Favorite Ice fishing bait

[Florida_Native]

So I've been fishing for about 30 years now! I grew up in Florida as the handle indicates. Needless to say my ice fishing experience is limited but so far what I have learned in the past for other types of fishing has translated. I kinda think its most like deep sea finishing for grouper and snapper of a wreck.

So far I have had success with wax worms. I like the big ones because most fish will hit them and they're easier to bait when your hands are frozen. I've hooked my hands a few times on the smaller ones.  I really like the Swedish pimples and jigging spoons so far. 

So on to the question. I've watched a lot of ice fishing videos and read about everything I can find on it. I thought it would be nice for some local knowledge as we'll. what is everyone's favorite ice fishing bait?

[Florida_Native]

Sorry I know that's an open question. I primarily fish for perch and trout. I'm going for brown trout tomorrow.

[janttihunter]

Sweedish pimple with a fish eye as a trailer for jigging and we always used shiners in Maine for tip ups.

[Florida_Native]

I had a buddy from Wisconsin tell me about fish eyes. Are they good for anything?  As kids we used to just have fun poking them out! After we killed the fish.

[Skillet]

Depends on what you're fishing for.  For perch, a swedish pimple with a perch eye is pretty hard to beat.  The eye is a tough bait and hangs on for a long time.

For burbot (what I think I saw you were after) , really hard to beat a big gob of nightcrawlers soaking on the bottom.  Another bait id like to try sometime is crawdads - the last burbot I caught was stuffed full 1"-2" crawdads...

Small crappie tube jigs work great for a lot of things - crappie, bluegill, bass, trout, etc.  If I had to pick two lures to fish Eloika with it would be a chrome swedish pimple and a red and white (maybe red body yellow tail...) 1" tube on a 1/16 oz jig.

Good luck out there, post up some pics!

[janttihunter]

Where in Florida are you from? I lived down there for 6 years.

[sled]

Swedish Pimple With Perch  Eye.  My Favorite Is To Top It With Maggots.  Out fishes Worms By Far!

[Florida_Native]

Where in Florida are you from? I lived down there for 6 years.

Pensacola. Pace to be exact but not many know where that is.

Crawfish is what I was curious us about. For both Browns and Burbot.

[Ridgeratt]

Swedish Pimple with a perch eye for perch!
Micro glow jigs also.

For trout I use at time a rapala jigging rap I hit a pet store and buy the jumbo Meal worms.
Kastmaster makes a small Glow jig as well for vertical jiggin.

Or you could use some kind of motion decoy.   

[Florida_Native]

 

Thank you ridgeratt! I just found that smiley. But seriously thanks for following my posts and trying to help! You are truly why I stick with this forum.

The jumbo meal worms and where to get them is a big help. So many stores have been sold out.

Also I've tired to find the jiggin raps but didn't see them at walmart, dicks or the whit elephant. Where do you buy them?.

Thanks all!

[Ridgeratt]

The pet stores have them to fed some of the lizards so they are much larger.
If the elephant doesn't have them I'd hit the General store.
If your headed to Waitts for Browns maybe the extra gas to hit Clarks or even Big R here.

My ice fishing arsenal has been built over several years.

[Florida_Native]

My ice fishing arsenal has been built over several years.

Clearly man! 

I knew my buddy from the Air Force used to feed them to his chameleons. He used to hide them in his closet  I just didn't think of looking there.

Really appreciate it man!

[Ridgeratt]

Thank you ridgeratt! I just found that smiley. But seriously thanks for following my posts and trying to help! You are truly why I stick with this forum.

For Goodness Sake don't use me as a Role Model.   

[Florida_Native]

Went for browns today and caught two on a gold Swedish pimple. There  are perch in there so I figured they were eating them and it would imitate one. Then the biting slowed down so I tried a silver one with neon yellow. Thought it might be more visible on a foggy day. 

I don't think it made a difference what color I used as long as there were worms on the hook. I did have one chase a lure all the way to the hole turn and splash water at me. Pretty cool!

[Heredoggydoggy]

We used a perch eye on a Swedish Pimple to catch Perch through the ice.  We made "eyeball removers" from a wire paper clip and a piece of dowel.  Once you get the first fish, the game is on!