Little Atom Lures over in Wisconsin has come out with a few new items for this year that will fit into the ice arsenal nicely. I always study new items before buying, trying to visualize their uses and how they can be fished. This time of the year can drive a guy crazy. Three months ago when usually all my shopping for fishing the circuit is done, I had not planned on fishing the series. Then I started talking with one of the guys and that ol’ competitive bug started creeping back in. So with less than two months before we have hard water again, its time to take a look at all the tools, reload and prep for starting again in December and January.
Little Atom was my first stop in reloading in the past. Rick, the owner makes several items that are effective through the ice, but plastics are his real claim to fame. Five years ago, if someone had said plastics can catch fish just as well as livebait I would have laughed. I was one of those guys who always had some, but never used them. They were my backup plan in case I ran out of livebait, and I never ran out of livebait. Its not unusual for me to take 500 spikes out onto the ice with me. Then I started using the Little Atom Nuggies at a tournament in Minnesota, and I became convinced. Not only was I catching fish, but I didn’t have to waste time reloading my hooks with livebait every couple of fish caught. Thats a big bonus when time really is important.
So my shopping starts, and its my first stop. www.just-fish.com
The key to plastics is to keep them juiced up. Not only for keeping the scent alive, but to keep the baits from drying up. The wetter and stickier they are, the more life they keep. So the first thing on my list is LA’s new C-9 Connoction. I really like the dropper idea for easy measuring.
Next up is the new Jumbo Nuggie. I figure if I have caught so many fish on the original size, then last year with the smaller size that was introduced, getting the bigger size will be a no brainer. I can already see trying this out for steelhead on the Huron this winter, using some smaller jigs on Saginaw Bay while tempting walleyes and while chasing big crappie in Wisconsin in February.
The new Atomic Glow charger charges all types of glow baits and plastics. Not all lights do the same job, so this UV charger is really the best that I have found for carrying with me on the ice. It really shines when charging up some of the newer colors available like LA’s Atomic Glow blues and purples available in the Nuggie and Wedgee.