Ice Fishing: Jigging

By Troy Zaspel

What is Jigging?

• Jigging is when you drill a whole in the ice and fish with a miniature fishing pole. You then work the pole hoping to entice the fish to bite.

Lisence Required

• A normal fishing license– 18+ Annual fishing license is 20.00– -18 Annual fishing license is 7.00– 65+ Senior fishing license is 7.00– Husband Wife combo is 31.00– Veterans are free

Season

• Ice fishing starts when the ice on the body of water that is wanted to be fished on has enough ice on it to withstand being fished on.

• It goes until the ice is no longer able to be walked on.

Pros

• Gives you something to do in the winter.

• Allows fishing addicts to continue there addiction.

• Fish management.

• Revenue for outdoor sales dept., etc.

• Enjoyable

Cons

• Can be dangerous

• Hard to determine where the fish are

• Cold

• More challenging

Materials

There are four main materials needed for fishing.

• Drilling tools– Auger, skimmer, ice chipper.

• Transportation– ATV, Snowmobile, Truck, Car, Walk, Bicycle,

• Shelter– A shelter isn’t necessary if temperature is bearable

but it will make your trip a lot more enjoyable• Pole & Tackle

– Rod, reel, lures, hooks, bait, sinkers, bobbers, sonar, line, etc.

Education

• The most common way of learning how to ice fish is being passed down from generations or friends and family

• A growing way of learning is on the internet.

Weapons/Traps? haha

• Spoons

• Jigheads

• Artificial Plastics

• Jigging Pole

• Leader depending on fish persuing

What is a jigging pole?• 24”-32” rod length• Rods range from ultra-light to heavy• Ultra-Light=Strictly Panfish• Light=Panfish/Walleye• Medium=Walleye• Heavy=Anything larger than a walleye

Where at?

• You can conduct jigging where ever there is a body of water that fish inhabit.

The HUNT…1. Get everything ready before you go out.2. Watch the weather3. Know where your going to go4. Drive to the lake5. Walk to your spot6. Drill a hole with your auger7. Clean out the ice shavings from your hole8. Bait your hook or ready your line9. Find the depth10. Position your bait about a foot above the ground or where your

sonar indicates fish11. Drop your line in 12. And move wrist up and down to entice fish

Interview:My Girlfriend

• Where is your favorite ice fishing spot?– Lake Ripley just because of the awesome

jigging

• How long have you been ice fishing?– Well its hard to say but around 6 years

• What do you think of ice fishing?– I enjoy it thoroughly especially because of the

fact that you are using trickery to catch these amazing creatures.

Requirements

• Medium Fitness is required if you are walking to your spot and hand augering the holes. If you are driving out there and using a gas auger you can have no fitness.

• Knot Tying• Work Lure• Knowledge of lakes• Knowledge of fish• Patience!

A day on the hunt

• If positioned correctly they day out on the field would be very enjoyable. Its very relaxing can be a social event and it can be very action packed.

• Or you could be in the wrong spot, freeze your butt off and fall in.