Live grubs for ice-panfish.
Posted on February 2nd, 2022I love to fish for panfish through the ice. They include perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill and sometimes even rock bass.
I get my best results fishing small 1/32 – 1/16 oz jigs tipped with a live gurb.
The go-to is usually maggots that have been raised specifically for fishing on small jigs. I normally hook 2-3 near the eyes so that they wiggle and twist on the jig.
Second is the “mousie”, a slightly larger maggot that has a breathing tube which makes it look like a little mouse tail.
My 3rd favorite is the wax worm. I normally hook just one on. Sometimes I thread the hook of the jig right through the grub, other times I just hook it through the head and let the body dangle.
The key to catching any of the panfish species is to locate them. Most of the time the sunfish family are in water less than 12′ while perch can be as deep as over 30′. Once you locate them it’s tough for them to resist one of the above grubs gently shook near the bottom.
Make sure to check the fishing videos on our Italo Labignan YouTube channel and if you have any questions just email them to me at Ask Italo throughout our www.canadian-sportfishing.com website.
