crawlers for bait and falling in

[scoremaster]

does anyone use night crawlers for ice fishing i asked the guys i fish with and they all told me that they have never used them just minnows just asking maybe i'm missing something .

and has anyone ever crashed through the ice into the water i know i hate to even think about it but has it ever happened to anyone /

thanks,
Scott

[AtticaFish]

Not sure about the crawlers, I always try to use pretty small bait on the ice going after panfish. Would guess pieces of crawlers would do.

I've never gone through the ice, but here is a youtube video you might wanna watch on getting back out. Falling Through The Ice. Was posted on Ohio Game Fishing. To make you feel better, take along...... Hand ice picks, a PFD, safety rope, I started carrying a whistle around my neck, put your cell in a zip-lock bag, there are probably a few more....

Yep..... sounds like you are hooked now! :D Have fun and be safe!

[Bosman]

I've been known to use small pcs of red worm for late ice Perch, Walleye, & Sauger in the past. Can be a killer presentation espeicially in heavily pressured areas where our underwater finned friends have had every jig known to man-kind dangled in front of them for 4 months.

[cook]

Year round I've used pieces of nightcrawlers,just about 1 inch on a plain jighead..sometimes works,sometimes not

[GCD]

A jig tipped with a piece of crawler can be very effective, the problem may be keeping your crawlers from freezing while out on the ice.

Unfortunately, most people that have broken thru the ice aren't here to tell about it. Many people drown each year by breaking thru thin ice.

This suit can help save your life though:

Arctic Armor Ice Fishing Suit Video: Watch it float!

[Jiggin_Joe]

I dont use crawlers in winter just my jigs and plastics mostly that way i dont have to mess with bait.

I have'nt fell in and dont plan to but those vids in earlier post might save your life so watch em!! And the artic armour COULD help you also.

JJ

[Blue Duck]

We have good luck catching trout on night crawlers. We can't use live minnows here so they are not an option.

[sam liddiard]

I fished yesterday with two old boys I have been fishing with for 65 years. The ice was 15" thick. We drill 3 holes in a triangle, 10 ft apart and sit and reminess old trips we have been on. 33* sun warm on the back of my neck. Had 5 Bald Eagles flying around us. 13 ft of water. Using a small bit of worm right on the bottom. Dean got 6, Doug (80 yrs.) got 3 and I got 1, all nice rainbows. Still trying to figuer out why Dean got the most.