Vertizontal in Northern Ontario

A World Class Ice Fishing Technique
Image 06.jpg

I stepped out onto a small Northwestern Ontario Sunset Country crappie lake last week and was pleasantly greeted by almost 10 inches of solid blue ice beneath my boots.

Talk about a stellar start to the ice fishing season.

What was less than auspicious, however, was the tight-lipped nature of the fish I could see on the screen of my Humminbird Ice 55 sonar unit.

I watched them move in as I jigged the 1/16-ounce, 24-carat gold, W10 Williams Wabler up and down, and then planted their noses on the soft plastic Angler's Choice Wiggle Fry that I had used to tip the fine wire single hook I had used to replace the factory treble. I should mention, too, that I had separated the hook from the spoon via a Stringese Fastach Clip for maximum action and hooking percentage.

ice angler holding black crappie
Gord Pyzer says rigging soft plastic baitsvertizontally is one of his favourite wintertime tactics. (Photo credit: Gord Pyzer)

The combination has become one of my favourites for attracting and triggering black crappies and yellow perch to bite in the winter. The summer and fall, for that matter, too. But on this particular day, when I paused for what seemed like an interminable amount of time and shook the lure ever so gently, the crappies refused to open their mouths. I needed a change of tactics, and having been in the same situation before, I knew what I needed to do.

Go vertizontal.

ice fishing perch
Threading your soft plastic on horizontally, no further than the bend, so it hangs horizontal to the bottom is something the fish have never seen before. (Photo credit: Gord Pyzer)

It is a technique I learned several years ago from then-reigning World Ice Fishing Champion Tony Boshold, who goes so far as to use interchangeable spring tips on the ends of his ice fishing rods so he can match the sponginess to the weight of his lures. Boshold contends that you achieve maximum sensitivity when your spring bobber is tilted down at a 30-degree angle.

But, it is the unique vertizontal way that he attaches soft plastic dressings to his lures that has been a real winter game changer.

I've found it works best anytime you're using a spoon, especially the small teardrop-shaped ones favoured by so many ice anglers for nabbing slab crappies, jumbo perch, and big bull bluegills. Because the spoons hang vertically, when you attach a soft plastic dressing to the hooks, they simply droop down and extend the length of the presentations.

But, when you thread your soft plastic on horizontally, no further than the bend, it hangs parallel or horizontal to the bottom—shaped like an L—showing the fish something they've never seen before.

williams wabler spoon and anglers choice wiggle fry
The Terminator -- a Williams Wabler spoon and Anglers Choice Wiggle Fry rigged vertizontally. (Photo credit: Gord Pyzer)

It is not only deadly, but it also results in almost 100 percent hook-ups.

It is worth highlighting, too, that when you attach a soft plastic trailer in the traditional manner and a fish misses it, it nearly always pulls it down, rendering it unattractive until you reel it in and rig it straight again.

Worse still, if a fish pulls it down, even the slightest amount, and you don't notice it, your lure will spin in circles. And if there is anything that turns off fish more quickly than a rotating lure, I don't know what it is. It is the reason single-action ice reels resembling fly reels have become such a hit with winter anglers.

In any event, it was like flipping a light switch as soon as I attached the Wiggle Fry vertizontally to my Williams Wabler. Indeed, jigging the spoon up and down created the flash, vibration, and visual stimulation that called the crappies up to the dinner table. Then the flickering tail of the soft plastic spike, rigged vertizontal, made them open their mouths and chew it up. 

ice angler holding perch
(Photo credit: Gord Pyzer)

It is a sleight of hand that nearly always sees me leave the ice with a smile on my face!

About Gord Pyzer

Gord Pyzer is the fishing editor of Outdoor Canada magazine and field editor of In-Fisherman magazine. He is the co-host of the Real Fishing Radio Show and host of Fish Talk With The Doc.

Recommended Articles

Early Summer Muskies

Ontario’s Sunset Country is muskie heaven. Here’s how to find and catch these early-summer giants.

20 Years With Fish TV!

Fish TV discusses their favourite Ontario catches

Top 5 Musky Destinations in Ontario

The Musky Hunter shows you where to land the best musky in Ontario waters.

The Tigers of Sunset Country

The most picturesque of all freshwater fish.

Walleye on Lake Temiskaming

Fish'n Canada heads to Lake Temiskaming to tackle Ontario Walleye.

10 Tips For Ice Fishing Safety

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a safe day on the hard water

Multi-Species Magic

Cedar Point Resort on Cedar Lake is a drive-in camp with the fabulous fishing of a remote fly-in.

Choose your Fishing Adventure: 39 Lodges Accessible by Train, Plane, Boat, and Automobile in Ontario

How will you explore the province's waterways this upcoming season?

Pike Aplenty

How to select the right spot to catch pike in late fall fishing in Ontario.

Where Should Your Next Fishing Vacation Be?

Check these key factors

10 Facts About Lake of the Woods

10 facts amazing about this massive Northwest Ontario Lake!

The Ontario Fall Crappie Hunt

Ontario's 400,000 lakes are home to a variety of fish species.

Real Fishing at Mattawa River Resort

Mattawa River Resort offers an easy to get to location and unlimited fishing opportunities

Eagle Lake Lodge: A Muskie Angler's Paradise

Fish'n Canada's Pete Bowman fishes for Muskie and Smallmouth Bass in Ontario's Sunset Country.

Find The Food, Find The Fish!

The fall feeding frenzy is getting under way across Northern Ontario.

Gearing up for Ice Fishing

Today’s ice anglers have more quality gear to choose from than ever before.

Smoked Fish: A Do-It-Yourself Delicacy

Catching and eating fish from the cold, clear waters is one of the perks of living in Northern Ontario.

Top 8 Places to Ice Fish in Ontario

Ice fishing in Ontario offers diverse catches in serene winter settings.

Top 5 Flies for Smallmouth Bass

The inside scoop on bass flies from the hosts of The New Fly Fisher.

Double Trouble for Fall Crappies

Check out this expert trick