New to ice jigging on the ice...

[emkay]

I've had alot of success jigging in open water for walleyes and bass and I was wondering if you use the same jigs on the ice, or are there different jigs for ice fishing. And would jigging with a dead minnow be a good idea?

[hoghammer]

Up where we fish they are killer on the eyes.

[slipperybob]

Ice jigs are generally different.  You can use regular open water jigs, but maybe downsize.

[emkay]

Ok so I tried jiggin' with ice fishing jigs I bought at the store at the lake and jigged with the full minow. Once I figured they were hitting the body and not taking the whole bait, I decide to just cut the head offf and jig with it. Result: I was feeling the freaking fish eating away the bait. Conclusion: I dont know, either the fish were really small and not even worth catching, or there's something Im doing wrong... BTW it was well after dark so Im thinking it has to be walleye as I dont know of any other fish that would be active at night...

[pfscott]

You got Perch in the lake? Might have been them nibbling at the minnow head.

[emkay]

Perch bite at night?

[pfscott]

I've caught quite a few after dark, and Perch is what i blame on the short runs and drops on my tip ups. Seems they just want to play with the minnow sometimes.

[pfscott]

Let me clarify. i have caught perch JUST after dark. Not all night. But the bigger ones I have caught have been in the dark.

[emkay]

I was there from 20:00 till 23:30 so I really doubt it was perch... Im fishing the canadian part of lake champlain btw... 10-12 fow...

[pfscott]

Gotcha.