I am very confident using plastics thru the ice. I have been using them thru the ice for a few years now and fish plastics 75- 80% of my time out fishing for panfish. My go to is the wedgee from custom jigs in glow,black and white. I also use the gulp alive baits as well. I do very well with the gulp fish fry in luma glow, orange and chartruse. As for the gulp maggots I feel that they are junk. I have done better with a bare hook then the gulp maggots. I have fished them in every way possible and the fish will not bite them except for some freak instances. I can tip a swedish pimple or a jig with the gulp maggots and the fish will swim away. As soon as I put a gulp minnowhead or even just a plain spoon they will attack it. Its not just the jar I have. I have every color they make and the fish just dont like them. I have had no problem catching fish with any other plastic that I have fished just no luck with the gulp maggots. Maybe its just the lakes I fish or the days I used them. I would though highly recommend that everyone go out and get some different plastics and fish them. I have had a lot of days when they wouldn't take live bait but could get them to hit artificial. I also recommend picking up some smelly jelly to rescent your baits for when they are shy biting. It helps out a lot when they have a little smell to go with the presentation. And remember if you dont succeed at first keep trying. It took me quite some time to be comfortable with them. You have to learn how each bait fishes and how to present them. They will only make you a better fisherman in the end.