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4 to 5 mm jig tipped with waxies or maggots , use 2 or 3 on your hook , do not over jig , bounce it a few times then just jiggle . This is not me but it is a good video .
You say bluegills and crappie. It really depends on what body of water so experimentation is the key. But from my experience people use too big of a presentation for bluegill. Smaller is often better for finicky big fish especially later in the season. My standard is a very, very small red do t (1/64 oz or smaller?) with a red spike. Crappies is another story. Generally a fathead minnow on a very small number 12 or 14 hook with just a very small split shot about a foot above the hook. Minnow is not good if crappies are mixed with gills because the gills will pull but not hookup with the minnow. Crappies with gills you might try a red tail plastic fluttering on a rocker jig.
Another key to these fish is vertical movements of the jig. Raise and lower the jig as you provide swimming movements going up 6 " at a time going up a total of 3'. Then let it drop natural in segments as you let it go down. When the line goes slack on the way down a crappie has inhaled it.
Always exceptions. But generally smaller is better for me
Wife and I ice fish nearly every day. No slush and little snow on the lakes by us. My advise for ice fishing is get a battery operated auger, fish finder good pole with a ice fishing reel ( simular to a fly fishing reel) and a wide variety of tungsten jigs. Two of each color. Drill holes till you find fish and enjoy. This is a 12" bass I caught using 2lb test with clear thread as a leader. We use white or red spikes for bait. If we run into crappie we switch to rockers with two spikes. We do not use sinkers with rockers. The sinker falls faster than the lure. As the lure flutters down the fishing line can wrap around it and cause a knot. A knot in the thread will break quickly with a big spec on the hook.
Yes, also us a 2lb test clear mono or fluorocarbon 3' leader. Sometimes I even go 1lb but then you have to gingerly play big fish in. I use 30 lb spiderwire for the makeup portion of the line above the leader. Tie leader and spiderwire directly. The heavy spiderwire won't break when hooked to or frozen in ice.
Your best friend for these fish is a good vexilar. When you see a fish come in, it's often good to start raising the jig slowly in 6" segments teasing them until they inhale it
1/20th ounce custom jigs and wax worms caught those in a couple hours each Saturday and Sunday first time I have ice fished since I was 18 bought a couple light action ugly stick ice combos for 20 dollars each and decided to give it a try no better fish thN straight out of cold water.
I Nevah fished for crappie....but aftah seeing the size of some of these fish...I think Iam going to get some jigs and see if I can find them...through the ice of course. Iam a hard headed trout guy...could care less about Bass and Snot Rockets...
It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
I grew up where the ice gets thick enough to drive a tractor trailer on it and I ice fished. I moved south where the ice won't hold up a slung cat. I tend not to do regular fishing anymore if its below 60 degrees out. Am I soft, or did I just gain plain common sense?