SETTING UP ICE LURES

Author’s note: Ice fishing season is at hand, and I know many winter anglers wait until the last minute to check their gear over. The following blog details how I set up lures I will use. These tips can easily double your catch so they are worth thinking about. You still have time, so give it a shot!

SETTING UP ICE LURES
Tricks that Easily Improve Your Catch
By: Ray Hansen

Did you know that most “panfish sized” ice fishing lures are not set up correctly to catch fish right out of the package? With a few simple modifications you can easily double the number of fish you land. In this article I’ll tell you how to set the gap, and adjust the offset of the hook so you can get solid hook-ups on many biters you would otherwise miss. These steps take only seconds.

The lures that most often need modification are the single-hook styles in sizes 6, 8, 10, and 12. Most size 4 and larger hooks have a large enough gap to hook fish well without any change. Those lures that hang vertically benefit the most from these changes, but they work with lures that hang horizontally as well.

I carry a set of inexpensive needle-nose pliers that can be found in home-improvement stores to make the changes I will detail. The pliers I like best are the “multi-tool” style hat fold open. Mine are only 2 ½” long when closed. They are always in the pocket of the insulated coveralls I wear when ice fishing.

Set the hook gap by holding the lure so the hook looks like the letter “J”. The gap is that part of the “U” shaped bend between the hook point and the longer shank. All you need do is to bend the short arm of the “J” out very slightly to enlarge or open the gap between the shank and the point.

Next is the offset. To visualize this setting, hold the lure in the upright position as it would hang in the water. Turn the lure so the point and the shank are lined up. Instead of seeing a “J” shape, you would now see a straight line or “I” shape. Next, bend the hook point slightly off to one side (either left or right of the vertical line).

By adjusting the gap and offset, the hook enters the fishes’ mouth farther, and there is less chance that the shank will hit the outside of the mouth to prevent a good hookset.

The final step is to touch up the point with a sharpener. One of the best styles is a simple “diamond blade” fingernail file. They are inexpensive, work great, and are easily available at many stores.

When you have been ice fishing as long as I have, you will find that simple steps like this are often the easiest way to improve your catch.
Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008