice. It was so wide across the back,you could have put a saddle on it! :]
It was a great day for me to relive some old days ice time with friends, catch a few pannies,and learn to adjust to the “fish being fish” factor! Thanks for a great outing guys!