2 Guy's No Fish, New to Hard water

[CrippledCaster]

Hey People,

Out On Nippising for our 1st real ice fishing adventure. The beers are cold the hut is warm but the fish are not LOL.....We are looking for some friendly advice on what works and what techniques to use? We are both fairly new to the sport of ice fishing so we are not sure if it's Just in cards we are dealt or what/how we are doing it? We have been hearing that the fish are on like crazy so this is why we are now questioning our methods. We are here from Thursday Jan. 2nd to Sunday Jan.5th so we would appreciate all the advice/help we can get.
Thanks in advance and don't be afraid to stop in and say Hi.

[Walleyebill]

Hey guys, personally I like to dead stick 2 minnows on a pickeral rig on one rod and with the other I jig a Williams ice jig tipped with a minnow head. I ice fish nip every year and this is the method I use and it usually works well for me. By dead sticking I mean pickeral rig with1/8 bell sinker. Bait both hook with live minnow, drop it to the bottom, reel in the slack and leave it alone. I jig my other line changing it up between gentle lifts and more aggressive tugs. Usually I'll get a hit on the spoon and if I miss it most often they will go after the other line. Hope this helps. Swedish pimples work great as well if u don't have any wiliams ice spoons
Bill

[glfpro]

I use these with alot of success on nipissing. If you have any, tie them on.
We caught all of our fish today on these. I either use this jig or a treble (#8) with a split shot about 8" above it tipped with a shiner.

[Cranman]

Which operator are you with?

[CrippledCaster]

Nippising Charters and condos I think they are called?

[teeswaterfish]

just got home caught 13 walleye between jan 1 and today at noon dead sick minnows on bottom jig head or hook and sinker is all we did caught perch 1 small pike and a ling.

[Cranman]

As mentioned by others...some form of jigging spoon with a minnow head...as it is so cold the walleye are quite finicky, at least that is what I am seeing...so some quick snaps but then some gentle jiggles...that's what she said, sorry....lots of fish but conditions are tough right now...Saturday will be good...warmer and cloudy...good luck...

[LNIFC]

What hut number are you? All huts are doing very well!

[PIKEMASTER]

what area are u fishing callender bay

[Tops]

Good luck today. hope its better for you

[streeker02]

If your deadstick is quiet, lift it up and put it back down every so often - you might be surprised

[canadadude]

I like Nipissing jigs 1/8 oz, 90% of the time white or white/red. I put them on both my rods and tip them with a minnow, cold front small minnows, other times just a med shinner. My technique is simple I drop the jig right to the bottom and bounce it in the sand/mud/ rock what ever 3 or 4 times enough to stir up some sediment then I'll jig it slowly up to a foot or 2 off bottom and drop it down again. I do this for 10 min max, then I reel that jig 1/2 way up and dead stick it, I then drop the other down and do the same for about 10 min and reel that one up 1/2 way and go back to my other jig.I do use spoons/minnow head when fish are active and I'm hole jumping outside the hut. Again don't be afraid to pound the bottom with your bait, get a puff of dirt coming off the bottom this can really trigger walleye to hit

[Tilden]

Couple of years ago we were fishing with an underwater Camera. If we hadn't had the camera, we would have said there were no fish around but with the camera, we could see a few. The would swim up to the pickerel rig an sit and watch the minnows. I decided to try and move thee minnow a bit. The fish would just pivot up when I lifted it and slowly drop it. They would just watch it. It was mid-afternoon and we decided to see what would happen if I lifted it up 6 ft or so. The fish just watched. I then decided to lift it up and drop it. The sinker hit the mud and fish came from every direction and went after the sinker. I grabbed my other rod with a silver jigging spoon, tipped it with a minnow and dropped it down into the mud. You are right, I was surprised. The fish were fighting over the spoon. We caught fish all day and into the evening using this method. They would get into such a frenzy the they were hitting anything that was down there.
BTW, the camera is a lot of fun. We run it up to a TV that we take and spend out days watching fish TV.

[CrippledCaster]

WOW!
Thanks for all the great advice and help. We have finally caught our first fish, not into #'s yet or anything but @ least we know we are doing it right (LOL)
It is definitely a cold one out there. How is everyone making out so far this morning on the water?

Cheers,
and FISH ON!