Anyone try a new lure or technique this year

[davidhoheisel]

Has anyone tried a new lure, product or technique this year?

I tend to use the same stuff but know i should mix it up. I always said i would try a sweedish pimple type lure with a 2 inch dropper. I just never get around to making the lure. I have used GrandPa Bob's Jigs and they work great.

[JustNutts]

I hear some guys talking about the dropper on the pimple too, but im stuck in my ways and rarely use a pimple.. I just havent had much sucess with them as I do with a vibe or a rap. I did try some of the Chubby Darters this year and im not sure if I liked them. Different for sure, not much weight and its hard to know what its doing down there besides freakin out.

[davek]

We had a guy catching white bass with the pimple this year so i tried with no luck, however I went back to it mid ice tipping it with a minnow and have caught several walleye and sauger. Dave

[slabslayer]

I've tried some of the soft plastics designed for ice fishing.  I mostly fish for panfish and crappie, so the new plastics are perfect for me.  They seem to work pretty well, I've had success with them on and off, depends on water and light conditions, as well as the mood of the fish.  When tipped with a maggot the catch rate drastically improved on the tough days.  It also helps some days to use a sniffer rig on the plastics.  I detailed how the sniffer rig works in the ice fishing inventions thread.

[crv423]

I tried a pimple at alum yesterday as suggested by walleye guy and it paid off with a three pounder and a monster that broke my line after a 5 min fight.

[wapak ice dawg]

I bought the vexilar and it was probally the best thing I've ever bought for icefishing, the only down fall is the aggravation of seeing what the fish are doing as to following your bait and not hitting it and all the size, color, motion changes I've tried and they still wont hit it, but the cool thing is when you see them move up to hit your bait. It's almost like a video game where you connect the dots.

[g]

tried the lindy chubby darter in tulibee color. worked great until i lost it. caught some nice fish on it. they just don't seem to like the shad color. i did try vibes at erie this year and caught 2 walleyes on it. 2.5in. droppers work great on jigging raps for perch but you need to cut the front & rear hooks off to avoid tangles.

[davidhoheisel]

I have also used the plastics and they work great. I learned that with the plastic tail that Has a ball and then the tail that you want the tail to bend upward after threading on the hook. This gives the tail more action. I learned that from Tony Boshold at the Michigan event last year.

I will try G's technique since i have a lot of raps with rusted hooks. Look out Moscuitto.

[davek]

Has anyone ever used a decoy i keep seeing them but have never heard of anyone using them Dave

[Banker]

Always modifying my rig- got it to where it works well in 20+ fow now versus the typical 5 feet at Indian. I use a rubber stop- foam round bobber (without the slit on the side) no toothpick- rubber stop replaces- less line abrasion- then utiliza Ohio regulations with 3 hooks per pole- have a light wax worm Ice Jig on top- like a #12 Ficious Jig of some thing light like that. (See FiciousJigs.com) then I tie a floater minnow line with a plain # 8 panfish hook - iline I tie away from the main line so if floats down at a slower rate then the rest of the line (brought down emarld shinners from Lake Erie to use on this hook- has worked so far this week) Then I tie a panfish jig on the botton- A Custom Spins & Jigs #16 Diamond Jig does the trick to get down 20 feet of water quickly without over weighting the bobber. I also will use a Gill Pill (CustomSpins&Jigs) or a similar jig- Marmuska- JB Lures -Orca - JuJu. Then once riged I typically start off with a buffet of bait options switching where and in what order but typically consists of Waxie Spike and Minnow. Minnow on minnow line. It took me all season to perfect this rig and I finally have it the way I want. More tweaks will happen I am sure-With every solution comes more problems right.

[davidhoheisel]

Dave K, I have heard of the guy's who use the decoy's for pike. I have never used them and have not heard of using them for other species.