Top 5 Must Have Jig Colors for Every Ice Angler
- Posted on
- By Don Kelly
- Posted in ice fishing
- 0
What's the best color ice jig? Here's our 5 favorites that will help you catch fish all winter long!
Every ice season one of the top questions at Tackle Shack is - "What's the best color ice jig?" - and for good reason, there are dozens of colors available from so many brands. If you can think of a color combo, there's a good chance it exists.
So what's the best color ice jig? We've narrowed it down to our top 5 favorites and top sellers at Tackle Shack. Start with these and you'll catch fish all winter long.
#1 Wonderbread - Look, I don't have any explanation for why it works, but it does, and its been an absolute panfish assassin for the better part of this past decade. Maybe its the glow. Maybe its the multi-colored dots. All I know is that it catches fish, in all conditions, and continues to be the #1 seller at Tackle Shack each and every year. The traditional white glow is the favorite, but don't sleep on the chartreuse and pink varieties either.
#2 Silver - Chrome, Nickel, Silver...something just straight up shiny. This is one I really like in clear water on sunny days. When fish are in an aggressive mood and on the prowl, silver seems to call them in. It's also a great color to pair with plastics to give them a little extra shine. Similar to a bead head fly or ball head on a swimbait.
#3 Chartreuse - The old saying goes "If it ain't Chartreuse, it ain't no use". Time and time again, this bright yellow/green flavor gets bit. It's one I reach for anytime I'm fishing stained or off color water. In this area, it's a particularly good one for me on Hills Creek Lake and Hamilton Lake.
#4 White Glow - Much like Wonderbread, a plain white glow is one that just seems to always work. However, I find this best for deep water and absolutely essential for fishing after dark. Just make sure to have a good glow light or jig charger handy, and keep it lit all night long. Crappies and Bluegills love a glowing midnight snack!
#5 Perch/Firetiger - Perch and fire tiger patterns are some of my favorites for fishing around weeds and structure. The mix of greens, oranges, and black stripes works well for a variety of panfish. Each brand shades these different from a muted matte natural to a bright and fiery fire tiger. While I fish both, the brighter patterns tend to be my favorite.
Honorable Mention - GOLD
Much like plain silver, plain Gold is a versatile color that works in a variety of conditions. Similar to silver, I like to use these with plastics to give them a little extra shine.
Honorable Mention & Under Rated Color - Black
Black, black with glow spots, black with a red bead - All of these tend to be good colors when the fish are a bit tip lipped and uncooperative. Bright, flashy colors might spook wary fish and dropping down a plain, muted black often gets bit when others don't. Do I use it often? No, but it has saved a few tough days.
Final Thoughts
Some days, the fish are chewing and any color is going to get you bites, especially in unpressured waters. On busy days and pressured bodies of water, it's good to have a mix of sizes and color options. When you're marking fish and they aren't biting, a simple color change or size change could be all you need to change their mind.
If you need suggestions on the best jigs to buy, stop by and we're glad to help you, or give us a call at 570-724-5138. Many jigs are available online, and we have a ton of bulk jigs from Your Bobbers Down available in store too. If you're looking for a specific color that you don't see, reach out and we'll do our best to find the right jigs to meet you needs!
What's your favorite color? Let us know in the comments below!
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