Best Ice Fishing Baits For Live Sonar
Live sonar is unquestionably one of the most exciting things that’s happened to ice fishing in a long time. Regardless of the type of lure you decide to tie on the end of your line, you’re already at a major advantage using live sonar instead of a traditional, 2D fishfinder on the ice. But if you really want to squeeze all the advantages possible from this cutting-edge technology, you’re best off using lures, like the ones listed below, that are proven live sonar winners.
WHAT MAKES SOME BAITS BETTER THAN OTHERS FOR LIVE SONAR?
STRONG SONAR SIGNAL
Using a lure that produces a strong, consistent live sonar return goes a long way to helping you catch more fish. This has been a strategy with 2D sonar, but it’s even more critical with live sonar’s wider, more detailed view.
When watching fish swim up, down and across a live sonar screen, you always want to be able to see your lure. Second guessing a bait’s whereabouts in relation to active fish tends to result in lost opportunities.
What properties give lures a strong sonar return? A decent lure profile and a broad back helps. Tungsten’s density also makes for a strong return, so choose jigs made of this heavy metal over lead when possible.
Tip: Increased sonar sensitivity helps keep a lure’s signal shining bright on a sonar’s display, and is especially important with tiny presentations and thin spoons.
SIDEWAYS SWIM
The detailed, true-to-life view of live sonar enables anglers to distinguish with great accuracy the direction and distance of fish from the ice hole. Seeing these fish is one thing, catching them is another.
Fish far away require drilling more holes, but the ones positioned close can be coaxed into biting using a lure capable of swimming horizontally (i.e., darting and dropping off to side and away from you). This characteristic isn’t a live sonar essential for every lure, but you should have at least a few baits capable of gliding off to the side.
REALISM CAN BE CRITICAL
Similar to open-water live sonar tactics, using a lifelike lure can make a big difference in the quality and quantity of fish you catch on the ice. Natural finishes as well as lifelike swimming movements combined with subtle, finesse actions help trigger bites in clear water.
The amount of realism a bait needs will vary based on where you’re fishing, time of year, forage base, water clarity and mood of fish. Some days ultra-lifelike offerings are critical. In other instances the natural, fluid action created by a marabou-treble dangling on a bright jigging spoon is all you need to elicit strikes.
BEST ICE FISHING LURES FOR LIVE SONAR
Rapala Jigging Rap Series
Whether sticking with the original Jigging Rap or using a newer member of the family, like the Jigging Shadow Rap or Jigging Rap Magnum, these lures are some of the best baits for live sonar.
Rippin’ Rap, Ultra Light Rippin’ Rap & Slab Rap
A lipless crankbait’s horizontal profile, shimmying action and detailed paint patterns are all perks when using real-time sonar — get ready to have fun watching fish streak in from the sides to crush these baits all winter long.
Tungsten Roach Jig
Marabou-dressed to impress, this tungsten jig produces a strong sonar signal and is great for panfish as well as finessing walleye, whitefish and stream trout.
Tungsten Larv Eye Jig
Designed to maintain a 90-degree presentation with either live or imitation bait, this jig’s super sharp Power Gap hook and oversized 3D holographic eye make it an outstanding option for targeting panfish using live sonar.
Tingler Spoon
A tumbling, flashy, unpredictable action makes this spoon deadly at triggering reaction strikes — and it’s ability to fall out to the side on slack line helps you cover more water. You might need to increase sonar sensitivity, though, to ensure a consistent return due to its thin body.
Rattling Roach Spoon & Bladed Bull Spoon
Bite enhancers and realism boosters at their respective business ends by way of a marabou-treble or a Bladed Hybrid Treble make these two spoons worth having in your collection.
Blue Fox’s Matrixx Spoon
Aggressively jig this flutter spoon to attract big walleye, lake trout and northern pike from far and wide, especially on lakes where ciscoes, smelt, and shiners are key forage.
Rattle Spoon
A conservative tumbling action and portly profile thanks to its rattle chamber, make this sonic-rich spoon a great live-sonar pick for walleye, whitefish, panfish and trout.
Mooch Minnow, The Suspect & The Jerk With Tungsten Moon Eye Jig / RedLine Tungsten Swimbait Jig
CrushCity plastics come in a range of natural patterns along with bright colours, covering off all water clarity conditions and forage scenarios. This trio of minnow profiled soft baits feature three different tails, each of which can be dynamite for eliciting strikes from icy waters. Pairing them with a tungsten jig ensures a strong sonar signal.