Jigs have long been panfish killers on the ice, but knowing when to use a standard horizontal jig versus a vertical jig can be difficult. Especially when both excel during certain scenarios. During Virtual Angling’s latest livestream, Jason Mitchell and Ice Junkies Outdoors founder, Ryan Salemi, discuss which situations they choose to use these jigs.
Horizontal Presentation
It’s no secret that the horizontal ice jig is possibly the most popular way to catch panfish through the ice. It is very visible even though it’s compact in size, it moves a good amount of water, and effectively carries minnow heads, waxworms, and plastics. An all-around fish catcher. Mitchell and Salemi agree that this presentation, while it catches fish in most situations, is best suited when the bite is active. When the bite is aggressive, the horizontal jig is a killer. If the bite does die off, it can always be downsized to provide a more finesse presentation for finicky fish. Horizontal jigs are also most effective when searching for fish due to its larger profile and increased visibility.
Vertical Presentation
When fish get finnicky, or when fishing a highly pressured lake, the vertical jig shines. Often times, fish will react better to a more subtle presentation when the bite gets tough. Vertical jigs move less water when jigged, and has a much smaller profile when looking up the water column leaving the fish seeing only the bait on the hook to give a very natural presentation.
Another benefit of a vertical presentation is that it has less jig spin. As Salemi explained during the livestream, often times when a fish is staring at a jig, they wait for it to orient correctly before eating. Many times, when an angler misses a bite it’s because the fish has bitten the jig head and not the hook. With a vertical jig, the fish can nose up to the bait easily, and suck it in because it simply spins less than a horizontal jig. Because panfish typically move up from below prey to strike, the bait and hook of the vertical jig is the first thing they encounter. Salemi also prefers vertical jigs when pounding the bottom on mudflats and other soft bottom structure.
VA members have access to watch the entire livestream linked below:
Early Ice Seminar Replay: Jason Mitchell & Ryan Salemi – Virtual Angling
