Vertical Jigging Without Electronics

[WyExGafer]

Is there a point?  I understand vertical jigging catches a ton of fish when you have electronics but without seeing whats happening do people still have success? Is the best option to go to passive fishing with dead sticks and tip ups or do you still vertical jig with say rippin raps and hope for the best?  Mainly walleye is my target fish if that helps.  Thanks

[Doz601]

I don't have electronics, I start by setting tip ups and deadsticks and jig by one that feels good. Once I start getting hits in one hole I start jig that hole. Caught a nice limit at pathfinder last weekend using that method. I also just drop and jig local where I know the fish are. I also use several jaw jackers. When one then starts getting active I'll start jigging that hole

[Gills-only]

Is there a point?  I understand vertical jigging catches a ton of fish when you have electronics but without seeing whats happening do people still have success? Is the best option to go to passive fishing with dead sticks and tip ups or do you still vertical jig with say rippin raps and hope for the best?  Mainly walleye is my target fish if that helps.  Thanks

.    How did anyone catch fish before the flasher, that should answer the question !!

[Bucket Rump]

Is there a point?  I understand vertical jigging catches a ton of fish when you have electronics but without seeing whats happening do people still have success? Is the best option to go to passive fishing with dead sticks and tip ups or do you still vertical jig with say rippin raps and hope for the best?  Mainly walleye is my target fish if that helps.  Thanks

I fish with a buddy who just flat out refuses to fish with electronics out on the ice - but he still catches fish.  I learned, as did he, how to fish long before electronics came to be so popular and he definitely knows how to fish and where to find them.  Electronics will definitely help you catch more - particularly ones that are suspended - but they are far from a necessity.  That said, I always hit the ice with a flasher and a fully charged battery...

[WyExGafer]

I don't have electronics, I start by setting tip ups and deadsticks and jig by one that feels good. Once I start getting hits in one hole I start jig that hole. Caught a nice limit at pathfinder last weekend using that method. I also just drop and jig local where I know the fish are. I also use several jaw jackers. When one then starts getting active I'll start jigging that hole

Debating on getting a jaw jacker too.  Pricey but I hear they work.  Are you catching eyes during the day? Only ever got them at night. 

[Doz601]

Gafer - jackers are extremely handy once you get that proper setup for the fish you are targeting, I always use live bait on mine and rig through the head, almost never misses a hook set!

[WyExGafer]

Gafer - jackers are extremely handy once you get that proper setup for the fish you are targeting, I always use live bait on mine and rig through the head, almost never misses a hook set!

  Tried sending ya a pm Doz

[Doz601]

I answered them both through email.

[WyExGafer]

I answered them both through email.

So whats the trick to seeing your messages? I can't even find my sent messages in the "my messages" folder.  It's all empty.  Do you have to pay to have that feature?

[bsrkoacar]

You can still catch fish. Obviously locating fish can be more challenging. Wouldn't say its pointless though.

[Houligan]

So whats the trick to seeing your messages? I can't even find my sent messages in the "my messages" folder.  It's all empty.  Do you have to pay to have that feature?

You have too edit your profile for messages to have it save sent messages.

Cheers!

[esox_xtm]

The "old fashioned" way... Start at the bottom jigging on and slightly above (like 6"). Work your way up the water column a bit at a time (a foot +/-) trusting your presentation and technique to reveal fish. I did it that way for a long time and, hey guess what, I caught fish!

Pick a good spot, use your best presentations tailored to the species you wish to catch and go from there.

[bootstrap]

im 42 i just got my first sonar, i could live with out it.

[Special]

Jigging without electronics just punch a lot of hole and jig each one. Electronics help but if your location and depth is good you'll catch fish. I cant emphasize Location, Location is key!!!!! Now we have plot points and GPS to find the spot. Back in the day it was off this tree that cliff. Structure is key and knowledge of the reservoir is great. Dead stick is a good tool I use them as well jigging next to a dead stick sometimes produces more fish. Jig them in and dead stick catches.

[WYIfish]

My graph fish finder I have had for 10 years, my gas auger for 10 years, I would rather get rid of the auger and go back to spudding my holes than go blindly with out a fish finder.  Horse and buggy was great in it's day, cars are pretty good these days.  Radio was good in its day before we had tv to watch in the evening. I use a lot of wool clothing but there are better technologies to make life better, and one being the fish finder.

[POk3s]

It's pretty simple. If you want to catch more fish buy your choice of fish finder. If you don't, continue without one. People still fish without one yes but you will 100% catch more fish with a finder.

[Kinkyline]

   How do you determine if you drilled over soft or firm bottom or rock without a flasher? Pure luck or lake knowledge maybe. A lot of work can be avoided by reading through the ice before drilling off that point or hump with a flasher.

[WyExGafer]

   How do you determine if you drilled over soft or firm bottom or rock without a flasher? Pure luck or lake knowledge maybe. A lot of work can be avoided by reading through the ice before drilling off that point or hump with a flasher.

Valid point.  My fish finder/flasher should be here this week.  Ended up going with the garmin for several reasons.

[rbmchief]

   How do you determine if you drilled over soft or firm bottom or rock without a flasher? Pure luck or lake knowledge maybe. A lot of work can be avoided by reading through the ice before drilling off that point or hump with a flasher.

Just like open water sonars, Color is what tells me the difference between hard and soft bottoms.

[wyoutdoors]

Just like open water sonars, Color is what tells me the difference between hard and soft bottoms.

Band thickness on flashers also can be interpreted for bottom composition.

[rbmchief]

yes sir, been a few years, gotten used to the sonar on the helix.

[duckman111]

Another advantage not mentioned is sometimes walleye like a vertical presentation and sometimes horizontal. I usually start out with three different lures for walleye buckshot rattle spoon jigging rap and a rattle trap the big advantage to electronics is I can see fish that come in but don't bite more than once a simple lure change and I started catching fish.