Northland Tackle’s new ice jigs have hit the website and should be hitting the stores very soon. Here is a preview of the new line-up, the cool color patterns and some comments on them. Looks like they have hit the nail on the head and produced some top notch baits for this winter.
These are the new Mud-bugs in the new collection for Northland designed in part by Brian Brosdahl, better known as simply “Bro”. The jigs come in two sizes, 10 and 12. The offset Ultra Point Mustad hook leaves plenty of room to pack on waxies and spikes, or hooking a minnow through the lips. What I really like about everything in the new series of jigs coming out this year is actually the color patterns. You have your glows, your brights and some subtle natural colors.
This is actually an old stand-bye in the Northland lineup, with some exciting changes. They have downsized the baits from the old 6 and 8 sizes, now down to 8 and 10’s. Although, the old sizes had their days on the ice for panfish, and even the size 6 for walleyes with waxies packed on for the inland lakes, this new turn makes the baits a lot more versatile. There is such a thing as too big, and when the temps drop fast, or the lake has a lot of pressure from anglers, downsizing often is the only way to approach your targets.
Gill Getter
These Gill Getter jigs offer something not seen in a lot of horizontal panfish baits, a jig that glides when dropped. The flat belly of the jig makes it dart around when jigged, giving a visual target to wandering crappies and gills. Again, I really do like the neutral colors being offered in the line-up. The woodtick and grasshopper patterns should produce well in clear lakes.
Next up, Northland offers a series of jigs already rigged with plastics, which in cold weather and having cold hands can make things a whole lot easier.
Scud Bugs
The Scud Bug imitates something fly fisherman have know about for years, matching the hatch. Ok, so there really isn’t too much actually hatching this time of the year, but the bait resembles a favorite food source for big gills and crappie, the scud. Also referred to as the freshwater shrimp comes in a size 8.
Blood Worms
If you haven’t heard of bloodworms before, it’s ok, unless you are fishing for perch. Available in sizes 8 and 10. These worms are found on the lake bottoms, so pound these jigs in the ground and create some puffs of silt. Its sure fire way to get perch, and even walleye to come running.
Slug Bugs
The Slug Bugs come in sizes 8 and 10 also. The body of the plastic beefs up the profile on the jig’s hook, and that little teaser tail will entice fish to bite. I mentioned way above about the new color patterns on the jigs, and I forgot to mention earlier about the new colors available in the plastics themselves. Got to love the pumpkin seeds and watermelons. Then the glitter in all the baits can help attract fish in also, really like the waxie, gummy and caterpillar. The red, in recent years I have become a firm believer in the effectiveness of this color through the ice. Plastics really are here to stay in the ice fishing world.
Well that’s that so far, as more product becomes available on the shelves from Northland and other companies, I will get some info posted on them as well. Its starting to look like this year could really be something with new ice gear coming out onto the market.