You can see the fish, but they aren't biting. What do you do?

[JimmyJr]

The first thing I do is change size. Then I change presentation hard jigging to soft.  Then I change type (horizontal to vertical etc). After that I drink a beer.

What is the typical order that you guys go through when the fish have tight lips?

[itsagr8dayforfishing]

I have found no exact science to it. Today the perch wanted nothing to do with a tear drop and spike or waxie. Put on a small chrome swedish pimple with red tag and they would bite it bare hook.....go figure Day before different lake- fishing for gills waxies and spikes on a tear drop no good. Put on a pink power grub and they were all over it. Frustrating when you find them and they just sniff it. Definately going to switch it up faster in the future.

[bobberbill]

watched on camera one time. Had prob 100 gills and perch look at everything I had. caught 4. Without the camera, I never would have caught those. Sometimes they just aint gonna bite.

[outdoor junkie]

Your holding your mouth wrong.   But seriously I change, then change some more, if that don't work I change again.

[TrekJeff]

when they aren't "feeding" you have to get them to strike through pissing them off,  put something flashy on like a small swedish, or jacks spoon.

[carver1]

Secret weapon... Wiggler and a bare hook... If no pannie hits that u might as well give up on em for the day

[fishindude644]

When i was ALOT younger  we would just fire one up and deal with it.   Grew out of that  though.

[419Ryan]

Haha well you can do what the fishendude used to do, or you can wait until there's a west wind. Either way you're best bet is to sit and wait. Although i recently learned from a super ol'tymer that you can make a bunch of noise on the ice and the perch will start biting again.

[Beets]

Had a few doing that to me today.I'll drop a few spikes down the hole and start a feeding frenzy!Then barely tip a jig and drop that in the mix.
Good luck!

[swampbuckster]

When i was ALOT younger  we would just fire one up and deal with it.   Grew out of that  though.

[swampbuckster]

I usually start changin up presentations. After that doesn't work I open a beer. if that doesn't work, I drink it.

[stevenmang85]

What carver said.......

[187fish]

I start whipping my rod like zoro! Usually creates a frienzy! I also like the ole hook um, and just let the fish struggle under ice for a couple mins..seems to excite the bite! Good luck

[swampbuckster]

I start whipping my rod like zoro! Usually creates a frienzy! I also like the ole hook um, and just let the fish struggle under ice for a couple mins..seems to excite the bite! Good luck

This must be amusing to watch!!! Lol

[187fish]

This must be amusing to watch!!! Lol

can be unless ur next to me in shanty! Lol..

[TrekJeff]

If you are in a shack when another guy is whipping his rod around, there's issues...lol

[mongo782]

Time to exit the shanty stage right. lol

[gunner_21]

fish 45 minutes at first light and 45 minutes at dusk get your 15 to 20 fish and get the heck out of there.  Or wait go thru every jig, color, and size, change your line diameter, go back to the bait shop buy spikes, waxies, and minnows.  While at the bait shop, shop for any jig you might not have and buy those. 

And if that doesn't work go back to fishing 45 minutes at first light and 45 minutes at dusk and get your 15 to 20 fish

[Swift]

If the dawn/dusk plankton related feeding flurry isn't the answer anymore then it's midday or at night. Seems that after the first ice, dawn/dusk icefishing conventions/stampede take the easy fish the smart/lucky ones left are into a different feeding pattern. Might be time to think outside the box and try things in an entirely different manner. Dawn/dusk is always there but it can be a case for diminishing returns on some waters

[threewack]

Buy all the new gear that just came out and use the pencil grip it works every year  and then use gunners idea that should doit
and dont forget to whip it ,,,but good

[thomascook4]

sit there for a couple hours, like a patient fisherman, then go home 

[delta9]

Go kick the cows out of bed!

[gunner_21]

I'll take my chances on the diminishing returns I guess because those smart/lucky ones are the same fish that turn dumb in the morning and before dark because that's their feeding pattern.  Just saying thats what I do.  If you choose to stay out midday and try everything in your tackle box, then thats what you do when fish aren't biting. 

 

[Swift]

Usually don't stay out, that's the time to go out with a reasonable idea of what to do and where. Simply an old timer with 50+ yrs on some waters that are known very well

[chi92]

You need to put on 1/4 of an Arkansas stick bait. (AKA dinomite!)

[bigbuckmiddaugh]

throw all your stuff on the ice and start swinging the auger at your shanty and your neighbors too. 


You have to chant...bite bite bite bite...ahhhh....(few choice words)
Switch lure...same thing bite bite bite
switch lure...this goes on for couple hours, then your move or go home   lmao

[bancroftchuck]

Use a dynamite  that always works for me .

[threewack]

Boy did this thread go hay wire.

[bent hook]

I just slip over to the shanty next to me and take the fish he has on the ice!

[thomascook4]

I just slip over to the shanty next to me and take the fish he has on the ice!