Good Lures for Ice Fishing for Pickerel

Pickerel are members of the pike family that have big appetites and feed throughout the day. As a result, they provide steady action, which makes them particularly attractive to young fishermen who otherwise would get bored. A variety of artificial lures are effective for catching pickerel through the ice.

  1. Jig and Minnow

    • A 1/4-ounce lead-head jig tipped with a 3-inch shiner minnow is one of the most effective ways to catch pickerel. To bait the hook, anglers insert the point of the hook into the shiner's mouth, push it back as far as possible, and then bring it out through the head, just behind the eyes. They then drop the jig and minnow into the hole and allow it to sink to the bottom or to the spot in the water column where pickerel are holding. They jig the lure up and down by raising and lowering the rod tip and experiment with how aggressively they move the lure.

    Spoons

    • Spoons that weigh between 1/8 and 1/4 ounce are effective for catching pickerel through the ice. Anglers typically choose a spoon that has bright colors on it. When using a spoon, they make sure to tie a leader onto their main fishing line and then connect the spoon to the leader. To provoke the most strikes, they move the spoon erratically beneath the ice.

    Jigging Minnows

    • Jigging minnows are hard baits that look like real minnows. Generally, anglers connect them to the fishing line via an eye on the minnow's back. Anglers who use jigging minnows for pickerel should also use a leader to prevent the fish from biting through the line. They drop the jigging minnow into the water and use their rod tip to move it up and down and side to side. They experiment with how aggressively they move the bait.

    Airplane Jigs

    • Airplane jigs are different from regular lead-head jigs in that they have longer bodies and winglike pieces that stick out from their body. When anglers work airplane jigs through the water, the baits fall erratically and swim in large circles. Anglers impart action to the jigs by moving their rod tip up and down or sweeping it side to side.