Three Panfish Lures for Iowa Ice
Three Panfish Lures for Iowa Ice
Ice fishing is not just a hobby for me, but a passion and a challenge. I enjoy testing different techniques, baits, and locations to find the best way to catch fish in any condition.
One of the ways I have improved my ice fishing skills is by talking to other anglers, especially the customers of The Iowa Outdoors Store. I have shared my own experiences and recommendations wit customers and lean about their favorite set-ups. Ice fishing is a community activity, and we can all benefit from each other’s knowledge and feedback. Over the years, I have refined my ice tackle to a few essential items that I always bring with me on the ice. These are my three go-to lures that have proven to be effective and versatile for catching a variety of panfish in Iowa.
Clam Mackie
The Clam Mackie is really popular around Iowa lakes and for a good reason. They look like a squid-like creature; however, they mimic the appearance and movement of natural prey. They’re a soft plastic lure, they’re pretty durable, and can be customized to create the amount of movement you want. If you think it’s too flashy and has too much movement, you can take off one of the tentacles. Clam Mackie is designed to attract fish such as panfish. I would have a good supply in a variety of colors, my go-to colors are red and white when the ice is thick. If the bite is good, you might have to replace torn-up lures. It’s a good problem to have.
Wonderbread
Within the ice fishing industry, there is a prevailing focus on lure color, with a recent surge of interest in the vibrant and eye-catching Wonderbread pattern. The pattern is named after the Wonderbread, you know the bread with the red, blue, yellow dots. Ice fishermen swear by this pattern so much that it’s expanded into a lot of different lure options. You can get jig heads painted in the Wonderbread colors, some even glow in the dark for an added attraction. Additionally, you can for sure get soft plastics, and even spoons in this color. For pan fish, you will have better luck narrowing your tackle to the colorful jig heads or the plastics.
Shuck’s Jigger Minnow
Shuck’s jigger minnow is an artificial lure that resembles a small fish with a flat head and a tapered body. It is handmade by Shuck’s Lures and is available in two sizes: the 1.5-inch jigger, which is suitable for panfish, and the 2-inch jigger, which is effective for larger fish such as walleye and bass. This lure is particularly great on deep crappie and perch. I prefer a 1.5-inch jig for best results in Iowa. They seem to really like this size. The best colors for Shuck’s jigger minnow depend on the water clarity and the fish preference. You can also experiment with different colors and patterns to find the ones that work best for you.
These are the lures that I always have in my ice fishing tacklebox, and I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to catch more fish and have more fun on the ice. Ice fishing is not just a hobby for me, but a way of life. I hope you share the same passion and enthusiasm for this amazing sport.
by Aaron McKinney
January 2024
