Integrating Anchored Bait Into Mobile Systems

We’ve come a long way in our quest to fish efficiently on ice. Properly rigged sonar allows for moving from hole to hole without having to constantly make major readjustments to get accurate readings. Sonar reads allow for identifying appropriate structural elements that attract fish. Moreover, predatory fish and baitfish below can be seen in relation to lures, allowing judgments concerning how fish are responding to lure maneuvers.

In the far North, meanwhile, portable shacks, several styles of which are pulled along and set up in seconds, allow for fishing in relative comfort. And power augers allow us to proceed without exhausting effort. The resulting increase in mobility is the principal reason why today’s best anglers catch more fish than ever before. We can move—that is, search for fish—almost as efficiently on ice as in open water. What little mobility is sacrificed is more than made up for once fish are found, for lures can be presented much more precisely on ice.

Most anglers who practice this system find that jigging is the most natural counterpart to search tactics. Rod-and-reel combos allow for fishing lures quickly, then moving on quickly if fish aren’t found or aren’t responding. Yet stationary minnow presentations also remain a top way to catch fish, at times. It will ever remain that fish generally are not quite so active during winter. Still, in many cases, an angler can do better than fish a minnow below a bobber, or even below a tip-up.

Deadsticking

In-Fisherman staff members perfected a combo system that relies primarily on jigging, but also incorporates livebait in combination when necessary. We’ve used the system extensively for walleyes, crappies, bluegills, and perch, but with slight modification it will work for most species.

A primary jigging rod is required, for the objective is always to keep jigging—that is, actively presenting a lure to trigger fish. Even when fishing turns ugly, the right combination of lure and jigging motion usually results in some fish. Add to your repertoire, however, another rod fished as a “deadstick.”

The deadstick is a lighter rod than the primary jigging rod, for it is used to present a lively minnow reversed on a jig. Drop the jig and minnow to the bottom and reel up 3 to 12 inches. Then place the rod on a bucket or in a rod-holder on a bucket. The tip of the rod should be light enough so the minnow below can work the tip as it struggles. Meanwhile, wind movement also works the tip, prodding the minnow to move. And all the while you continue to jig in the immediate area. Moving requires only reeling up the deadstick—easier than dealing with tip-ups or even bobbers.

Most days, jigging produces most of the fish. often, though, the deadstick contributes the fish or two or three that are the difference between a good day and a great day. Then, at times, usually when fishing is difficult, the deadstick can make the difference between hamburgers and fresh fish for dinner.

When most of the fish are coming on the deadstick, we change our jigging approach. Instead of using a traditional flash lure or swimming jig, we switch to a standard jig and reversed minnow—the same rigging on the deadstick. Often, actively jigging with this combo can be even more effective because you can add more “attraction” to the process, gently lifting (a foot or so) the jig and minnow and letting it fall, then allowing the minnow to work for 30 seconds as you pause.