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How long do y'all spend in a hole that's not producing (assuming you don't have any electronics to tell you whether there's fish there or not)? I haven't done alot of ice fishing and I think I might be spending too much time at the same hole that's not producing instead of moving on to try some place else. I usually send the jig down to the bottom and then slowly work my way to the top one crank at a time, jigging a few minutes at each turn of the reel to see if there's anything at that depth. Once I get to the top, I drop it down and start again.
Most fish can be any where in the water column but some you need to stay right on bottom so my question is: What kinda fish do you normally target Huh cause some fish need--- 1.more time 2. diffrent lure 3. Jigging near bottom at all times 4. diffrent techniques.
Wilkintj - It is so much easier with electronics or fishing with someone that has some. I have an old Eagle LCD on a portable base (takes 2 lantern batteries) that works except for the off button - need to unhook the power cable to turn it off. You can have it if you want it. Pass it on when you get something better.I can not live out there without my Showdown!
First of all try your presentations the exact opposite way you are now. Start your jigging near the surface and work your way down. If you were using a flasher you would want to your presentation just above the fish to bring the active fish up. You essentially want to skim the fish off the top of the pile and work your way down.Next, if you have two or three rods, set them up with your top lures and I'd go 5 - 10 cycles each and then move on to another hole.Remember, watch your line. Sometimes as I have seen so often on my camera, fish will take your lure and actually lift up a fraction of an inch. The majority of the time fish don't slam your presentation. Look for your line to go ever so slightly slack. And when you set the hook don't rip their lips off. Raise up quickly and reel at the same time. If your hooks are good and sharp it won't take a lot to get a good hookset.I still occasionally fish with some of the old timers that will often out-catch us guys with all the bells and whistles. These are the ones that prove every day that fish can be caught without electronics. They leave me amazed every time. NBG
than just sit in one spot in the shanty and get TRASHED Wacko laugh