Ice, Ice, Baby.

Ice fishing season is finally here!




.....This weekends (general) weather forecast for most of the state:

           Wednesday: 43
           Thursday: 39
           Friday: 40
           Saturday: 54
           Sunday: 54

.....................

Just as soon as many lakes in PA froze safely enough ice to fish on, Mother Nature is playing her nasty Indian giving game with us again.  Last year was such a mild winter that the ice fishing season was nonexistent.  Let's just hope that she will not play the same card as she did last year and this weekend is the only warm spell.  A continuing pattern of cold to warm days like we had last year will not result in safe enough ice for the remainder of the winter.

Although the forecast will melt the ice, it has not deterred me to write the ice fishing article I had planed to release this week.  So in the hopes and prayers that the cold weather will return to the great state of Pennsylvania, let's continue with an opportunistic mindset of future slabs being pulled through some holes.

Truesdale's Top 5 Ice Fishing Rigs/Baits:

1) I Fish Pro: Taking the world of tip-ups to an entire new level.  I was turned onto this piece of equipment by the guys at Uncut Angling.  Being able to utilize your ice rod as a tip up will bring you ultimate control with fishing the tip-up technique.  What is also nice about this piece of equipment is the ease of set up.  And when the bite is slow, you can quickly undo the tip set to jig your bait in order to attract fish.

2) Minnows:  Because every fish eats minnows.  Slip the hook through the back dorsal fin to allow the minnow to swim when you put your line in the water.  An alive minnow is an active minnow, and an active minnow is an attractive minnow.  If you are fishing a lake with bigger species, be sure to grab some big shiners to throw in a mixture of different presentations.

3) The Swedish Pimple:  A unique style of spoon that offers a multitude of colors, patterns, etc.  This can be fished alone or tipped with a little extra bait of your choosing.

4) Perch Eye Jigs: You cannot mess with a classic.  Perch eye style jigs have been a staple in the ice fishing community for generations.  Combined with a tube jig or live bait, this rigging technique is deadly for pulling slab panfish through the ice when the bite is on. Entyzer Jigs (Facebook) offers quality custom perch eye jigs, and other custom ice jigs at a great price.

5) Hard Plastics:  A good alternative to minnows and one that could offer more action and sound in the water.  The Jiggin Rap, Jiggin Shad Rap, Snap Rap, or a rattle trap style are all good options when using hard plastics.  Being able to tie your line to the top of the bait will allow it to be jigged and lay flat in the strike zone in a normal suspended presentation position.

For all your ice fishing needs and for ice conditions throughout PA and the rest of the United States, check out www.iceshanty.com