What is the best bait for ice fishing?

 What is the best bait for ice fishing?

There is nothing worse than dragging all of your gear out onto the ice and sitting for hours in the freezing cold just to not get a single bite. 

When you are ice fishing, you want to bring the best bait possible to ensure that your time out on the ice is worth it. 

If your going to freeze your tail off, you better have something to show for it. So, what is the best bait for ice fishing?

Wax Worms

When fishing in near-freezing waters, it is important to pick a live bait that can handle the cold. 

You want a hearty bait that will attract a wide variety of fish. The wax worm is a great option. 

This type of larvae can withstand the cold and will stay alive on your hook for a good amount of time as fish flock from all around. 

The wax worm is not the natural meal of any freshwater fish, but it is still highly effective as a live bait. 

Wax worms also have brighter colors that are more easily seen in dark waters.

Spikes

Spikes are fly larvae that look similar to wax worms. 

They are a smaller option that can attract a wide variety of fish of any size. 

Spikes have a really tough out skin that help them withstand the cold and stay live for longer. 

Their dense body composition means that they will stay on your hook for longer even after hours out on the ice. 

If you are looking for whitefish while ice fishing, this bait is a go-to.

Nightcrawlers

Nightcrawlers are some of the most effective bait in any season. 

Their size makes them perfect for catching all sizes of fish. 

They are not particularly well suited to the cold, but they are so well loved by most fish that it will not take long to get a bite. 

When ice fishing it is important to present your nightcrawler in a natural way if you want it to be effective. 

Dropping a jig or hook with a nightcrawler all the way to the bottom of the water and rustling up some ground will attract all sorts of catches quickly. 

This makes nightcrawlers perfect for ice fishing. Especially if you are looking for trout, panfish, or walleye.

Minnows

If you are looking to pull a larger catch from the ice, minnows are a fantastic option. 

Their coloring is super reflective even in the low light of an ice fishing hole. 

They are well suited for the cold and can stay fresh for a long period of time making them desirable to all sorts of larger fish. 

They stay on your hook solidly, so you won’t have to keep pulling your line from the water. 

Floating minnows a few feet off the bottom of the water will work best. 

Minnows will catch a wide variety of fish. From crappie to walleye, a minnow will help you pull them all from the ice.