Skunked first time out

[Stu59]

So after much anticipation I finially got to try ice fishing, but got skunked the whole weekend. Due to ice conditions I was only able to get out so far and it was my first time on that lake (shadow lake) so maybe I wasnt in the right spots? I was fishing in about 18ft of water. I tried jigging my way up from the bottom and I even tried suspending for several minutes at a time all the way up the water coloum with no luck.

I dont know if i was just in the wrong places or maybe I wasnt doing something right? for bait I was using mostly 1/16th oz jig heads with wax worms, but I even tried some buckshot spoons and jigging raps.

any ideas on if I did something wrong or maybe its just bad luck?

 

[AaronKrick]

What are you fishing for?

 

[Stu59]

panfish, I should also mention that I dont have a sonar

 

[AaronKrick]

I've never ice fished before but i do know some about panfish fishing.

-minnows
-rapala jigs

Tons of other ice guys on here that can help you out more than i can. Cooks bay on lake simcoe is great for perch.

Someone correct me if panfish don't savour the flavour of minnows or jigs.

 

[topwaterjoe]

Try tipping the jig head with 1" micro tubes in colours like chartreuse, pink, yellow, orange, black, blue and all combinations in between. Little 1" twister tails can work too. You can add the wax worm to the hook just behind the tube if you want to add an appetizer.

Keep drilling until you find them.

 

[m_van]

Minnows will get you good size jumbo but about 18 fow is a little shallow for jumbo. Any lures and small hooks are fine bit it is good to invest in a fish finder/flasher, it is you eyes and ears under the water.

 

[Stu59]

whats a good depth to look for? im not going specifically for perch, but crappie and blue gill too

 

[schnip]

i have caught alot of pans in winter---for me its always been 15-25 feet give or take---