2/01/2001
- Articles
Drum
up the Jungle
Turk Gierke
Do
you remember the scene in the movie King Kong, where the natives
attempted to sacrifice the pretty blonde to the beast they called
Kong? Well after the locals roped her up to a lone tree standing in
the middle of a clearing, they high tailed it back to their
settlement, slammed the doors shut and beat massive Jacuzzi sized
drums to call King in for dinner. Those pounding drums sounded and
sent vibrations all the way through the jungle to Kong - and he
came.
This
movie scene is a good analogy for an effective ice fishing
technique. A hungry fat female walleye plays the role of King Kong.
The drums are any lure that rattles, shakes, flashes, or vibrates,
anything that just makes a commotion and calls fish in. The
sacrificial blonde is your 1/16th ounce jig head and
minnow combo or any other live bait set up, and you are the native,
but sitting in your icehouse.
The
concept is quite simple, make enough “good noise”- noise that
attracts fish – and the beasts will come calling. If the fish are
not active enough to hit your vibrating, flashing, or rattling lure
such as a blade bait – a Cicada or a Sonar, maybe they’ll strike
the helpless minnow hovering within 18 inches of the noise creating
lure.
To
best accomplish this concept, naturally drill two holes in the ice
with about a foot separating the two. Next set up one pole with say
a buckshot spoon for instance. On the other pole use a slow action
pole along with a spring bobber on the tip; make sure a very light
test is spooled on with 2 or 3 lb. test working perfectly. If the
bite is off the deadly spring bobber is a key. Also the light test
line will allow light jigs from 1/64th to 1/16th
to sink at an acceptable rate. Position the live bait pole in a rod
holder and go to jigging on the commotion maker.
Crappies
are an ice angler’s staple sport. Fishing mainly on the St. Croix
River I frequently run into suspended crappies on outings, these
fish can be quickly worked by downsizing your noisemaker and
swapping a minnow for a waxie on the sacrifice pole. Simply set your
lures directly above your sonars marks and hope they like what they
see.
There
are many variations to this set up, and a sharpie will adapt to the
day’s particular bite. For instance, during an off day, a day
where fish show up and then leave the party, the “noise” maker
is likely scaring fish off. When this happens just call them in,
maybe thirty seconds worth, and then reel up and slowly entice the
called in fish with the live bait. Drumming in fish can be easily
accomplished with one hole as well. Create a fish-attracting
disturbance and quickly reel up the lure, and then drop the
pre-rigged sacrifice immediately right into the fire.
The
many different combinations to this set up are practically endless,
and they likely all have merits. Keep working at the options, maybe
you’ll be able come out with a new movie staring an 11 pound
walleye and name it – Queen Kong, and the sequel would be a
guaranteed success!
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