January 2017 | Mack Attack Magazine

Happy New Year Everyone!

January 2017

Ice Fishing And Trolling Gear For Hard Water Lake Trout

By John Littlefield

As I stare out my window and see the first major snowfall of the year, I cannot help but get antsy to scratch the hard water itch. Although winter has been slow to arrive, news of safe ice conditions in the ice belt bring hope and reassurance.

In preparation for the ice season, I want to share a deadly technique that I stumbled upon just a couple of years ago, while fishing for lake trout in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the great Gitche Gumee.

On a cold day in January, I set foot across a scenic bay on Lake Superior where wolf tracks outnumbered human footprints as we traveled across the ice. Virgin white pine towered above the horizon, and northern white-cedar skirted the shoreline. The quarry was lake trout, and although the bite was slow the scenery more than made up for it. After a couple hours of fishing, drilling holes, fishing again, drilling more holes, and getting zero bites, I dropped down an experimental rig consisting of a small dodger tied a short length above a tube jig. The first bite came shortly thereafter and yielded a healthy 4-pounder.

Before long I had iced 4 beautiful lean lake trout, 4-5 pounders, in a short amount of time.

Flash Lite® Trolls, Double D™ Dodgers, or Sling Blades™ are all effective tools when ice fishing.

Photo courtesy of John Littlefield.

The dodger and tube rig, as it has been dubbed, was created as a simple means for getting a lightweight tube jig- a classic lake trout staple- to the bottom in deep water and strong Great Lakes currents. The same could’ve been accomplished using a number of simpler methods, but the dodger added the appeal of flash to the offering. By adding a 4.4” Mack’s Double D™ or small Sling Blade™ dodger 24” above a ¼ oz tube jig, I am able to feel bottom in 100 feet of water. I have since used this rig successfully in many locations both on the ice and in open water.

to making it fish effectively. My favorite rod for the task is a 38” heavy action spinning rod with a fast action tip. The heavy action is essential for aggressively jigging the beefy rig in waters of 100 feet or more. It is also necessary for making good hook sets at these depths. The fast action tip is equally important, as bite detection becomes slightly more difficult in deep water.

I prefer 8-12lb super lines for most jigging applications, most of the time 10lb braid. From the braid, I tie a 4-6-foot section of 1015lb monofilament using back-toback uni knots. This adds stealth and serves as a shock absorber for aggressive bites in the stretch-free setup. Next comes a Mack’s Double D dodger or Sling Blade tied directly to the mono leader. Sling Blades will also work. Below the dodger is a 24” leader of high quality 10lb fluorocarbon tied directly to a tube jig. It is extremely important that the fluorocarbon is of a lesser break strength than the monofilament. If you break off, it is much easier to replace only the tube jig than the entire outfit. Use heavier lines as necessary for targeting larger fish.

Rigging Up

Pay special attention to your tube Properly rigging the dodger and jigs, as not all tube jigs are created tube is both simple and critical equally. Many tube jigs designed Continued on Page 2

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for bass fishing have the line tie angled in a forward direction.

These work great for pitching and casting, but are not well-suited for vertical jigging. For vertical jigging applications, use jigs with the line tie positioned directly atop the head, or at a 90-degree angle to the hook shank. This gives the tube a more erratic and slow gliding action on the fall, and allows it to hang naturally horizontal on the pause. Experiment with different jig weights, but I find that a ¼ oz head gives the right amount of feel and action most of the time.

The classic white tube works wonders on lake trout anywhere they swim. Tubes in the 3.5-4” range work very well for trout of all sizes, but do not be afraid to go larger. Lastly, I like to add a stinger hook to the jig. Stinger hooks are nothing more than #8 treble hooks tied on short pieces of monofilament that trail freely behind the tube jig.

My stingers are tied with a slip knot that allows them to be easily slipped on and off the jig hook.

2-3’ that sends the Double D darting upward and off the side. Then, allow just a little bit of slack when the rig falls toward bottom. By allowing a little bit of slack, the dodger will turn on its side and flutter toward the bottom, giving the tube below a very slow and erratic fall that lakers cannot resist.

On large bodies of water especially, you can benefit greatly from spreading out to cover more water. This affords the opportunity The last element to fishing the for multiple anglers to fish dodger dodger and tube is the pause. rigs and attract more fish from ALWAYS finish the jig stroke with greater distances. Setting a strategic a pause at the bottom. Due to its grid of anglers with Double D’s and lighter weight, the tube jig needs tube jigs is a great way to put a lot a little more time to settle than the of fish on the ice quickly. dodger. It should also be noted that The dodger and tube rig is not this pause is what triggers threespecific to the strategy outlined quarters of the bites most days. above.

It was discovered by experimentation and affords plenty of room for more. Experiment with different sizes of Mack’s Double D’s, Sling Blades, jig types, jig sizes, and so on to suit your needs and help you catch more fish. This winter, bust out your trolling gear and try something new. You just might add a new favorite to your winter lake trout arsenal.

How to Fish It Fishing the dodger and tube rig is slightly less intuitive than fishing most other jigs. First, always let the rig down to the bottom on a taught line. This will reduce the tendency of the dodger to flutter off to the side and reduce your feel and bite detection. Once to the bottom, you must feel for the dodger to lift off the bottom first and then very carefully for the tube jig to lift off the bottom.

At this point, I like to reel my rod tip down to the water level so that I know exactly where my tube jig is just resting on the bottom. Then, I raise the rig up 1-2 more feet and begin jigging.

The dodger and tube rig is a different animal from most other vertical fishing techniques. The upward stroke is very sudden rip of

same shack or boat as other anglers.

On waters with current, such as the Great Lakes, the tendency of a dodger and tube to “wander” is greatly amplified.

Gary’s Fishing Corner The author with a nice Lake Trout on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Fish generally bite the dodger and tube in one of two ways. The first is while the rig is falling. These can be, in all seriousness, the most aggressive bites you’ll ever feel on a jigging rod. The second way that lake trout tend to bite the jig is on the pause. Let the rig settle, then watch your rod tip for the gentle tick of a laker inhaling your tube.

New Year’s Resolution By Gary Miralles

Final Thoughts Vertically jigged Mack’s Double D dodgers and Sling Blades cover 2016 was an excellent year, and a very wide radius from your ice there were a lot of changes in my hole, especially in deep water. For life and career. So I am really this reason, never jig a dodger over deep water while fishing in the looking forward to the New Year.

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2017 looks exciting and of course, I have several resolutions to divulge.

I have to admit the year often comes and goes without resolve. This year, I promise will be different.

Stan’s Space It’s Often The Color That Counts

By Hall-of-Fame Angler Stan Fagerstrom Part 2 1. This year I promise to eat The title for this “Stan’s Corner” better. column tells it like it is. It’s often 2. Get more exercise. the color of the lure you’ve got out there at the end of your line that 3. Spend my money more wisely. determines whether or not you’re 4. Try not to let things stress me going to catch fish. out.

I quoted Mack’s Lure executive 5. Spend more time with my Bobby Loomis in this regard in my previous column, “All fish eat family. something at one time or another,” Now after spending much time Bobby said. “If they don’t, they’ll plotting to meet my goals, I think I die.” Bobby also had some have figured out how I can do it: additional and highly meaningful thoughts to share.

1. DIET My resolutions are as follows:

“This means,” he said, “that even large kokanee eat something other than plankton at one point or another. This may be smaller fish.

2. EXERCISE They don’t get a lot bigger than • Use my Kayak more often everybody else in the pool on just a fishing so I get more exercise. plankton diet.”

• I’ll fish more often catch and eat more fish.

3. MONEY • Only buy fishing gear.

4. STRESS • Spend more time on the water fishing alone; relaxing.

Another one of the things Bobby had to say really got my attention.

He maintains each fishery seems to have certain colors that will darn near always attract fish. I’ve certainly found that to be true in the decades I’ve done so much fishing for largemouth bass.

Spend much time fishing for walleyes and the importance of having the right right color will soon becomes apparent. These beauties came out of the Columbia River.

• Plan my fishing trip to areas where my family can accompany me.

Excellent!! I love it when a plan comes together.

www.MacksLure.com

“If a fish sees something swimming by that looks ‘natural’ to it, it’s much more likely to bite. Size and scent also play an important role here.

Creating those natural colors in natural looking baits is often going to depend on water depth, water temps, and water clarity. The baits you killed them on yesterday might not be as productive today because there’s been a change in the feeding depths, water temps, clarity, etc.”

What Bobby is saying, means changes in both lure color and lure sizes may be necessary to start putting those bigger fish in the boat. Bobby will also remind you of something else you’ve seen me mention in these columns before.

5. FAMILY

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“Stan,” Bobby says,” “One of the very first considerations is that you learn the importance of ‘Matching the Hatch.’ This means you’ll need to know what the forage base is in the body of water you are fishing and this may change at different times of the year.

That lure you see pinned to the mug of this nice trout kept its promise.

That figures because the lure is a Mack’s Lure Promise Keeper®.

That lure couldn’t have kept its promise unless it was a color this fish wanted.

Bass fishermen who have fished as much as I have over the past half century must surely have discovered that color plays an extremely important role where largemouths are concerned. I lived smack on the shore of Southwest Washington’s Continued on Page 4

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Silver Lake for more than 30 years.

Silver Lake has long been one of Western Washington State’s most productive spots for largemouth.

Will Tibbels 14 Pound Walleye

By Captain Pete Rosko

During the three decades I lived right on its shore, my bass boat was in the water about 60-feet from my front door year around. Be assured I became well acquainted with many of the largemouth the lake contained.

February, 2013...the Sonic BaitFish™ received the “Best Spoon Award” by Outdoor Canada.

A month later, eleven year old Will Tibbels caught a 14 lb walleye through the ice. It was reported as the second largest walleye ever The management team at Mack’s Lure keeps an exacting eye on the caught by sport fishing in Lake color of the gear it makes for some Erie. The lure Will used was a 1/3 of the nation’s most popular sports oz silver Sonic BaitFish with the fish. Here’s a double handfull of line/snap attached to the top of the what I’m talking about. back. On that eventful day, Will was fishing with his dad, Capt No doubt about it, color can and John Tibbels of Tibbels Marina. does play an extremely important They were jigging in about 32 feet role in our angling endeavors. In my of water off Rattlesnake Island in next column we’ll take a look at the Lake Erie’s western basin. Other experiences of some other anglers Sonic BaitFish produced good-size walleyes that day but the 14 pounder who share that sentiment. was special.

Since then, Will never had a chance to ice-jig again as Lake Erie never froze over because of its warmer winter weather. However, as this article is being written, that’s all about to change because of the severe Arctic air masses blasting the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley.

Mack’s Lure Smile Blades®

From a personal standpoint, I have not fished the Sonic BaitFish through the ice. However, I have fished it in every other conceivable way including casting, jigging and trolling. Will’s silver finish, and blue-silver, have been particularly effective in Washington State for Beardslee (rainbow) trout in Lake Crescent and coho & pink salmon in salt water using these three techniques that were equally effective. Note: Glow-white and glow-chartreuse were primary color preferences for chinook salmon and glow-orange for kokanee. In the Gulf of Mexico, there has not been any Sonic BaitFish finish that has performed poorly. Standout examples have been silver and blue-silver for mackerel and snook; firetiger for mangrove snapper; glow-chartreuse for all other snapper and grouper.

The unique feature of the Sonic BaitFish is that the line/snap can be attached three different ways…to the traditional nose, the tail and to the top of its back. Please remember the top-of-the-back attachment is exclusively for vertical jigging.

The nose, or tail, attachment can be effectively used whether casting, jigging or trolling. There is no other lure that is so versatile because of these multiple attachments and different actions.

As we bring 2016 to a close, I hope this season provided you with good health and enjoyment on the water. Thank you for subscribing to the Mack Attack and even better fishing in the New Year. Pete

Mack’s Lure Sonic BaitFish™ Arctic angler Will Tibbels holding his 14lb walleye he caught on Lake

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Question of the Month Have a question? We’d love to answer it! Contact us at MacksLure@MacksLure.com if you have a question you would like to see featured!

Q: What lures does Mack’s Lure

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have that can be used for Ice Fishing?

A: Great question! There are many lures that can be used for ice fishing. The Sonic BaitFish™ is an extremely versatile jigging spoon that can be used to effectively catch fish through the ice. It emulates a dying bait fish on the fall and provides vibration on the rise. Glow White is preferred, but the choice is ultimately up to you. In addition, use a Mack’s Lure Glo Hook™ attached to the tail about one inch from the tail of the attachment point. The Glo Hook will keep its

Photo of the Month

glow for approximately 30 minutes; tip with a maggot for bait. Other lures to use are the Cripplure™, and Humdinger™. These lures also present a dying bait fish on the fall, and give a vibration or “hum” on the rise. One way to rig to ice fishing is using the Mack’s Lure Double D™ Dodger or Sling Blade™, and a Glo Hook. Rigging is quite simple.

Coming from your main line, attach the dodger or sling blade backwards from its normal application. The reason of putting the dodger backwards is that it provides the Glo Hook with more action on the rise and fall. From the dodger, use a 14-16” leader to a Glo Hook in the color of your choosing. In between the dodger and the hook, attach a couple of split shot weights to help keep the presentation vertical.

Slowly jig up 4-6”, then drop, and repeat until your rod starts dancing!

Video of the Month You guessed it, more ice fishing!

Check out this Video, which shows Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Mike Hall and Luke Ellifritz ice fishing on the famous Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

If you have video’s to share, we’d love to see them!! Send your video links to: MacksLure@

It’s cold outside and since we have been talking about ice fishing, check out this photo by Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Mike Hall. The Sonic BaitFish is shown under a black light, showing the vibrant UV colors!

Send your photo’s to media@MacksLure.com for consideration to be included in a future Mack Attack edition or on Facebook.

See more pictures by clicking here: Mack’s Photo Gallery Page 5