During one of my recent ice fishing seminars, one of the readers asked me for some tips on fishing for zander with spoons in winter.
For starters, I explained, having reliable electronics that you know how to operate helps a lot. You need to be able to tag fish and bait! With electronics, you can watch the zander react to flash, vibration, color, and jigging action.
There are definitely times when fish demand more vibration and flash. But the opposite can be an attractant, so bring a variety of colors.
The speed of the fall is very crucial. Finicky fish require a snail-paced fall.
Place a minnow head on one of the prongs of the triple, but try other strategies as well. Experiment with a whole minnow on one prong and perhaps a minnow head on the other. (Remember, the head and/or minnow contribute greatly to the scent factor.) Change the bait every five to ten minutes.
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Experiment with different rises, falls and pauses, then repeat the exact same motion when you catch a fish.
Don’t always expect a strike when a pike-perch strikes. If you encounter resistance, strike. That’s why a high-quality, sensitive rod is so crucial!
I have found that free-falling spoons hitting rocks or a cloud of sediment on a supple bottom can tempt bites. There are days when jigging spoons don’t work, so bring your swimbaits, jigs and float systems!
