So this is the bait that has been working for me so far in 2023. This is a 1/8oz bear hair and rubber jig with a tiny chunk trailer.  I have caught fish on both of my fishing trips so far this year. I tied these myself which is why they look like crap. 

 

Allen 

Tried some topwater the other day...I think they liked it but they just didn't have enough power to break through the ice thick enough to drive a car on....maybe if I find the right color that they REALLY want, it'll change my success. Haha

Sunday I caught most of my fish on a Ned rig with a 1/16oz head and a Hot Snakes TRD. I also caught 1 on a Hankie Pankie Stunna 112, and my 2 biggest fish on a 1/2oz gold blade bait. Actually starting to feel like I'm figuring out the blade bait a little bit. It was hard for me to get myself to believe they'd eat that thing right off the bottom but the more I fish it, the more I realize that's actually when most of them do. My biggest fish Sunday shot a big puff of mud when she hit the surface from inhaling my bait off the bottom. 

Only baits in the arsenal being thrown right now for our “frozen again/thawed again” ponds are, in descending order of productivity: Ned rig, small suspending jerkbaits; SJ Action Jig, small blade bait.

1 hour ago, WIGuide said:

Tried some topwater the other day...I think they liked it but they just didn't have enough power to break through the ice thick enough to drive a car on....maybe if I find the right color that they REALLY want, it'll change my success. Haha

Try Dynamite Red. It’s a great winter color! 

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Sunday I caught most of my fish on a Ned rig with a 1/16oz head and a Hot Snakes TRD. I also caught 1 on a Hankie Pankie Stunna 112, and my 2 biggest fish on a 1/2oz gold blade bait. Actually starting to feel like I'm figuring out the blade bait a little bit. It was hard for me to get myself to believe they'd eat that thing right off the bottom but the more I fish it, the more I realize that's actually when most of them do. My biggest fish Sunday shot a big puff of mud when she hit the surface from inhaling my bait off the bottom. 

The blade bait really is fantastic the less you do. My favorite exception is when I’m hung up and finally pop free only to get hung up again on a fish?

 

scott

8 hours ago, Munkin said:

So this is the bait that has been working for me so far in 2023. This is a 1/8oz bear hair and rubber jig with a tiny chunk trailer.  I have caught fish on both of my fishing trips so far this year. I tied these myself which is why they look like crap. 

 

Allen 

I think that bait looks GREAT. 

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

Try Dynamite Red. It’s a great winter color! 

I'll have to give that one a try!