PANFISH APLENTY
Want to catch more wintertime perch and crappies? Hit the ice running with these expert tips and tactics
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#7 PERFECT YOUR PRESENTATION
When I’m targeting panfish through the ice, one of the first things I try to figure out is whether they want a minnow or rat-tailed plastic dressing. More often than not, the latter is the winner. Regardless, never forget that you jig to attract the fish, then pause, twitch and tremble the bait to trigger them into biting.
I prefer small soft-plastics with long, bloodworm-like tails. I especially like crimson red plastics, but wouldn’t hesitate to fish pink, chartreuse or green baits, too. You also never want to overpower the slim tail with a jig hook that exits the body too far back and diminishes the action. You want it to dive and swoop erratically, but at the same time, be easy to eat. So, be sure to frequently pause your presentation.
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And for heaven’s sake, keep your lure above the fish. The biggest mistake I see first-time perch and crappie anglers make when they spot fish on the sonar screen is to drop the lure right in front of them—or even worse, below them. Instead, keep your lure just above the fish and remember, the further you can entice them to rise up, the more likely it is they will eat your bait. Crappies, in particular, will come up slowly, while perch will race up and down more excitedly.
One final presentation detail: examine how the fish are eating your bait. If it is so far down their throats they’re gagging on it when you unhook them, you’re dialed in. But if you’ve only lightly pinned them on the edge of their lips, or you’re feeling strikes and missing them, something is not quite right. So, continue experimenting, and it won’t be long before you’ll have plenty of fish through the hole—and ready for the pan.