Trouble Hooking Up

[Steelie64]

I'm new to the hard water fishing game. I have been out and found Brookies and Rainbows but can't seem to get them to bite. I can see them swim up and look but no takes!....grrrrr. I have been using jig heads with shrimp or maggots for bait. The question I have is when you get them close do you invoke some movement or just let it sit there?(or wrong bait) How fast or slow should I be jigging in the first place? I need help! I have been taking my 7 yr old daughter with me and she's really keen but starting to get bored with the lack of success. Thanks.

[Bill Dance]

If your going fishing with your daughter and you want to keep her interested do some homework on the lakes your going to. Go to a lake where you're almost sure that you'll get into a fish whether it is a rainbow, brookie, peamouth or squawfish (northern pike minnow). As long as you're catchin something it will be fun.
As far as lures jigs and spoons both work baited with shrimp or krill, maggots or worm. As far as movement there's really no rule but what works for me is when there's no fish around pull the lure all the way up to the bottom of the ice and let it drop. It's that dropping motion that gets their attention and brings them in. When and if you see them I stop movement if they seem interested. If it seems to be taking to long for them to bite give it a little jiggle then stop. Have fun and post your success.
 

[thebig1]

Maggots haven't been working here at all try a wax worm or meal worm. I use a chartruse rat rinkie or a trout magnet tipped with a waxie and have caught a ton of bows with this setup. I also use 4# line hope this helps

[holmes76]

The question I have is when you get them close do you invoke some movement or just let it sit there?(or wrong bait)

could depend on the mood of the fish at the time. I've fished a certain lake one weekend..not jigged at all just left the bait sitting there and caught lots.  the next weekend same bait, same hole, same depth and didn't get anything until i started jigging it a bit.got skunked today at the same lake, tried jigging, tried letting it sit, tried different baits,depths and holes and we never got a thing. still fun being out there. 

[FirstCast]

One can never second guess a fish however it helps to try everthing from changeing baits to changeing location on the lake. For example I went this sunday early in the morning. Hit a few on shrimp then around 10 it dyed off. Some other ice fishers came out and was about 100 yards down the lake from me and in about 6feet of water. 10 minutes after they got there lines in the water they were pullin fish out. They had worms and were just letting the worms do the work. So asd long as its in the water you have a chance. Keep the hook sticky sharp for a positive hook set so the big one doesnt get away. Good luck tight lines.

[argoholic]

I agree with Bill. Hit a lake that you know will hold fish that are willing biters. I was lucky growing up in Ontario we could always fish for perch, smelt of herring. It can get tricky fishing for trout even for the most seasoned angler. Everyone has great and frustrating days on the ice. That's when you got to have a great lunch and enjoy the view.