Three Reliable Hard-Baits for Ice

Northland Fishing Tackle Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon

This is one of my go-to spoons. It has a moderate to conservative action. It rolls and tumbles well on the fall, but it doesn't erratically kick out to the side like super-action spoons or winged models. A Buck-Shot’s predictability makes it easy for a fish to track it and launch an accurate strike, which boosts hook-up rates. The exposed brass rattle chamber is another virtue of this lure as the ruckus attracts fish. Lightly hopping and shaking the bait to sound the rattles is a reliable tactic to get onlookers to bite. I often tips this spoon with a piece of minnow.

Lindy Darter

The Lindy Darter is another excellent rattling bait. Unlike a spoon, the Darter has a horizontal profile in the water, mimicking a baitfish. The Lindy Darter is versatile and can be jigged with a broad range of actions. An aggressive snap-jigging motion can cause it to kick out to the side of the hole. A more moderate lift gives it an upward runaway swimming action. Working the rod with light hops and twitches causes the Darter to roll and shimmy to replicate a wounded minnow.

Rapala Jigging Shad Rap

I won’t go fishing without a Rapala Jigging Shad Rap. This lure is a fish-catching machine thanks to its unique swimming and gliding action. On the fall it slowly spirals, replicating a dying baitfish, which is deadly for piquing fish interest. When it’s stationary, shakes and jiggles give the bait a nervous-twitch that works wonders to stimulate strikes. The Rapala Jigging Shad Rap is phenomenal out of the box, but tipping the bottom treble using a real minnow head or an artificial version by Berkley Gulp increases its potency at coercing neutral fish to chew.