I was ice fishing today at a lake that I had only fished once before. Using a depth map from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, I identified an area that I wanted to fish. I rigged up my Jack Traps tip-ups in an inline-five formation from shallow to deep water. This formation has always worked for me. Always! Until today!! Plan B: Trolling!!!
I drilled another set of five holes five yards away from and parallel to the inline-five formation. I jigged each hole from the lake’s bottom to the water’s surface. Nothing! I drilled another set of five holes five yards away from and parallel to the second set of holes. I jigged each hole from the lake’s bottom to the water’s surface. Nothing!! I repeated this pattern until I found fish!!!
This fatty yellow perch hit a 1/8 oz blue/chrome Kastmater like a freight train! In addition to horizontal swimming, Kastmasters clearly also work well for vertical jigging.
At the end of the trip, I had 40+ holes covering an area the size of a football field. Good thing I had my Jiffy Pro4 Propane Auger. Time is fish!
No matter how much you plan. No matter how good your gear. No matter how good your technique. There are NO guarantees in fishing. Always have a plan B! 😉
