Fishing Michigan

Ok, since I have a lil’ extra time this morning, going to get right into it with the panfish.  And to be honest,  I took the pics a year ago so they are ready to go.  Anyhoo, I stated in the last piece that flies used in fly fishing can be very productive under the ice for catching panfish.  It is so true, specially with panfish, that what can be used in open water will effectively catch fish during the hardwater season, and the opposite holds true also.  What works on the ice, will always catch fish during the open water season.

Fishing with flies when rigged correctly is really a good producer.  If the fish are in the right eating mode they can eliminate the need for livebait.  I use both weighted flies and dry flies.  The weighted or bead head flies can be used on their own for a slow falling presentation that can be jigged in a subtle wiggle motion, or twitch if that describes it better.  If the fish are in a neutral mode of eating, this type of finessing the bait down is highly effective.

The next type of weighted fly, isn’t really a true fly at all.  But, since the ants have hair on them, they get included because they are for panfish too.  Going from left to right in the picture, you have some flies that I painted and tied up, next up (if I remember right) are either Grizzly or JB flies.  They were out of a bulk bin at work several years ago, and we switched suppliers back then.  The last flies on the right are available from Northland, and are really effective when fishing LARGE gills and all sizes of crappie.  What advantage can an ant give you, the answer is three fold.  Off the bat, they are a bit heavier than a true bead head fly, so they sink a little faster.  Since they do have some hair on them to cause friction in the water, they will sink slower than a jig by itself.  Last of all, if the jig is tied with the right material,  like the Northland ones, where the hair is soft enough, it will produce a wavy action to catch the fishes attention.

Dry flies have to be used in conjunction with some type of weight.  Since Michigan allows for two hooks per line.  The theory is why waste an opportunity to get a double header, definitely makes it interesting coming up out of the hole.  Three ways to use the dry fly with a jig.  You can tie on the fly with a leader so it hangs below the jig, this only works with certain kinds and styles of jigs.  The other two ways are above the jig.  The first is like you would a dropshot rig, use a palomar knot with lead material like Vanish.  Attach the top section to your main line coming off the reel.  I really like a line like Power Pro for this, because of the no stretch qualities,  I want to feel every  nibble I can.  Use the bottom half of the lead to attach your jig.  The second is refered to as the Michigan Rig, developed by the boys out in Brooklyn over the years. Maybe they didn’t develop it, but they certainly made it famous.  Once again take some Vanish, about a 2 foot piece and connect to the main line with a double uni knot.  Instead of trimming both ends, just trim the bottom section and leave about a 3 inch section on top.  The extra length makes it easier to tie on the fly.  Put on the jig at the bottom, by the time you get all the knots tied and trimmed, it should be about 15 inches from the fly.  If it is shorter, not a problem, all the way down to a foot is ok.  Finished product looks like a jig with a fly tied on a short lead off the main line, anywhere from 12 to 15 inches above the jig.  This allows for the fly to move around freely and have a more natural motion while being jigged.

If you are looking to pick up some flies, you can head over to Cabela’s and see what the guys over there can suggest.  If Don is still working in the fly dept, he is your man.  He is an avid ice angler who can set you up with a good selection.

Gearing up for hunting bluegills and crappie through the ice is really not all that hard.  I will save perch fishing for a separate category, although technically the same.  You get a selection of rods to match the type of fishing you are going to do to land these morsels onto the ice.  Whether you are sight fishing or tightlining, you are new to the sport and have chosen the spring bobber models as the way to go,  there are rods available to match your style.  You get a bunch of jigs that are size appropriate for pannies, even some flies.  Yup I did say flies, like the fly fishing variety, very useful.

The last couple of nights I have been outfitting the quad, packing my cold weather gear, spooling reels and mounting them to the rods that I plan on using in Minnesota in a few weeks.  The championship is a bluegill and crappie mixed bag each day, so my rods have to match the different styles that I may use to catch these fish.  In the next few days, I will tackle the weird science of using the rods, coupled with different lines to match the styles of fishing that I might have to use up there.

I will be getting into my tackle too, such as lures and possible terminal tackle items that might be used.  I just got my confirmation email today from Little Atom @ www.just-fish.com, that my latest order of plastics is on the way from Wisconsin.  Rick up there has been a real innovator in the method he produces his tails, and from all that I have tested and used so far, not another company can touch his product for feel and ability to move in cold water. I might be a lil’ gray in the beard, but must admit there is a certain bit of anticipation of the package’s arrival.  I will carefully sort the new items out, plus organize them into my plano trays for quick and easy access.  I will get into more about LA items when I write about the lures too.

Jigs, spoons and hybrids will be covered as well.  How to rig the lures for maximum effectiveness while being as stealthy as one can, the different styles and why each has their time and place.  Maybe there is more to this whole panfishing thing than most folks realize.  Just remember, you can make it as complex as you want, or keep it simple, regardless, you  can always have fun while fishing on the ice.

Stay tuned in the next few days for more in depth revelations into icing panfish and a few other tidbits that will help everyone have a safe and enjoyable time while walking on the hardwater.