Get Out Your Ice Fishing Jigs

Next time you go fishing for bluegills or crappies take your ice jigs along and tie your favorite jig on your line. I’ve been using ice jigs in the summer for many years and I think they not only catch more fish but in the long run they catch bigger ones.

An ice jig adds flash, color and size to your offering and anything that attracts the fish is a good thing. Use a redworm or waxworm as bait just as you did in the winter and you’ll get lots of bites and fewer small fish. The larger size keeps some of the little fish away from your bait.

When using ice jigs in the summer, go to a little larger size than you use in the winter. I usually use a size 12 or 14 jig in the winter but in the summer I go to a size 6 or 8. The fish are more aggressive in the summer and are eating more and larger meals. In the winter they’re pretty picky and don’t eat much because they don’t move around much in the first place.

Pick out a few ice jigs and toss them into a little box and give them a try next time you go for bluegills. I’ll bet you’ll get more fish and fewer little ones.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of "How's Fishing"

http://www.myoakpro.com/