Ice Fishing Tips for Panfish

Bring the right equipment

When they're in the biting mood, you don't need much. You'll need a jigging rod, some small jigs or Swedish pimples, some bait and an auger or ice spud to make a hole. For those looking to expand on their ice-fishing experience, consider using a shanty to stay warm and bobbers to help you identify when the fish are biting and a chair or inverted 5-gallon bucket to sit on.

Set the rod up before going out

Before you're sitting out on the ice with your gloves off and your fingers fumbling with a jig to tie onto your line, consider doing your rod setup the day before. Choose a brightly colored jig that will attract the attention of a panfish. Many colors that have been successful through the ice include hot pink, chartreuse, bright green and blaze orange. Tie the jig onto the end of your line and you're set for a typical excursion. If you're planning on using a bobber, make sure to side it on your line before tying your hook. In addition, if you know you'll be fishing in deeper waters, you might want to consider adding a few clamp-style sinkers to your line a few inches above your jig.

Hit the ice

If you've chosen to use a shanty, set it up on the location where you want to do your fishing. If it's a site where you'll be fishing all year, consider leaving your shanty on the ice for the duration of the season. Pile snow up at the base of the ice shack to help insulate it and keep out the sunlight that is glaring on the ice all around you. Using your auger, or ice spud, make your hole and scoop out the ice floating in it. If you're using a bobber, check the depth of the water you're in with a depth-finder sinker, to make sure your bait won't be sitting on the bottom of the lake, and make a small knot in the line where you want your bobber to stop. Add bait to your hook, anything from bloodworms to grubs to wigglers to minnows, and drop it down the hole. Once your jig is at the depth you want, or the knot has reached the bobber, you're ready to start.

Jigging for panfish

There are several styles of jigging and none of them are wrong. The idea behind the process is to attract fish to your bait by getting their attention. For crappie, this might involve quick up and down and jerky motions. Try twisting the line between your fingers and letting it go, causing your lure to spin in the water. Another technique, which has been known to work on low-swimming perch and bluegill, is to bounce the jig off the bottom of the lake. This will cause a small puff of sediment, which will attract aggressive fish. Movement is key, but so is patience. Like any predator, the movement draws the attention of the fish, but letting it sit for a few moments without jigging can give the fish a good time to bite. Change your jigging technique and, if needed, the jig size and color if you're having trouble getting bites.

More than just jigging

While jigging is considered the most successful tactic in catching panfish, many anglers use spoons, spinners and plain hooks at times. Spoons and spinners are known to attract aggressive fish out of the schools swimming through and this tactic can prove to be successful throughout the day. Try a combination of lures and baits until you find one that works for you and catches plenty of fish.

Don't give up

Several factors combine to make fish hungry, including ambient light, water temperature and food supply. If your fishing doesn't go well one day, don't give up. Come back out at a different time of day and with different lures. Talk to the local bait shop about what's been getting the bites and what techniques seem to be working. Persistence pays off when going after panfish.