Plastics for Ice Fishing

[John Sheehan]

I hope to get some safe Ice this Year 2024. Last Year I did no Ice Fishing at all. If I get the chance this Year, I'd like to get into using a variety of Plastics for Panfish and Predators. Any success from anyone here,regarding use of Plastics? I have always relied on Salted Shiner Heads, Mealworms, Waxies and Spikes as well as Fatheads and Live Shiners on my Jigging Rods and Tip-ups. I have only caught on Plastics a few times. I hope to tip my spoons and Jigs with artificials much more than I've done in the past.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

 I didn't have any hard water fishing last year, myself. I usually use small colored jigs of  a variety of colors tipped with waxies for gills and crappie. On tip-ups I work for bigger fish such as walleyes, pike, muskie and pickerels with shiners and minnows. Sometimes, I tip some spoons and jig them.

[John Sheehan]

Thanks for the input Bruce ! Glad to see you here! This Year I am thinking of trying Mister Twister nymphs on Jigs or small Spoons for Gills ,Perch and other Species through the Ice , if I get the chance, A red Marabou 64th oz Jig is one of my Ice Favorites as a Blood worm imitation. I have some thin stinger baits I can add to it . The 64th oz. Squirrel Tail Jig with a Fathead has produced for me also and I hope to experiment with various plastics to add on them as well . I want to get into the deeper Basin water this Year a bit more than I've done in the past. Hope we both get safe Ice!

[John Sheehan]

Chomping at the bit here with no ice Fishing accessible. Thinking how I'd like to use these plastics and artificial Baits this Year along with the usual natural Baits I use. 

Plastic Baits to use for tipping Jigs and Spoons when Jigging.

left to right: Black and Brown Nymphs, 1.5"Avocado and Silver Phantom tiny Shad, 'Patriot' Baby Shad, 2"Pearl Salty Chicken Foot,1.5"Pepper Frog Baby Beav, 1.5" Panfish Stinger.