Tipping a jig question - minnow head

[sneak_e_pete]

Heading up to Nipissing on Sunday. I have been trying to do some reading to learn some more about ice fishing and am going to try some of the rapala jigs and airplane jigs with a deadstick as my secondary hole. A lot of articles comment on tipping the treble of jigs with a minnow head (pinched off).

 

My question is 2 part. Do you hook the minnow head on one hook of the treble, or all 3 to maintain proper lure action. Also, do you hook the head by the lips (i.e. head facing toward the body of the lure), or hook the body of the lure (i.e. head facing away from lure). To me it makes more sense for the head to point away as it will look more like a fish, but is the head there only for scent?

 

Thanks.

[trapshooter]

Rule # 1 is that there are no right or wrong answers... some things just seem to work better then others. I'm surprised year after year with what I see guys catch fish with. Experimentation is key and what worked one day may not work the next. As you try different things, you'll gain confidence in certain presentations and confidence is everything. Having said that, here's my preferred methods.

 

On my dead-stick (aka set line) I either run a small 1/8th oz jig head or a hook & split shot tipped with a live minnow. Hooked through the lips or behind the dorsal fin. In my opinion, airplane jigs and jigging raps are meant to be jigged so I use these types of bait on the rod I have in my hand.

 

I usually tip the treble of such baits... jigging raps, buckshot rattle spoons etc. with a whole minnow hooked through the head with one point of the treble. I don't hook through the lips because the minnow comes off too easily. I go right into the hardest part of its head. You can go in through the top of its head or up from the bottom. both work. I always start with a whole minnow and then downsize to a half or just the head if the whole minnow isn't getting bit.

 

I did see a guy do well before on Nipissing hooking his minnows on 2 points of a treble in a way that presented his minnow horizontal, rather then vertical.

 

Good luck and have fun.

[Roy]

Ice fishing jigs are built to run erratically...that's often what triggers the hit.

Hanging a chunk of bait on it (whether it be on one hook or three) can only render the offering more appealing... more erratic....or even errotic depending upon the kind of fish you're after. If you're using minnows, which way his cake hole is pointing will make no difference at all. As long as it's erratic/errotic and irregular. Good luck to you.

 

ps. I'm running low on the letter "R" here. I could have saved a few by spelling "erotically" correctly.

[sneak_e_pete]

Thanks...makes perfect sense.

 

About changing things up to see what works.....are you guys also fishing during daylight hours, or just at dawn and dusk? Will the eyes bite during the day, or should I not waste my time?

[trapshooter]

dawn and dusk are definitely peak times but I'd be fishing all day. Especially if you're out there anyhow. Bottom line, you definitely won't catch anything if you're not fishing!!