Crappie & Walleye Ice Fishing Rigs
Each ice fishing outing can throw different scenarios your way. From fishing a variety of depths to targeting different species, anglers always need to be prepared for the day with the right ice fishing rigs. Mike, our Ice Fishing Expert, explains how to set up an ice fishing rod depending on your target species. With these crappie and walleye ice fishing rigs, you’ll have all the knowledge you need for a successful ice fishing season.
Walleye Ice Fishing Setups
There are several options for walleye ice fishing setups, but these are two popular and effective walleye ice fishing rigs to try this season.
Walleye Setup #1: Dead Stick Fishing
Dead sticking is a technique in which an angler sets up a fishing rod with a baited hook and leaves it stationary, without actively jigging or moving it.
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- Rod: If you’re dead sticking walleye, you’ll want to use a rod with a high-visibility tip so that you’re able to see every bite.
- Reel: You'll pair this rod with a spinning reel featuring a secondary drag system. Using a reel with a secondary drag system allows the fish to swim farther without realizing it's hooked, and with a simple half of a crank, the normal drag engages to allow you to fight your catch.
- Line: Our Fishing Expert suggests pairing this dead stick fishing setup with a monofilament line to give it a bit more stretch.
- Lure: The last part of the dead stick fishing setup is the lure. The color of lure you use can depend on several factors including the clarity of the water, whether the day is overcast, etc. If a certain color isn’t working, try switching it up. A couple of our top choices for ice fishing lures include:
- A red hook and lively minnow
- A smaller, lighter presentation spoon featuring extra treble hooks and a live minnow
Note: Making sure you have a lively minnow at the end of your line is an essential part of dead sticking so you can get movement and action. This dead stick fishing setup pairs really well with a tip-up as well as a rod holder for those who prefer to fish in an ice shelter.
Our Expert Suggested Products:
- Rod: JT Walleye Snare Ice Rod
- Reel: Okuma Ceymar Baitfeeder Reel
- Line: Monofilament Ice Line
- Lure: Red Ice Fishing Hooks or Small Spoon Lures
- Tip-Up: iFish Pro 2.0
Walleye Setup #2: Jigging
If you are planning on actively moving your bait while ice fishing, a walleye jig setup is a great option.
- Rod: You’ll want to invest in a fast-action tipped ice fishing rod.
- Reel: Boxing & MMA Headgear a spinning reel that provides a good balance of strength and smooth operation while remaining lightweight.
- Line: You’ll want to use fluorocarbon line because of its high density and sensitivity. Be sure to use a barrel swivel in your walleye jig setup–without it, your bait will start spinning too quickly and deter any possible strikes.
- Lure: For run-and-gun ice fishing, you’ll want to use larger bait, like a Clam Tikka Mino.
Crappie Jigging Setup
Our Ice Fishing Experts recommend the following setup when jigging for panfish or crappies.
- Rod: A fast-action tipped ice fishing rod.
- Reel: Our Experts recommend a quality inline reel. With an inline reel, you’re able to quickly drop the line on the school of fish below.
- Line: Sticking with fluorocarbon line will be best because of its low stretch and higher sensitivity.
- Lure: As for the presentation, our Experts recommend a combination of a tungsten jig and a plastic to provide lifelike movement when jigging. Be sure to keep the cadence steady when you’re jigging.
Fishing Expert Mike's Top Product Picks:
Pro Tip: Always have a backup panfish and crappie jig setup. Troubles can happen when out on the ice whether your line gets tangled or you lose a lure, so it’s always a good idea to have a more price-point-friendly setup for when you need to make a quick adjustment.
With these popular crappie and walleye ice fishing rigs, you’ll be set for a more successful season on the ice. If you need help or have additional questions about how to set up an ice fishing rod, stop into your local ERLEBNISWELT-FLIEGENFISCHEN and speak with an Expert today!