FISHING DEEP
Depending on state and local-specific fishing regulations, ice-fishermen usually are allowed several rigs. If you set out several rigs, start by setting tip-ups at various depths with at least one bait set 5 to 10 feet under the ice. The only good reason to concentrate most terminal rigs at a specific depth is that there is some clue that this is where most of the game fish are. Otherwise, only concentrate rigs at a specific depth once a pattern has become evident.

Visibility probably is not much of a factor for deep-water ice-fishing. Ice eliminates a large portion of sunlight. If there is just a little snow on the ice or if the ice is crusty or layered, even more of the sunlight is eliminated. In deep water, you can assume that it is very dark. Therefore, lure color probably is not important.

However, there is an exception: lures that glow in the dark. There are numerous jigs that are available in glow colors. The difference between glow orange, glow yellow, glow white and other glowing colors can be every bit as significant as the difference between regular colors when they are used in shallower water.

Be sure to carry some sort of light, a small flashlight will do, to recharge glow jigs. The brighter the flashlight, the better. This is not necessary if you are fishing in bright sunlight, but it is necessary if you fish at night or if you fish in an ice-shelter.

Fish will also be attracted to lures by vibrations. Fish have two means for detecting vibrations, a sense of hearing and a sense we do not possess, a lateral line. Anything that moves in the water creates vibrations, or sound waves, that fish can detect. This is difficult for people to comprehend because we do not have the same senses as fish. It can be likened to our sense of hearing.

All ice-fishing lures can be classified as vertical jigs because the only way we can give our ice-fishing lures action is by jigging them in a vertical manner. It’s tough to troll through 3 feet of ice!

Swimming jigs are probably the biggest variation on vertical jigs. These are designed to dart off to the side when they are lifted sharply, and then they swing back and forth for a few seconds after the rod tip is lowered. They are often used incorrectly by constant jigging action. Because this does produce some fish, ice-fishermen assume they are doing fine.

That is not the way they are designed to be used. That can be done with any jig. Instead, give them time to do their “dance.” Allow several seconds to elapse between lifts.

Swimming jigs are the exception to tipping ice jigs with bait. Bait will impair the swimming action. If bait is used, use just a small amount, such as a maggot or the head or tail of a small minnow.