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January 2017

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.

Ice Fishing And Trolling Gear For Hard Water Lake Trout

By John Littlefield

Happy New YearEveryone!

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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.

Rigging Up

Properly rigging the dodger and tube is both simple and critical

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 10-15lb monofilament using back-to-back 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.

Pay special attention to your tube jigs, as not all tube jigs are created equally. Many tube jigs designed

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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.

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

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.

The last element to fishing the dodger and tube is the pause. ALWAYS finish the jig stroke with a pause at the bottom. Due to its lighter weight, the tube jig needs a little more time to settle than the dodger. It should also be noted that this pause is what triggers three-quarters of the bites most days.

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.

Final Thoughts

Vertically jigged Mack’s Double D dodgers and Sling Blades cover a very wide radius from your ice hole, especially in deep water. For this reason, never jig a dodger over deep water while fishing in the

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.

On large bodies of water especially, you can benefit greatly from spreading out to cover more water. This affords the opportunity for multiple anglers to fish dodger rigs and attract more fish from greater distances. Setting a strategic grid of anglers with Double D’s and tube jigs is a great way to put a lot of fish on the ice quickly.

The dodger and tube rig is not specific to the strategy outlined 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.

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

2016 was an excellent year, and there were a lot of changes in my life and career. So I am really looking forward to the New Year.

Gary’s Fishing Corner

New Year’s ResolutionBy

Gary Miralles

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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.

My resolutions are as follows:

1. This year I promise to eat better.

2. Get more exercise.

3. Spend my money more wisely.

4. Try not to let things stress me out.

5. Spend more time with my family.

Now after spending much time plotting to meet my goals, I think I have figured out how I can do it:

1. DIET

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

2. EXERCISE

• Use my Kayak more often fishing so I get more exercise.

3. MONEY

• Only buy fishing gear.

4. STRESS

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

5. FAMILY

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

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The title for this “Stan’s Corner” column tells it like it is. It’s often the color of the lure you’ve got out there at the end of your line that determines whether or not you’re going to catch fish.

I quoted Mack’s Lure executive Bobby Loomis in this regard in my previous column, “All fish eat something at one time or another,” Bobby said. “If they don’t, they’ll die.” Bobby also had some additional and highly meaningful thoughts to share.

“This means,” he said, “that even large kokanee eat something other than plankton at one point or another. This may be smaller fish. They don’t get a lot bigger than everybody else in the pool on just a plankton diet.”

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.

Stan’s Space

It’s Often The Color That Counts

By Hall-of-Fame AnglerStan Fagerstrom

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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.

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“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.

“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.”

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.

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

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.

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www.MacksLure.com

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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.

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.

No doubt about it, color can and does play an extremely important role in our angling endeavors. In my next column we’ll take a look at the experiences of some other anglers who share that sentiment.

The management team at Mack’s Lure keeps an exacting eye on the color of the gear it makes for some of the nation’s most popular sports fish. Here’s a double handfull of what I’m talking about.

By Captain Pete Rosko

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 caught by sport fishing in Lake Erie. The lure Will used was a 1/3 oz silver Sonic BaitFish with the line/snap attached to the top of the back. On that eventful day, Will was fishing with his dad, Capt John Tibbels of Tibbels Marina. They were jigging in about 32 feet of water off Rattlesnake Island in Lake Erie’s western basin. Other Sonic BaitFish produced good-size walleyes that day but the 14 pounder 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.

Arctic angler Will Tibbels holding his 14lb walleye he caught on Lake

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™

Mack’s LureSmile Blades®

Will Tibbels 14 Pound WalleyeBy Captain Pete Rosko

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Question of the Month

Have a question? We’d love to answer it! Contact us at MacksLure@Mack-sLure.com if you have a question you would like to see featured!

Q: What lures does Mack’s Lure 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

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

HOT DEAL 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@

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!

Photo of the Month

Stuck inside because of the cold? Now is the time to prepare for the new fishing season. Get those leaders tied and store them in a Pips Box™ or Pips Leader Caddy™. Enter code 100PRG and receive 10% off.

Enter code:

100PRG

Pip’s Box™ or Pip’s Leader Caddy™

Video of the Month