After hearing a few solid reports coming from Blackdeer on the north end of Lake Onalaska, I decided to head up there with my Dad for some late afternoon/early evening panfish action. As usual, the number of anglers was high, but with hopes of catching some fish on my new ice jigs we ventured forth.
The action wasn’t quite what I hoped it would be but was steady enough to keep you interested. I believe the best part of the trip was standing over a hole and watching the fish swim by. The water up there is the clearest I have ever witnessed. I can only imagine what it would have looked like watching those fish in my Frabill. At one point I pulled my jig out to watch somewhere close to 100 shad swim by. They are everywhere up there. It didn’t take long to see some very nice Crappie and Sunfish to swim by either. The first pic is the nicest ‘gill I caught for the time we were there.
As I stated earlier, my real reason for heading out was to do some R & D on some new ice jigs I tied. I will admit that they do work. There is no sense of accomplishment like catching a fish on a piece of equipment handcrafted by yourself. Even the pole I caught the fish on, I built myself.
The jig pictured was good for 8 Sunfish and 3 Crappie. Now the real test will be if they can catch fish at Prairie du Chien for the GTG. I hope to see you down there this weekend! the weather looks to be great and the friends and food should be outstanding!!!!
Good report Blue Fleck. How about some more info on those neat looking jigs? And when do you start shipping them out by the card, lol? I’ve debated about dabbling designing some to, often wondered how a jig based off a circle hook would work?
Anybody that wants to see some of these jigs in person should attend the GTG. Heck, I may even have some for sale. Just rumor from a little birdie.
They incorporate a walleye hook. I’m not too sure a circle hook would work. 
I caught fish on that color and a chartreuse colored jig. I think I’ve got 8 or 9 different color/combinations. 
yeah and you can thank me for letting you catch that lil’ beauty too. You’re welcome:)
I am sort of helping him with those color combos and we are working on some realistic grub colors as well. I think they should work real nice for them yummy pan fish
Still setting his clothes out at the end of the bed for him each morning ?
Nope, she usually just throws them on the floor.
No offense intended to bluefleck’swife, but I’m not so sure a woman’s input on ice jig color is the best way to go. I’m having visions of pastels, mixing and matching and maybe even some plaids thrown in. I think I’ll just stick with my basic chartruses and oranges. Although, I have to admit, pink is good choice.
offense taken! Atleast my input is appreciated by that who means most. Caught anything lately?
to those of you who don’t think a woman’s input is a good idea as far as making jigs is concerned, how about asking Bluefleck the bass lure combos I have come up with that ACTUALLY work. Not all woman think in pastels. And I want to thank the person who made me feel that a woman’s input was not needed on this topic. I was only trying to help . What you said was not nice.
Geez, Louise, only meant it as a joke. My apologies. And, yes, I have been doing very well this winter. Thank you.
Stacey
He was only poking at ya’ in fun, trust me. We’re always giving each other a hard time around here so you could look at is a way of being included in the group.
Like I alway tell Dustin, if I didn’t like you I wouldn’t take the time to insult you. In a weird “Grumpy Old Men… putz / moron” sorta way, it actually makes sense… lol
See ya’ at Prairie!~
that’s fine and dandy on your part and I thank you for taking the time to explain things to me. However, I did not find it funny or joking. I joke with those I know and vise versa. I was insulted, but it’s a new day. Have fun at Prairie.
I have checked this site occasionally and found it to be very informative and interesting but was disappointed to see no posts for the La Crosse area until tonight. I bought my first boat this spring and have been trying to learn the two pools in my area for the last eight months; with varying degrees of success. Black Deer is a very popular spot(including my five year old son and myself) and it has been a good producer for the last couple of years. Keep up the great work and thanks from all of us river novices.
Hey B’buctail,
There’s a TON of info for this area… sometimes it just takes a little digging to find. Check out the Mississippi River Panfish forum (and the Mississippi Bass forum when the river opens back up). The concentration of the info in those two forums is predominently LaCrosse and south.
Here’s the link to the Panfish Forum. Lots of Onalaska info there right now. In-Depthangling.com Mississippi River Panfish Forum