Fishing Michigan

Some of my favorite spring panfish baits were not originally designed for fishing open water, that is specifically true for two of the three Northland baits I am going to show this morning.  Northland Tackle makes some of the best baits for just about every type of fish you can think of in North America.

The Micro Minnow typifies what I look for in using an ice jig for spring panfish.  Its a bit larger than most of my ice jigs for gills and crappie, and more importantly the eye is above the head.  That feature allows me to cast the jig and control it better on the retrieve.  If the eye as located in the front, like on a vertical jig, the bait would swim side to side a bit, like a shimmy action.  Not exactly the most natural looking thing while being reeled back in.  What I like to do on all these baits is either put on a small plastic minnow, or like my favorite, just a 1″ or 1.5 inch curly tail grub.

The Whistler Bee,  is just a downsized version of another good walleye jig the full grown Whistler.  Again, the eye is on top, I can hook up a piece of plastic, but this bait as the added attraction of the micro sized prop behind the lead head.  It sends out vibration and adds flash.

The Firefly is probably my least used jig, but it has a definite place in my kit come spring time.  It fills that unique slot when the fish are looking for a hair jig.  It is a subtle bait, and works best when the fish are almost neutral.  Seems like it works best on a gently lift and and fall retrieve.  The light feathers will move with the water and gives the body a almost lifelike appearance.