CK on ice

[CrappieKeith]

Hey guys and gals!
We are making ice up here in the north country(Palisade,Mn.).
With only 2 short weeks until our deer season is over and it'll be time to start testing the ice to see if she'll hold.
I'm a runner and gunner on the ice by nature.
If there's no fish below me ,I'm movin.
Some may know me other may not.

I tie this tiny hair jig called T.H.E. Jig (totaly hot everyday)and it works really well for those finicky times just after ice off and all winter.
I'll use a flat wire spring to see the hit and a flasher to read the fish and to work him.
By work him I mean that I want to lift the fish and trigger the chase instinct.
Once the fish rises a few feet I'll let him close in on T.H.E. Jig and once it covers me I'll watch the spring for any movement.

After 4 seconds I'll lift slowly if I do not see that tell tale hit on the spring.
Sometimes he's got T.H.E. jig ,well if that spring drops as I lift I'll set the hook driving it into the bone!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1715.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1715.flv)

[CrappieKeith]

Here's a better video to see what I'm doing.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1115-1.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1115-1.flv)

[Illinoisgiller]

I ordered a dozen of CKs T.H.E. Jigs. They Work!!!
I have been testing them a bit but will admit to adding a wax worm just because I got some left over. :confused0024::confused0024: lol
Besides just plain being well painted and tied, they seem to last forever.
Quickest way to loose them is to show them to a buddy. :confused0024::confused0024:
Now sizeing down is something I have been doing
successfully for a few years, but looking forward to putting ALL CrappieKeiths system together on the ice. Welcome again, Mike

[CrappieKeith]

That's great to hear Mike.
No over my knee ya go for adding meat!!!!!J/K

Sometimes ,very seldom will I have to go to meat.
Never count meat out as a weapon ,yet do not let it be the death of you either.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Picture243.jpg

[jason454ci]

That looks pretty interesting. The only problem I see with the whole setup is the ICE! :icon_biggrin:

Thanks for sharing the videos. Looks like you know a thing or two about convincing the crappie that its dinner time.

[gofish]

man after my own heart....make the ice look like swiss cheese by the time the days thru lol....take the active ones an move on lol

[Illinoisgiller]

CrappieKeith, Ice mono--- What is your current favorite mono for ice fishing? I have been using some 2# Yo Zuri Hybrid for open water gills.(no wood, in fact hardly any structure.) I don't know how it would preform in the cold though. Mike

[CrappieKeith]

That looks pretty interesting. The only problem I see with the whole setup is the ICE! :icon_biggrin:

Thanks for sharing the videos. Looks like you know a thing or two about convincing the crappie that its dinner time.

They work in open water too,especially when they are negative.
Early ice out,cold fronts and high pressure times are when fish become neutral to negative in their feeding moods.
Getting small and working an area slowly can be the key to triggering a bite.

As to mono's I'm all over the board.
I like use a line that is .006 in diameter or thinner.
P-Line makes a good line,so does stren.
Once winter comes any of the cold water lines work.
I'm almost always in a portable so with heat the lines react alot like they do in the warmer times of the year.

The main issue is memory.Coils in the line are a huge detriment to this style of verticle fishing.They act like a shock absorber and can hide the hit.
Keep in mind I'm not running that much weight with a bb or smaller split shot and an 80th oz. jig.
So having a nice straight line will telegraph the hit quickly.

We got an inch of snow last night and I've recieved reports from the locals that some of their lakes are starting to freeze up around the shoreline.
It will not be long boys!!!:party0045:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_62c6e29a.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=62c6e29a.pbr)

[jason454ci]

Great pics CK. Thanks for sharing. Looks like you guys have a blast up there on the ice.

Hey Giller look at all that bait they caught. :icon_biggrin: One thing I can't figure out is how can ya get a big ole flathead up thru that little tiny hole. :confused0024:

[gofish]

CHAINSAW!!!!!!!!:icon_biggrin:

[jason454ci]

CHAINSAW!!!!!!!!:icon_biggrin:

Now folks that right there is redneck ingenuity at it's finest. :icon_biggrin:

[troutrageous1]

BRRRRRR! Keith, hope you bring a “friend” along to keep you warm - Jack, Jim, Ol' Grandad, all ice fishin' buddies of mine.

[Timotha7]

:happy0194:Ya know, somehow I can see Joe out there with a chainsaw trying to get a fish through the ice
Just hope I don't hurt myself falling down laughing at the mental pictures that brings up!

Keith,
Thanks for the videos and the tips, going small definitely does work, and
that goes for more than just the crappie as well
I fish more open water during winter than the ice (spillways) but going
smaller and fishing slower seems to apply to about any cold water situation

TIm

[gofish]

biggest cat thru the ice was 18 lbs.....had ta chip the hole bigger with a spudbar ta git it out lol.....went out an bought a bigger auger after that.....good thing too cause bout 2 weeks later got a 9lb 1oz walleye at another spot :icon_biggrin:..............chainsaw works good.....ive been known ta set trotlines under the ice a time or 2......aint nuttin better than cats thru the ice ifn yer hungry fer cats:party0045:

[CrappieKeith]

You guys are funny.
What the heck would a guy do with a cat anyway......oh ya let my dog chase it up a tree.

[gofish]

crappiekieth ya come on down ta the ky git together an well learn ya bout other fish sides "bait" lol........actually im a lil jealous yas bout ta git some ice..probably wont see none here fer at least a month or 2 an then only have it fer a couple weeks.....still got my boat though lol

[Soupy_1us]

CHAINSAW!!!!!!!!:icon_biggrin:


I tried that "ICE FISHING" once down here where I live (KY)..
Got my chainsaw out and went to the Ohio River ..found me a chunk of ice big enuff to stand on and started cuttin'..... By the time I got that hole cut big enuff to fish in and got my poles baited up..........I was on the Mississippi..:confused0056:

[CrappieKeith]

If chainsaws do not work a full stick aka dupont spinner should work.

[gofish]

that theres my kinda guy soupy.....fergot all bout startin with a quarter stick an got out the big guns lol:confused0068::icon_biggrin:

[CrappieKeith]

Big dogs have the big bite!
The ole man always said pi$$ing around just got your leg wet.
A full stick will raise everything including the dead.