LURE PRESENTATION PROVIDES BETTER ICE-FISHING CATCHES
By Bob Jensen

It's the time of year when ice-fishing success begins to slow for some anglers. The fish have been bombarded with different styles, colors, and sizes of lures with a variety of actions. They have been conditioned to many lures and lure presentations. If you want to continue to catch fish, it is important to pay extra attention to the lure you're using and how you are using it.

On many bodies of water, there are "community spots" that get lots of fishing pressure. "Community spots" are those areas that seem to attract more anglers than other locations. Maybe the spot is easy to find or easy to get to, maybe it is traditionally very good early in the year and anglers just hang out there the rest of the year, maybe anglers go there because that's where all their friends go. Regardless, every lake has a "community spot" or two. If you decide to fish one of these locations, you need to alter your lure presentation if you want to catch anything.

Spots that attract a lot of angling pressure require a more refined presentation. The fish are conditioned to the more popular presentations. They simply aren't as susceptible to the presentations that most other anglers use. The angler that does things a little differently will be more successful.

First, you might want to go with a smaller diameter line. Smaller diameter means the line is harder for the fish to see. Eight and ten pound test line is popular with walleye anglers, but some of the most successful walleye-catchers are going to six pound test Trilene Cold Weather line this time of year. It's harder for the fish to see, which makes the lure attached to it a little more appealing. Panfish anglers are going to the same line in three-pound test this time of year in many situations, and even two-pound test in extreme conditions.

Downsize your lure. If you were using a 1/16th ounce jig for crappies or perch, go to a 1/32nd ounce jig. If you scale down lure size, be sure to go to lighter line.

Work the lures slower. Just a shaking, quivering action on the jig may be all it takes to catch fish.

Experiment with different colors. Sometimes a change in color will trigger the fish into biting. If everyone is using white with minimal results, try a different color. Just because white was the hot color yesterday or an hour ago doesn't mean it will be the best color right now. 

Rattling spoons designed primarily for ice fishing have been around a couple of years, but the fish, walleyes in particular, still aren't accustomed to them. Sometimes a rattling spoon will produce when a quiet presentation is ignored. The Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon has become very popular among anglers that are fishing pressured walleyes. 

There are plenty of fish below the ice willing to bite right now, but you need to give them what they want. Vary your lure presentation and you will be increasing the odds of giving the fish what they want, and you'll be increasing the odds of catching more fish.