Ice Fishing Lures You Need to Catch Everything. Master ice fishing with killer lures. Explore our top picks and boost your catch.
Ice Fishing Lures Essential Guide for Every Angler
The 7 Best Ice Fishing Lures You Need To Catch EVERYTHING Video.Ice fishing can be a thrilling and rewarding experience, but success on the ice requires the right gear and techniques. One of the most critical components of any ice angler’s arsenal is a well-orchestrated selection of ice fishing lures.
7 Ice Fishing Lures mentioned in the video:
- Rattle Spoons ➜ LINK
- Flutter Spoons ➜ LINK
- Heavy Thin Bodied Spoons ➜ LINK
- Lipless Crankbaits ➜ LINK
- Glide Baits ➜ LINK
- Tungsten Jigs ➜ LINK
- Soft Plastics ➜ LINK
This post will delve into the seven different categories of ice fishing lures that every angler should consider maximizing their effectiveness on the ice, regardless of the season or location, whether it be Illinois or Canada, early ice or late ice.
DISCLOSURE: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Affiliate commissions help fund this website, our rare fishing trips and my extreme coffee addiction.
1. Rattle Spoons
Choosing the Right Rattle Spoons at the Right Time Video.The Rattle Spoon is a proven ice fishing lure. It’s designed to attract fish with both flash and sound. The spoon’s erratic action draws attention. Inside, loose beads create a rattling noise. This vibration cuts through murky water.
It signals a meal is nearby. Anglers often tip it with live bait. This adds scent and realism. It’s a go-to for perch and panfish. You’ll catch walleye and pike too. Its effectiveness makes it a favorite.
Rattle spoons are undoubtedly the most popular ice fishing lures available. Their effectiveness is due to several factors:
- Sound: The rattling noise they produce mimics the distressed sounds of prey, attracting fish from a distance.
- Action: They can be fished aggressively or gently, depending on the fish’s mood and conditions, allowing for versatile use in various environments.
- Visibility: Available in numerous colors and sizes, rattle spoons can tackle multiple species.
Popular choices include the Clam Blade Spoon, equipped with a clear chamber that showcases the rattling beads, and the classic Buckshot Spoon by Northland, known for its ability to put fish on the ice for years.
2. Flutter Spoons Ice Fishing Lures
Ice Fishing with Flutter Spoons Video.The Flutter Spoon is a fantastic ice fishing lure. It’s built to flutter enticingly underwater. This action really grabs the attention of panfish. Its lifelike wobble mimics wounded baitfish. This irresistible movement triggers aggressive strikes.
Fishermen love its simple yet effective design. It’s a reliable choice for catching perch, crappies, and bluegills. Add this lure to your tackle box for better ice fishing success.
Flutter spoons are lighter and designed to sink slower than rattle spoons. They create enticing flash and vibration as they descend, making them particularly effective in clear water conditions.
Key Features:
- Visual Appeal: The flutter action attracts fish visually, triggering strikes from species such as pike, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.
- Variety: While they can be used for panfish, they excel in targeting larger game fish.
Notable examples include the Clam Ribbon Leech and the Euro Tackle Live Spoon, both of which provide unique actions and finishes that fish find irresistible.
3. Heavy Thin Bodied Spoons Ice Fishing Lures
Heavy thin-bodied spoons are fantastic for ice fishing. Their slender profile cuts through water easily. This design creates a quick drop. It’s great for reaching deeper spots fast. The weight helps them stay down. Fish feel a natural vibration when they move.
This imitates fleeing baitfish. Anglers often tip them with wax worms. This adds extra scent and flash. They work well for perch, walleye, and panfish. You’ll get more bites with these lures.
Heavy thin bodied spoons offer a different approach, focusing on finesse presentations. These are characterized by a real tight wiggle rather than a broad wobble, allowing for precise fishing.
Benefits:
- Precision: They can effectively fish in current-heavy conditions.
- Compatibility: Pair them with live bait for added success.
Effective models include the Euro Tackle Tungsten T Flasher, perfect for targeting panfish, as well as the Clam Pinhead Minnow, which can be a panfish killer, especially when tipped with maggots.
4. Lipless Crankbaits
The Evolution of Lipless Crankbaits in Ice Fishing Video.A lipless crankbait is a tough lure for ice fishing. It sinks fast to reach deep fish. Its tight wobble imitates a fleeing baitfish. This action triggers aggressive strikes from predators. You can rip it upwards or reel it steadily. The rattling internal beads attract attention. It’s great for covering water quickly. Target bass, walleye, and pike with this lure.
Lipless crankbaits are versatile and effective for mimicking small forage fish like perch and bluegill. Their vibrating action and rattle can trigger strikes from a variety of species.
Advantages:
- Mimicking Prey: Perfectly resembles smaller fish, which are natural food sources in many lakes.
- Effective Sizes: The Euro Tackle Z-Viber stands out as an excellent ice fishing choice due to its rattle and flash, making it perfect for targeting aggressive fish.
5. Glide Baits
The Glide Baits ice fishing lure is designed to attract fish with its lifelike swimming action. It shimmies and glides horizontally underwater. This natural movement triggers aggressive strikes. The lure’s weight lets you cast it accurately. It also keeps it down in the water column. Fish can’t resist its erratic yet smooth presentation. It’s a great choice for targeting walleye and pike.
Known for their swimming action, glide baits stand out from the crowd. They swim away from the hole when jigged, then glide back toward it, making them appealing to predators.
Features:
- Organic Movement: The action emulates the movement of a distressed fish, which is an excellent trigger for many species.
- Versatile Use: Effective for a range of fish including bass, pike, and crappies.
Top choices include the Clam Tikamino and the Euro Tackle Z-Darter 2.0, both offering effective designs and attractive action.
6. Tungsten Jigs
TOP Tungsten Jigs for Ice Fishing Panfish Video.Tungsten jigs are ice fishing favorites. Their weight lets them sink fast. This gets your bait down to hungry fish quickly. They’re also small and dense. This mimics tiny baitfish perfectly. The jig’s profile is compact. It attracts panfish and perch.
Many come with bright colors. This helps visibility in dark water. Tungsten offers superior sensitivity. You’ll feel even the lightest bites. It’s a go-to lure for serious ice anglers.
Tungsten jigs are indispensable for any ice fisherman, offering a heavy feel in a compact size. These jigs are perfect for finesse presentations.
Key Benefits:
- Quick Sinking: Their weight allows for fast descents, which can trigger more bites in aggressive fish.
- Versatile Sizes: They come in various sizes suitable for everything from crappies to walleyes.
Popular options include a wide range of Clam Drop Jigs and Euro Tackle ESR Nano Jigs, designed to provide optimum visibility and sensitivity.
7. Soft Plastics
Ice Fishing: Soft Plastics VS Live Bait Video.Soft plastic ice fishing lures are a smart choice for anglers. They mimic live bait effectively. You can find them in many shapes and sizes. These lures wiggle and flutter in the water. This movement attracts hungry fish. They work well for panfish, walleye, and pike. Plastic lures are also quite durable.
You won’t need to replace them as often. Many come with scent already added. This makes them even more appealing. They’re easy to rig too. Simply thread them onto a jig or a hook. Soft plastics offer great action below the ice.
In recent years, miniature soft plastics have become an essential component for ice anglers, especially when fish are aggressive and receptive to artificial offerings.
Highlights:
- Diverse Options: From the Euro Tackle Blood Worm to the Zero Tackle Zooplankton and the Clam Jamie Eye, the variety of shapes and actions mimic natural prey effectively.
- Live Bait Alternative: Many angers are now opting for plastics instead of live bait due to their effectiveness.
Having a diverse selection of these seven categories of lures will equip any ice angler with the necessary tools to face various conditions and fish species. Whether you encounter aggressive panfish or seek out larger game fish, these lures will enhance your chances of success.
Get Hooked
Prepare yourself for an incredible ice fishing season by equipping yourself with these essential lures! If you found this guide helpful, consider sharing it with your fellow anglers and subscribe for more ice fishing tips and advice.
Make Your Own Fishing Lures: Unlock Your Creativity and Catch More Fish
For many anglers, fishing is more than just a pastime; it’s a passion. And what could be more satisfying than reeling in a prize catch on a lure you crafted yourself? Making your own fishing lures is a rewarding hobby that combines creativity, engineering, and the thrill of the chase. Not only can it be incredibly cost-effective, but it also allows you to custom-tailor your tackle to specific fishing conditions, target species, and even your personal style. Heck you can even make your own fishing pole as well.
Why Dive into DIY Lures?
The most immediate benefit of crafting your own lures is the potential for significant savings. High-quality fishing lures can be expensive, and losing a few on snags can quickly add up. When you make them yourself, the material cost is often a fraction of the retail price.
Beyond economics, customization is a huge draw. Commercial lures come in standard colors and sizes, but what if the fish in your local spot are only hitting chartreuse with an orange belly, or prefer a jig head that’s half an ounce heavier than anything on the market? Making your own provides the freedom to experiment with unique color patterns, weights, actions, and even scent infusions that aren’t available commercially. This ability to precisely match the hatch or create an irresistible, never-before-seen offering can give you a significant edge on the water.
Furthermore, there’s immense satisfaction in catching a fish on a lure you poured, painted, and assembled with your own hands. It deepens your connection to the sport and gives you a tangible sense of accomplishment. Read our post Make Your Own Fishing Lures from Home DIY for more information.
Other Posts You Might Like
Read Our Fishing Related Posts for more information:
- Craft Fishing Lures at Home
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- Trout Lures: A Year-Round Guide
- Ice Fishing Books: Pro Secrets
- Ice Fishing Questions Answered
- Best Ice Fishing Tips
Please let us know how you like the posts in the comments. We appreciate the feedback that helps improve the posts that we bring to you.
Ice Fishing Books
Ice fishing books offer a wealth of knowledge. You’ll find details on the best gear and how to set it up. Learn about different types of fish you can catch. Discover effective ice fishing techniques. These books are packed with valuable ice fishing information.
Ready to master the ice? Ice fishing books offer a wealth of knowledge for every angler. We will guide you through the best resources. Discover essential ice fishing hacks and techniques to improve your catch. Find other fishing books in our post Top Helpful Fishing Books to Read.
Lucky Fishing Shirt
Don’t head out on your next fishing trip without your Lucky Fishing Shirt from Fishing Stone. It’s available on Amazon for everyone: women, men, and youth. Pick from a wide array of colors! See our post, “Cool Fishing Shirts,” for more awesome shirt designs.
We design unique fishing shirts for any angler. If you would like something custom made please let us know. We would be happy to bring your idea to life. These shirts make perfect gifts, whether for yourself or for the angler you know.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the “best” all-around ice fishing lure? There isn’t one definitive “best,” but a small jigging spoon (like a Northland Forage Minnow or Swedish Pimple) or a tungsten jig tipped with a live bait or plastic would be the most versatile choices. They can catch nearly any species depending on size and presentation.
Do I always need to tip my ice fishing lures with live bait or plastics? While not always necessary, tipping your lures significantly increases your chances of success. It adds scent, taste, and often a more natural profile or subtle action that can entice finicky fish to commit. Minnow heads, maggots, wax worms, and small soft plastic tails are common tipping choices.
What are the primary methods for finding fish depth under the ice? There are several effective methods, ranging from high-tech electronics to more traditional techniques:
- Electronic Fish Finders (Sonar): The most popular and accurate method. Read our post Best Handheld GPS for Ice Fishing.
- Underwater Cameras:Â Provide visual confirmation.
- Trial and Error / Depth Marking:Â Simple, low-tech approaches.
- Lake Maps/Charts:Â Offer general depth information.
- Observing Conditions:Â Understanding how fish react to environmental factors.
What colors are best for ice fishing lures?
What colors are best for ice fishing lures? No, there isn’t one universal “best” color. The most effective color can vary significantly based on factors like water clarity, light conditions, fish species, and even the fish’s mood or the local forage. What works like magic one day might be ignored the next.
- Glow-in-the-dark:Â Essential, especially in deep water, low light, or stained water.
- Natural colors:Â Silver, gold, perch patterns, minnow imitations for clear water or wary fish.
- Bright/Fluorescent:Â Chartreuse, orange, pink can trigger aggressive strikes, especially for panfish or fish looking for a bold presentation.
Always have a variety and be willing to experiment.
How important is jigging action when ice fishing? Extremely important! The way you work your lure (your “jigging cadence”) can make all the difference. Some days fish want aggressive rips, other days subtle quivers, and often, the bite comes on the pause. Experiment with different lifts, drops, shakes, and pauses until you find what triggers bites.
Can I use my open-water lures for ice fishing? Some can cross over, especially smaller lipless crankbaits, spoons, or even small swimbaits. However, dedicated ice fishing lures are designed for vertical presentation and often have features (like specific weights, balances, or glow paints) that make them more effective when fished through a hole in the ice.
Check out our post Ice Fishing Questions and Answers for more.
We Hope You Have Enjoyed Our Ice Fishing Lures You Need to Catch Everything Post
We trust our guide to ice fishing lures helped you fill your bucket. You’ve learned about the best bait to snag every kind of fish. Now you’re ready for a successful season on the ice. Go out there and enjoy your catch!
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Happy ice fishing!
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