Ice Picks

[RonDon]

My long lost Uncle is coming down for Thanksgiving for the first time in a while. Hes into the ice fishing thing.... a little crazy to me! Walking around on ice and drilling holes just seems crazy to this southern boy! Anyway i plan on giving him some stuff to take back with him. So far heres all ive come up with. This is just a tail from a Fry. The heads are 1/80 chubs with #8 sickles and the one on the right has a #12. I can put spinner blades on these also. But not sure if that would be good for the ice or not??? I will post one up later to show one with a spinner. Anyway i need some Yankee help as to what works!

[Len]

Yes sir those will definately work through the "ICE". I use some baits from Little Atom Plastics called Wedgees on a 1/80oz. head when the fish are looking for a smaller bait. They work really well in the evening hours for Crappie.

[jeepguyjames]

Rondon those will be killer, very nice work

[RonDon]

Thanks Len! I've seen the fish you catch!!!Thumbs Up

Thanks Jeep... Guess you like the one with the pank head!

[JUNGLEJIMJIGS]

I like those skinny tails,they should catch some crappie,gills and perch through the ice or open water. Small is better here at this time of year.

[RonDon]

Thanks JJJ! Was i right with the 1/80 on those?

[CTom]

I'll add that you maybe consider adding just a touch of softener to the plastic. Cold water, such as that found under the ice, can stiffen even really whippy plastics up in a hurry and those plastics marketed for winter use in the northern states generally have softer plastic.

The tails you are using are definitely a solid bait for ice fishing. They have enough mass at the thicker end to allow for shortening if fish short-hit or if the angler wants to balance a lighter winter jig a little better. Line twist gets to be a factor when fishing thru the ice and these tail segments don't have anything to make them spin, so yest these are a great bait.

[RonDon]

Thanks Tom! Thats some really great information. You definitely sound like u know your stuff! Now I will have to watch and make sure Uncle doesn't go out to the shop and pinch all the tails off my baits!

[CTom]

A few years agoI got a hold of some winter plastics that were darned near sticky they were so soft. Super glue was a constant companion while fishing those things but it was that super soft plastic that gave the things an action that few other winter plastics have marveled.

I'm getting ready to try my hand at this plastics injection stuff and mostly will be doing crappie/panfish sized baits to start. A worn out carcass will keep me off the ice pretty much except on really nice days and I plan to fish some of what I cook up when I do make it out.

Another poster mentioned the Nuggies. Those are an incredible ice plastic and I use lots of them, even during the open water season. I have no idea how many of the whip tails I have pinched off the Nuggies to use on a small jig...hundreds over the last couple years I suppose.

[RonDon]

Heres a pic of one with a spinner. Would the added flash be good or bad for ice fishing? Or is it like anything else... It would work better some days than others???