Do you need minnows for ice fishing?

Post by **Scum Frog** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:27 am

As a follow up to the thread what minnows do you like for ice fishing I pose this question. Can one constantly catch fish during the ice fishing season without using minnows for the typical species of walleye, pike, lakers, perch, bluegill and crappies?

Post by **Carl** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:57 am

The only time I use live minnows is when I'm out for brookies and lakers.

I do use some larger frozen minnows for pike though

Other than that, I constantly use a jigging spoon or jigging rap or jigging something for walleye, pike, perch, crappy, bass... the list goes on and on.

Carlco

Post by **saskie** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:58 am

I've only ever caught pike without bait - and that was at a lake in Sask that was absolutely polluted with snot-rockets. Watch your fingers - those little friggers would have probably hit anything moving in the water.

Post by **MichaelVandenberg** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:59 am

Panfish can easily be caught without minnows. Try using small jigs tipped with berkley power baits.

Lake Trout can be caught on white tubes.

Minnows seem to work best for Walleye and Pike.

Cheers,

Mike

Post by **mosquito** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:24 am

Last winter I didn't use minnows at all and my catch only improved.
And this is for all species of fish, not just panfish. You are a lot
more mobile if you are not using live bait.
On another side, if I fished stationary, say from a permanent
shanty, I would definitely go with minnows.

Post by **Mahumba** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 11:31 am

I use minnows for walleye on my still line while ice fishing. I like spoons for lakers as well as tubes.

For brook trout I like smaller versions of the spoons I use for lakers. Pike will attack anything that moves. I never target pike they just hit the stuff I'm presenting to walleye.

It's all fun!

Roger Mayer

Post by **slop** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:26 pm

Let's see......if i had a 4 wheeler and a big permanent shack i'd prolly be inclined to bring out a pail of minnows but, since i travel super light, i'm 100% hardware and still manage to catch a few fish

I love to be out in the cold

Post by **Scum Frog** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:36 pm

I like to mix it up. I usually set up a tip-up with a live minnow in one hole and then jig with either spoon, plastic or minnow with the rod in the other hole.

I have been equally successful with both, but I do like to have a few minnows on hand.

Post by **steve-hamilton** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 12:39 pm

fill your tubes with catfood (seriously) then try them for lakers.

Post by **Mahumba** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:49 pm

Great tip! I never thought of filling them with cat food.

How big of chunks to you cut up the little birds and mice to fit into the tube? Ha Ha

Roger Mayer

Post by **Mahumba** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 1:49 pm

Great tip! I never thought of filling them with cat food.

How big of chunks to you cut up the little birds and mice to fit into the tube? Ha Ha

Roger Mayer

Post by **bottom feeder** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:12 pm

Last week I bought jigging tackle and it will be a first for me.
I have always only used minnows and worms and fished mainly for walleye and pike and whitefish.
Saying that I am anxious to try the new gear, but will bring live bait as well.
Norm

Post by **Wall-I-Guy** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 5:47 pm

Jigging with dead minnows most of the time as I too am usually jigging. Very occassionally I'll use live ones if I want to let my line sit.

Use live for Brookies, Bows always though

Post by **Relic** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 8:08 pm

Live minnows on set lines.

Dead and salted ones for pike,

And after using minnows to tip jigs/spoons and missing to many fish, I now only use heads, tails or tiny minnows to tip with.

Some days it's the set lines others it the jigs

Post by **wolfe** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:02 pm

I like this thread, RRC. It's great to see all the different tactics and approaches people use. (Catfood, for example!)

W.