Flies and Ice Fishing
For ice fishing I used to tie white Wooley Buggers on size 2 - 4 jig heads. Works very well for pike and lakers. For perch one can use pretty much anything that sinks to the bottom. For smelt I used size 12-14 soft hackles on a dropper to a small heavy spoon. When ice fishing with flies the main challenge is not the choice of flies but the strike detection. I had a chance to use underwater camera, and in most cases fish was taking the fly with absolutely no visible signs above the water. Very fine lines of 1-3# test and well tuned strike indicators provide some help, but even then it is not that easy to detect 2-3 mm sideswing of the line. With pike the strike detection is obviously not a problem.
Well, I finally gave it a try for a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon. I might as well have stayed at home, 'cause I got skunked. I went with a number of different Wooly Buggers in a variety of sizes and colours. Even Todd's magic fly that did me so well over the summer couldn't entice a bite.
I guess I shouldn't feel too bad. There were quite a few people out on the ice and I only saw one small perch bought in.
I guess I shouldn't feel too bad. There were quite a few people out on the ice and I only saw one small perch bought in.