Jigging Without Electronics

[mrmercman]

       Bravo buddy,X2

[JohnnyO19]

My solution to getting back down to same depth was either hand-line (depth never changes that way, I’m thinking way back now lol) or count how many handle cranks FROM THE BOTTOM that my jig needed to re-enter the school of fish. So, I’d just drop my jig to the bottom, then crank up how ever many times it needed to be at the depth I want. The “old school” method for me was to start the bottom and work my way up the water column 6 inches at a time. When I started getting bites, I’d either hand-line or count how many cranks it took, from the bottom, to start getting bites. If it took 2.5 cranks to get there, I’d drop to the bottom then reel in 2.5 cranks. So much easier. A standard spinning reel is roughly 2’ per crank with 5:1 ratio. So, I know half a crank is about a foot and a quarter crank is about 6 inches. It’s much easier measuring from the bottom rather than trying to figure out how many cranks it took to get to the surface.

I used to take a black sharpie & mark my line 

[Bucket Rump]

Kind of like pheasant or grouse hunting without a bird dog - yeah, you can do it, but....

[Seamonkey84]

Kind of like pheasant or grouse hunting without a bird dog - yeah, you can do it, but....

Haha good one, I’ve also tried snowshoe hunting without dogs since I don’t have one, now I don’t bother once there’s a blanket of snow.
I know that I can jig and catch a few fish without a sonar, but it will be basically just be a foot or two off bottom and hope for the best for a passing perch. It just wouldn’t be nearly as fun, Would be mostly back setting traps and messing with a rod between flags.

[WyExGafer]

So..... What? Do you just use handlines and bare hooks? At what price point does a piece of gear need to be at to cause hype? If someone started ice fishing for the first time this season, would the technological advances associated with the year 2018 not be considered “the basics”. I applaud you and your fish whispering skills but to brag about the way you fish then go on to say it’s not a contest...well....kind of makes your opinion invalid. A flasher is just another tool in the bag man. $50,000 bass boats don’t catch fish either and I don’t see anyone telling those guys to not get caught up in the hype. Again, just another tool. Also, who said they weren’t enjoying anything?

You could look at the OP’s question as “I don’t own a flasher and I am targeting walleye, what are the best tactics in how to locate them and what bait should I be offering?”.

I love my flasher, it’s a great tool that helps me locate and observe the behavior of fish under a sheet of ice. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t figured out how troll a lure 70’ sideways under the ice. Magnets maybe, I don’t know....

Exactly.  I wasn't trying to imply that I will quit trying or anything was just looking for some pointers and maybe a nudge towards a flasher... It's a fair amount of money for some people who only have fishable ice sometimes one month a year... Will be giving her hell again this weekend. and the next... and the one after that... this ol boy aint lazy

[ajv5148]

Exactly.  I wasn't trying to imply that I will quit trying or anything was just looking for some pointers and maybe a nudge towards a flasher... It's a fair amount of money for some people who only have fishable ice sometimes one month a year... Will be giving her hell again this weekend. and the next... and the one after that... this ol boy aint lazy

I'm in the same boat. I fish without electronics and kind of enjoy the simplicity of it really. Just like I enjoy catching fish on handmade jigs and tip downs. Take a look at some garmin and humminbird in the $100 range. They'll show depth and structure which is primarily what I want. I don't need to see the fish looking at my jig or any of that high tec stuff. They'll also let you mark it on GPS once you find a good spot. Sort of a compromise between "taking the fun out of it" and still lets you see structure and is more affordable. just my 2 cents

[WyExGafer]

I'm in the same boat. I fish without electronics and kind of enjoy the simplicity of it really. Just like I enjoy catching fish on handmade jigs and tip downs. Take a look at some garmin and humminbird in the $100 range. They'll show depth and structure which is primarily what I want. I don't need to see the fish looking at my jig or any of that high tec stuff. They'll also let you mark it on GPS once you find a good spot. Sort of a compromise between "taking the fun out of it" and still lets you see structure and is more affordable. just my 2 cents

Any specific model you would recommend?

[ajv5148]

I don't own one myself but on the higher end is garmin striker 4 I've heard good things about. $175 on this site https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-STRIKER-4-Portable-Fishfinder-Bundle-with-Transducer-P4618.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQiAs9zSBRC5ARIsAFMtUXGNPFdsUOGRViUErgbxlFszxWiE5JJcaSXVdEZffhHWsRhLIlYQL30aArnwEALw_wcB

might be able to find a deal later on in the year. There's some $40 ones on amazon called Venterior but I'm worried I'll get what I paid for with a price that low

[Dave R]

Without electronics, I would attach a depth sounder to the hook of my jig on my Schooley spring bobber pole. Once it hit bottom I'd give it a couple of cranks and set the pin in the appropriate hole. If using a spinning reel, once I found the appropriate depth, I wound wind a small rubber band on the spool, so my lure or bait would get back to the appropriate level.

[ajv5148]

Without electronics, I would attach a depth sounder to the hook of my jig on my Schooley spring bobber pole. Once it hit bottom I'd give it a couple of cranks and set the pin in the appropriate hole. If using a spinning reel, once I found the appropriate depth, I wound wind a small rubber band on the spool, so my lure or bait would get back to the appropriate level.

Thats exactly what I do. Start at the bottom and work up if theyre not biting

[ufflmaster]

Please remember that there is a difference between a open water "fish finder" and a ice flasher. I will not get that battle raging but there is a large difference. I am talking about the suggestion of the Garmin 4.  I have the Garmin 6 DV for open water and it is a solid unit for the price but no way it replaces my flasher in the winter. Quite honestly, I am a bit on the lazy side when it comes to electronics on open water. I'm fortunate enough to fish small 5-10 acre private and semi private lakes where you can pound the bank and catch plenty of nice fish. I know I really should learn to use my electronics to become a better fisherman but I don't. When it comes to ice fishing though....I find a flasher to be invaluable. For someone on a budget (aren't we all!) the is no reason a FL 8 Vexilar or equivalent other brand wont wont just fine. You should be able to find one around $200 used in good shape if you keep an eye out. Possibly less if you find the right one. I know you can pick them up new on sale for $279 usually.

[augergas]

I've fished off and on with a guy who fishes a silver buckshot, beating it on the bottom all day, no electronics. I could never do it but I can't argue with results and he catches fish about as well as anyone. This is perch and walleye fishing BTW.

[tentwiststhick]

I ice fished without electronics for 30 years or so. After the first time I used my digital fish finder on ice I concluded I would never fish blind again, and I don't. One of the first things I noticed was a huge increase in fish caught. When I'm jigging for panfish and see no action down any given hole, I move on. I use a "ShowDown 5.6". A very efficient and easy to use reliable unit indeed. Of course I also rely on all I have learned and my experiences over the decades I've ice fished. Only now all of this input is coupled with the electronics package. I never noticed any difference in the degree of fun it is either since the electronic upgrade.

[bullpine]

I caught lots of fish without a flasher.  Now however if I forgot it at home I would turn around and go get or not fish, period.

[sdbigeye]

i fish with and 88 yo guy that drops down a castmaster with a head on it and will catch fish all day without any electronics. sometimes catches a fish on the first drop. been doing this for many years. he does try new lures, but still no electronics. even uses 5-51/2 foot rods. hard to out fish him on many days. just keeps working that lure.   

[1moslab]

I'm trying to remember the god ole days without lasher.plastic bags on my feet ,cotton longjohns ,a stick with a .........oh nevermind I forgot

[hays47]

I suppose " real  " men could have a tooth filled without a novocaine shot. Guess I will never be a real man and will continue to take the shot and use my electronics.

[Iceassin]

I suppose " real  " men could have a tooth filled without a novocaine shot. Guess I will never be a real man and will continue to take the shot and use my electronics.

Been there, done that...and NOT by choice 

[Iceassin]

I'm trying to remember the god ole days without lasher.plastic bags on my feet ,cotton longjohns ,a stick with a .........oh nevermind I forgot

A few years ago I tossed around the idea of an "Old School Fishing Tourney"...no electronics, no augers ( this was still a maybe ), no shelters, no reels (except Schooleys), nothing less than 6# test line...it stayed in the drafting room. 

[missoulafish]

Battery on my unit died a couple hours into the morning last weekend. I contemplated packing up at that point. But I knew fish were coming through every few minutes and where I was fishing, all the fish were on the bottom. So I kept jigging, and pretended at all times a fish was looking at my jig, just to keep focused on what I was doing. And I kept catching at the same rate as I was with the flasher...

[Bucket Rump]

A few years ago I tossed around the idea of an "Old School Fishing Tourney"...no electronics, no augers ( this was still a maybe ), no shelters, no reels (except Schooleys), nothing less than 6# test line...it stayed in the drafting room. 

Not completely old school fishing, but a local winter festival near me holds a 1-hour "speed fishing" tourney where no electronics are allowed.  They limit the event to 25 fisherman and the organizers drill 27 holes in an area of their choosing and each fisherman has to change to a different hole every 10-minutes.  Makes for a fun time...

[WyExGafer]

I don't own one myself but on the higher end is garmin striker 4 I've heard good things about. $175 on this site https://www.thegpsstore.com/Garmin-STRIKER-4-Portable-Fishfinder-Bundle-with-Transducer-P4618.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQiAs9zSBRC5ARIsAFMtUXGNPFdsUOGRViUErgbxlFszxWiE5JJcaSXVdEZffhHWsRhLIlYQL30aArnwEALw_wcB

might be able to find a deal later on in the year. There's some $40 ones on amazon called Venterior but I'm worried I'll get what I paid for with a price that low

Thanks to your advice and some due diligence on my part I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the garmin striker.  I like the possibility of mounting this unit on the trolling motor in summer and with as little ice fishing as I do I think this will work perfect.  Figure I can always upgrade to a strictly flasher down the road if I chose.  I think I will be using this unit on mainly the traditional view with the vertical flasher feature off to the side.  I really like that concept.  Thanks everyone for the nudge in the right direction.  I bet this really increases my enjoyment of ice fishing which I already enjoy immensely just being outdoors in my beautiful state.

[Bucket Rump]

Thanks to your advice and some due diligence on my part I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the garmin striker.  I like the possibility of mounting this unit on the trolling motor in summer and with as little ice fishing as I do I think this will work perfect.  Figure I can always upgrade to a strictly flasher down the road if I chose.  I think I will be using this unit on mainly the traditional view with the vertical flasher feature off to the side.  I really like that concept.  Thanks everyone for the nudge in the right direction.  I bet this really increases my enjoyment of ice fishing which I already enjoy immensely just being outdoors in my beautiful state.

Cool!  Let us know what you think of it and using electronics in general after you get a bit experience with it. 

[mrjohnny]

Just my 2 cents worth..I been ice fishing for maybe 40 years and never had any type
of electronics..Sometimes caught fish some times not. Two of my sons have them.
One has a show down and the other a Marcum..Damn do they catch fish.
So dad finely got himself a Marcum..Holy cow what a difference.
Once I figured out how to use that thing..Now I can catch fish in less time and when
my feet get cold and can go home with a nice bunch of fish.
I target mainly pan fish which is fine with me..Took a few years before I got one because
I didn't think I was smart enough to use one..Anyway I doubt I would go without it..

[Gills4me]

you young flashers can have em im an old dog set in my ways no flasher for me oops unless I count the 1 setting in my shed covered in dust

[Gills-only]

I also bought a flasher couple yrs ago nice to see what’s down there, sad to say that 75% of the guys would quit fishing if they couldn’t use a flasher. Now think about what I said if for some reason they were outlawed, which will never happen, the vast majority would not fish. We that learned to fish with out one as they didn’t have them then, could cope better than most of the younger generation that didn’t fish till they had one !!!