Ice Flies - The Natural Approach

Aaron's Custom Tying Last Resort Ice Flies in two sizes.

I don’t think it’s uncommon to have a memory so vivid and full of detail that you can perfectly recreate the scene in your head. Even for something relatively uncomplex or mundane. One that’s burned into my neurons is the time my paternal grandpa, and fishing mentor, enlightened me to top secret colors that he believed help him land so many Green Bay perch. The recipe was simple, “yellow fishing line and red hooks” he told me standing next to the old Lund in my dad’s gravel floored shed. As a young and impressionable kid, I was sold. I immediately assumed ownership of a dusty combo that was hanging on the wall, already spooled with the bright line. I was going to out fish the world.  

For the record, I hung on to the red hook claim right up to my high school bass-angler phase when I stopped targeting panfish and instead had 5” Wac O’s and frogs tied up to my arsenal of bait casters. 

There’s just something about the angler and picking the right color. You hear it often. 

“The walleye were keying in on chartreuse in the murky water” 

“Crappie always hammer the pink for me”  

And the notorious “wonderbread is my favorite ice jig.” Since when were fish carb-o-holics? 

The venerable WONDERbread

Since anglers first ventured beyond the simple hook, worm, bobber method, the market for appealing designs quickly flooded the space. Because lets me honest with ourselves, we buy new lures and jigs because they “look cool” mainly. And lot’s do! Hand painted jigging-Raps and Megabass jerkbaits borderline on real art. But it begs the question, do the fish want that pink sparkle #6?  

My approach to jig design has been a mixed bag. Dipping my toes in each end of the spectrum. But I think what sets me apart is the truly natural-looking stuff I put out. Prime example is the Last Resort Ice Fly. The body is real pheasant tail fibers. In conjunction with the counter-wrapped brass wire. When wet, it looks super buggy. I’m not a scientist, and I can’t tell you what species it’s trying to imitate. But I can tell you that it works! 

Megabass 110+1 Brilliance

So maybe round out your box with a few more natural-looking jigs for the upcoming ice fishing season. They might not catch your eye as much, but the fish’s eye is what ultimately matters! 

Available at act-fishing.com 

-Aaron