Wow, those are some nice sized crappie. So was the ice clear too? I might be heading out there this weekend, i am not much of a big ice fisherman. What color of jig do you think i should go with? And do you think that the fake maggots will work too? I hate re-baiting all those small maggots expecially in the cold. Any tips will help thanks and keep reporting.

There some nice sized Crappie in El. What depth were you at? There is an area strait northwest of Jerrys that get near 15'. If I could find it I used to get some nicer sized Perch (10''+).

Yeah the ice was very clear and very strong, but there is snow on it now, which might actually improve fishing. When I was catching the crappies, I was in about 7-10 feet of water fishing my jigs up from 7 feet to 4 feet. When you jig up, it gives them something to see. I usually jig about 6 inches bob it a few times, then let it sit still for about 5 seconds. Crappie will always chase a bait up, not down. Bazzdude: try reds and bright greens in size 10 or 12 hook. I like 1lb or 2lb test mono line because it is very sensitive, and I like the challenge if a bass decides to bite. The chartreuse gulp maggots will work, but it is sometimes limited. You can't beat the real thing, but I do like to put a few real ones on, then a gulp maggot because it is bright and it keeps the other maggots on the hook. Good luck, and let us know how you do out there.

Nice report- work has kept me away from Cabela's; Need to pickup some ice gear soon.

aaron. It's been a while since I posted a report on this site because of finances. But I just had to ad that the berkley gulp panfish line of baits has some great tipping products for Ice jigs. I like the white mousies and the natural colored panfish worms as well as the deep red Gulp worms to add scent to my jigging spoons and jigs. Sometimes a cocktail of maggots, power wigglers and a perch eye will do it for me on Eloika. Pucci brand lures makes a flat 1/32 oz lead head with a red hook that absolutely kills slabs on Eloike when you add a Red/Clear and silver flake 1" Southern pro squirmin' skirt to it. Just add two nose hooked maggots to it and you have a trifecta bait that Eloika slabs just love. Another killer bait for me is a Berkley Smoke and orange power 1' power nymph on a 1/32 oz Northland Gumball jig that is black with a yellow eye. I keep a selection of food coloring with me too, because sometime I custom color my maggots to give a seldom seen look to the panfish. Occaisionally I have scored on both big Perch and Crappie thru the ice by using a 2N Swedish pimple, with a single hook, red flipper, tipped with a perch eye and a 2" long 2 lb flourocarbon dropper with a # 10 Orange or Olive scud trout fly tipped with a similar colored maggot. Change ups = more panfish! The Jigmiester