I haven't tried them through the ice either, mostly because they are meant to sink extremely slowly.
I like sluggos, super flukes, super fluke jrs, Fin S Fish, Fin S Shad, Shad Assassins, and Whipsticks. Soft jerks are my number one bass lure and usually if the water is fairly clear it's the first thing I throw besides maybe a popper in the mornings and evenings. I like the 4 inch sizes best for bass, but the three and five inchers also catch plenty. I like white, baby bass, silver, gold, and lots of different colors. For 3 and 4 inchers use a 1/0 gamakatsu extra wide gap hook, and a 3/0 for five inchers.
I use light spinning tackle with 6 pound line. I have been able to wrestle big bass out of cover without needing heavier line. I can cast these lures a country mile, and they are just plain deadly. They also work for pike, trout, walleye, and even catfish. Just throw it out, let it sink about 10 feet under the surface, and slowly twitch it back. Most hits come on the sloooow fall. I don't think their is a better bass lure in the world. I am reluctant to fish them through the ice because they sink so slow and it would be difficult to set the hook.
Tyler