A lively minnow also works with dropper rigging, not just for perch, but for crappies and big bluegills. A 1/32-ounce jig works best with a minnow. Hold the minnow in your hand with the head away from you. Slip the hook point barely under the skin parallel to the dorsal fin, so the shank-end of the hook point ends up toward the head of the minnow, with the jighead away from the body of the minnow. Lift the combo slowly about 8 inches and let it fall, then hold and let the minnow move in place, swimming forward against the weight of the head of the jig and the flash of the body.

I like small shiners, but other minnows might be better where you fish. If you can get young-of-the-year bluegills or crappies, they can be unbelievably productive—something perch bite with total abandon. Late in fall, these baits often can be netted from small ponds.

In-Fisherman Editor Jeff Simpson, who is the primary editor on this Ice Guide, is an expert at adding droppers to swimming lures. His favorite combo consists of a Salmo Chubby Darter with the treble hooks removed in favor of a single 2-inch dropper line with a #8 single hook or a #8 treble hanging below. He connects the dropper to the lure, using a loop knot to keep the dropper line swinging loose below the lure. Again, maggots are the typical addition to the dropper. The big body of the Chubby Darter throws out lots of flash and vibration to attract perch. Once close, perch see the dropper rigging, and often as not, respond by taking the bait.

One of Simpson’s favorite combos is a perch-colored Chubby with a bright orange body. He first lifts it gently a foot and lets it fall to attract attention, then holds as perch move in to rub shoulders with what they apparently assume to be one of their buddies. Simpson’s convinced that once perch get close enough, they see the dropper and think it’s a tidbit dropped by the phantom perch.

This combo also can be worked aggressively to attract fish from a long distance. Simpson lifts sharply two or three times, then holds and watches his sonar to see when perch move in. When fishing’s difficult, it can be an amazing fish caller and getter in most conditions, whether the fishing’s easy or difficult.

Dropper rigging works with other swimming lures. Clip off the nose and tail hooks on a #3 or #5 Jigging Rapala and add a dropper consisting of just over an inch of line tipped with a #10 treble hook. Remove the nose and tail hooks to keep the combo from fouling when it’s jigged.

Dropper rigging incorporates the superior attracting qualities of a flash lure or swimming lure with the tremendous triggering qualities of a small jig packed with maggots or some other bait. It works, it works, it just plain works, from the Great Lakes to tiny prairie lakes and reservoirs, in clear or dingy water. Fishes better deeper than shallower, but it’s always worth a try. You’ll often find it’s the best possible presentation option for perch, for, as I’ve said before, it’s the best perch combo of all time.