How to Make Ice Fishing Jigs
Fish are frequently hungry during the winter months and anglers willing to brave the elements can have a lot of success fishing with jigs and other lures. Ice fishing jigs are not particularly expensive, but nothing matches the satisfaction of catching a fish on a lure you made yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Hook
- Split shot sinker (or ice-fishing blade)
- Vise
- Thread
- Body material (plastic, feathers or hair)
- Soldering iron
- Varnish
Instructions
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1
Affix the fishhook in the vise while making sure the point of the hook is exposed.
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2
Clamp the split shot sinker or ice-fishing blade onto the hook and use the soldering iron to fix it in place just behind the hook eye.
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3
Affix the thread to the hook shank just below the split shot sinker or ice-fishing blade. Apply a few drops of varnish to the thread wrappings to anchor them securely in place.
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4
Take some of your chosen body material and lay it against the shaft of the hook slightly below the soldered weight. Wrap the thread four to five times over the topmost portion of the material to secure it in place.
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5
Repeat the last step (moving slightly higher up the hook shank), until you are satisfied with the jig body that you have created.
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6
Wrap the thread four to five times around the body material at a point just below the soldered weight. Tie off the thread and trim away the excess thread. Apply a drop or two of varnish to the thread wrappings to make the jig more durable.
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Tips & Warnings
The ice layer blocks the sunlight and creates low-light conditions underneath the ice. Use bright colors and materials when constructing the jig in order to compensate for the darker conditions. Prior to creating the body of the jig, try painting the soldered weight with glow-in-the-dark paint to attract more fish.
When constructing the jig body, make sure that the body material does not tangle and looks natural on the jig. Trim away excess body material as needed.
