So is there one bait that works best for ice fishing? That’s a loaded question, and there’s no single, definitive answer. The problem (OK, it’s not a problem) is that anglers have a few options, and they all seem to catch fish. Crappies, bluegills, and perch are aggressive feeders that have no problem chewing up a wide variety of baits and lures.
Live bait, such as mice and wax worms, has been catching panfish for ages. Eurolarvae jumped onto the scene decades ago and are still a top choice. Today, all three live baits for ice fishing have been replaced by plastic.
First, consider the availability of live bait. You won’t always find all three worm-style baits at every retail outlet in the ice-fishing strip. Some baits are simply more popular than others; it just depends on where you fish.
The only real answer may come down to personal preference: Work with what makes you confident. That, more than anything else, will tip the odds in your favor.
Here are some notes.
Mice
The mice, often called rat-tailed larvae, are appropriately named for their tiny, whisker-like tails. (Maybe “mice” just sounds better.)
These are the most experienced live bait anglers who have rigged their ice jigs with these baits. With the advent of other options, they may also be the least used, but again, it depends on where you are fishing.
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The size of the mice can vary, but they are typically less than half an inch long and secrete a prosperous, sweet-smelling juice – when squeezed or pierced – that attracts fish of the perch family.
Cons? They’re compact, which means you have to hook a few onto a jig to make them attractive. Their outer shell is also very exquisite, so they don’t hold well on the hook.
But they do produce panfish. Also, consider that many state-of-the-art plastic ice fishing lures designed for panfish mimic mice.
It’s not a coincidence.
Wax worms
The most versatile bait you can add to any panfish jig is a wax worm. They have been around for a long time and are very popular and readily available today.
Wax worms are the most potent of all live baits, and their plump, meaty appearance is the calling card of this larva. It’s the juice inside that usually sets off the trigger in panfish.
Due to their larger size, waxworms are a bit more versatile than mousies. Because they are longer and thicker, waxworms can be threaded onto a whole hook, a T-bone, or a combination of both approaches.
The outer shell of the waxworm is pliable, which means it comes off the hook easily, even if the bite isn’t super aggressive. That may be the only downside to this bait.
Eurolarvae
You’d have to think long and tough to find fault with Eurolarvae. This piece of meat seems to have everything you could want in a winter fishing bait.
Scent, durability, color options, and movement are all part of the appeal of Eurolarvae. While they are not a household bait everywhere, they should be part of your panfish ice arsenal.
The key to Eurolarvae is to hook them properly, which means lightly piercing the blunt end of the bait with the hook. This allows the bait to “move” in the water. This, along with the scent and color, makes this bait very productive.
The tough outer shell allows you to catch many fish with one bait. Red and white Eurolarvae are always solid choices, but they are also available in yellow, blue and orange in most areas.
Plastics
The idea of consistently icing panfish with plastic has become more than just an experiment. It’s the only option that many anglers employ.
Winter anglers have discovered how effective plastics can be for crappies, bluegills and perch. It’s taken others a little longer to jump on board, though in recent years many of those skeptics have come to believe in plastics for one straightforward reason: They catch fish.
That said, it’s worth noting that wax worms, Eurolarvae, or other forms of live meat used to catch sugarfish are not going away. They are profitable fish producers. But there are times when plastic will trigger more bites and bigger fish if you understand why they work and how to catch them.
First you need to develop confidence with plastics. Start by using them as a complement to your live bait options. It doesn’t matter if you’re getting a good bite or sitting on a school of leisurely fish. At some point introduce plastics into the mix and force yourself to develop that confidence.
You can make plastics dance, depending on how they are hooked and your jigging technique. An aggressive approach usually works with plastics, but even the most subtle taps on the rod will get them moving.
The goal is to get a reaction bite. Everything works when the bags are on, but the movement of the plastics often triggers the most negative schools of panfish, including the large fish.
