What is the best bait for crappie ice fishing?

[wilbur]

Hi Wilbur,


We used waxworms today...But, just caught small gills.....This was the first time I ever went ice fishing...I really enjoyed it...We went to a city park lake...I hope to make it out to a local farm pond this week...

What is bee moth?...Do you just use the crappie nibblet by itself?...

Jeremy

A beemoth is the same as wax worm. Small jig tipped with a crappie nibble

[CTom]

I use jig/plastics almost universally to start a day's fishing. IF crappies are a little off the feed I'll put a spike or a goldenrod grub on as a teaser. I haven't used minnows for crappies for years with the exception of plucking the head off a dead one a couple years ago to add to a jigging spoon.

[skillett007]

Red and white spikes work pretty good also

[Lowellhturner]

Maggots are also productive on smaller hooks, last time used some dyed PINK! Worked VERY well...

[jcd]

May not still be able to get them locally anymore but hands down is...SCUDS!!! Small fresh water shrimp type crustations that hatch in late fall and feed on dying/ decaying underwater plants and weeds; lightly hooked on #10- 12 hooks they are just FANTASTIC! Have caught a 2lb 9 oz "green carp" on 1, and walleyes (admittedly no keepers)...best ice bait EVER saw! Panfish will simply inhale them when they turn their nose up at everything else, and generally they are NOT subtle hitting them...

Hi Lowellhturner.

Gander Mountain has scud bug jigs...What is the natural color of scuds?...I may purchase some of the jigs and try em..

Jeremy

[Lowellhturner]

Most of them ever used were tannish to light brownish, sure saw 1 almost pink (just molted?), can`t get them here in OHIO due to VHS threat anymore, but watching 1 LIGHTLY hooked, it`s little legs going into over drive was surprising how strong they are for their size! Panfish and bigger fish apparently find them irresistable; remember NEVER having any left to take back home, just another bucket of crappies and bream, perch and what ever else found them; most hits were quite hard....