Modify ice lures?

[CoachWalleye74]

After seeing a few youtube clips and reading a couple articles I'm beginning to go down the path (and potentially deep hole ).  of modifying a few ice lures.  Adding some VMC bladed hybrid trebles, clam feathered trebles, VMC glow resin trebles, and putting on a few northland minnow head hooks with gulp minnow heads threaded on from above.  Did up a few in buckshot flutter spoons, swedish pimple, buckshot spoon, frostee spoon, and a couple rippin raps.  Interested to try them this weekend.  The blade at the bottom of the pinhead minnow has great action and got me thinking a bit about this project.  We'll see...

[cwavs1982]

May have seen some of those same videos!  I have tried the hybird bladed treble, the feathered trebles with decent luck!  Adding the glow resin trebles this time around to try out this weekend.  Also tried that new rig - Roach rattling spoon (has the maribu feathers) last outing and did really good with the walleye! 

[jimmyclaude]

Following... since I try my own versions.

[slipperybob]

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=152687.0

Been secretly doing it for a while...

[PyroZuki]

https://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=152687.0

Been secretly doing it for a while...

I've been a fan of slipperybob's "fairy wing" setup since I stole his idea in 2010. They've worked very well for me. It was a great "mod"!

Thanks again, slipperybob!


Pyro

[CoachWalleye74]

Very cool SlipperyB and PyroZ.  As I said...going down a path that could get addictive (and expensive...those VMC treble hybrid blade hooks are $3 each!). 

[slipperybob]

Tricking fish to bite something with hooks attached to it is way fun. 

In the end most rigs becomes nothing more than a weight, a hook, and some bait.  I also like to jig in a bucket or in the fish tank to see how the rig works.  Helps to let me know how little motions gets the lure to quiver, bobble, dart, flutter, sink, etc.,...  Also to figure which rod imparts the best action on the rig.  Or even sometimes just how the lure free falls and flutters or wobble will give me ideas or clues if a fish will bite it.   

In the end, this is what all trial lures must beat.



The simple weight plus spinner blade rig.  Although the weight is from Hildebrandt's Thingamabob rig.

[mushroom_capd_1]

Check out flyshack.com for the Saber resin trebles. Vexan also has some epoxy trebles avaliable for a decent price. I think one of the sponsers named Shark has some available as well on EBAY.
Mudhole is a great place to get small Colorado blades or other styles of blades as well as glow, prism, or other types of tapes you can add to your spoons. I've also added some of those soft rubber glow beads over the eye onto the hook shank on some trebles as well, I think Mudhole or Cabelas might have those.

[CoachWalleye74]

Following up with a the mods from this winter using great ideas from this group and others.

[slipperybob]

nice, hopefully you get some good success with them.

[anglingice]

Sounds like you're all set for a great weekend on the ice; those mods could really turn the bite in your favor, especially the pinhead minnow tweak!

[CoachWalleye74]

Perch eye lure mods…

[Dirt23]

Love those eyes did you craft them from epoxy or a ready made product

[CoachWalleye74]

Eyes came from Thundermist Lure Company.  Paid for them, my own opinion, fyi.  If they work and I order again I'd get the smallest size (1/4) mainly and a couple medium (5/16). 

[mushroom_capd_1]

Eyes came from Thundermist Lure Company.  Paid for them, my own opinion, fyi.  If they work and I order again I'd get the smallest size (1/4) mainly and a couple medium (5/16). 

What about the minnow heads, where did you get those? I know Northland tackle used to sell them but they
have been discontinued for a few years now.

[CoachWalleye74]

I bought the Impulse minnow heads through ebay.  The small white and black ones with some dangling plastic are through Clam.  If you find something like the Impulse let us know, please. 

[mushroom_capd_1]

I bought the Impulse minnow heads through ebay.  The small white and black ones with some dangling plastic are through Clam.  If you find something like the Impulse let us know, please.

Thanks, I will check ebay for the Impulse minnow heads, and I will let you know if I stumble across anything like them.

[OldSailor]

Just type that in.....Many results on Ebay!!!
OS

[mushroom_capd_1]

I have enough for awhile. Northland had a sale on these when they discontinued them and a bought a bunch of these. I was hoping somebody else was producing something similar these just in case I ever exhaust my supply. I also checked Ebay and the only thing that popped up was a 9pk. of the black/red impulse minnow heads @ $19.88 + $7.50 shipping. I'll pass on that "deal"! 

[CoachWalleye74]

I sent some of these mod examples to pro staffer's for Clam/Northland/Acme and other folks in the business asking them to consider sharing the idea of "rubber" minnow heads in two sizes (about the size of the impulse and another about 1/2 that size).  With how "fast" people are fishing and searching for active fish it just doesn't seem like there is anything on the market now that is spot on.  I doubt it will do much but worth a try.  I would imagine Northland didn't discontinue the product because it was flying off the shelf and making them money hand over fist . 

[matzilla]

on those spoons add a 2nd or 3rd split ring between the hook at body

[CoachWalleye74]

There is an additional split ring on each of them.  I am considering moving the "plastic" up the hook shank towards the split ring if hook ups are impeded. 
"

[matzilla]

i'd put another, let that bait swing

[Fry Flier]

Tricking fish to bite something with hooks attached to it is way fun. 

In the end most rigs becomes nothing more than a weight, a hook, and some bait.  I also like to jig in a bucket or in the fish tank to see how the rig works.  Helps to let me know how little motions gets the lure to quiver, bobble, dart, flutter, sink, etc.,...  Also to figure which rod imparts the best action on the rig.  Or even sometimes just how the lure free falls and flutters or wobble will give me ideas or clues if a fish will bite it.   

In the end, this is what all trial lures must beat.

(Image removed from quote.)

The simple weight plus spinner blade rig.  Although the weight is from Hildebrandt's Thingamabob rig.

When someone sees a commercial bait and goes "hmmm, why did I not think of that. Well you know what someone did, be it Rapala, Eagle Claw or just a guy/gal thinking what can I do that is different.

I like to airbrush paint, alter, powder coat, tie flies, build musky bait and dream........ what else is life for

[CoachWalleye74]

Few more perch eye mods. Roadside Minnow perch eyes.