Deadsticking. If you’ve never heard the term, it might initially cause some confusion. But once someone explains the concept, it seems pretty easy, right? After all, simply picking up your favorite rod, rigging and lowering your selected presentation to the desired depth, and placing the set in a rod holder waiting for strikes appears to be an exercise in simplicity.

By and large, this holds true. Yet used only in its most basic form, you’re missing out on finer points that can make a significant difference in your end results, because some of today’s unique systems provide some truly innovative, fun-to-fish options.

Let’s begin with the basics. Standard, “fixed-position” designs are simply set in place, and other than an occasional check, essentially left unattended. Not only is this an easy, relaxing way to fish, it’s also accounted for some substantial catches. Just position the rod in your favorite holder and let your presentation work its silent, nearly motionless magic below.

Freestanding, fixed-position rod holders that rest directly on the ice are commonly used, as are alternative designs that fit conveniently on standard 5- or 6-gallon buckets. HT’s clamp-on is one of my favorites, because it’s adjustable, allowing the opportunity to change your rod angle anywhere from pointing straight up to angled right down at the hole. When raised, the rod tip is easier to see, plus the increased angle offers the advantage of being able to remove the rod and easily lower your rod tip. This allows a moment to take up any slack line before slamming the hooks home and—if preferred—permits a longer pause so line can be fed out until you sense the time is right to set the hook.

If the fish are really touchy, you can also aim your rod tip toward the hole, and by placing your reel in free-spool, simply watch for line movement to indicate strikes. Since biting fish feel little or no resistance using this method, they’ll often hang on a while, providing more time for you to react appropriately.

Another increasingly popular model used for deadsticking is the balanced-style rod holder. As the name suggests, these are designed to lightly cradle your rod in adjustable states of balance. You can now set your rod so any movement indicates a take. And, while delicately balanced in place with the tip angled slightly upward, you can use gentle bumps of the rod handle to impart subtle action.

Gusts of wind may even be used to help generate unique jigging motions. The higher your rod tip is positioned, the more movement you’ll attain. It’s even possible to point the rod tip at such an angle so when a fish bites and begins moving away with the bait, your rod tilts toward the hole, indicating a take—more importantly, it does so while offering minimal resistance to biting fish.

Taken to an extreme, some balanced designs even offer enough control so they can essentially be set to function as a “tip-down,” meaning your rod can be so finely balanced that it moves very gently in the wind, completely on its own. When a fish strikes, the rod dips toward the hole in a manner that gradually shifts the weight of your combo from the handle toward the tip—meaning fish feel little or no resistance as they move away—which is critical when tentative, light-biting fish are prone to drops.

A design similar to the balance holder is the “rocker style.” Like balanced designs, they’re set on loose, movable brackets that tip toward biting fish and can be tapped by the user to create periodic motion or adjusted to move with the wind. But for greater convenience, attach them to buckets.

One of my favorite deadsticking options is HT’s Ice Rigger. Featuring a fully adjustable rod holder, the Ice Rigger accommodates any ice rod combo from ultralight to heavy. Plus, it includes a tip-up flag-style strike indicator. Just place the rod in the holder, set your reel to free spool and slip your line within the trip.

When a fish strikes and pulls out line, the trip releases the signal flag to reveal the take-and-line-free spools from your reel as the fish runs. Like a tip-up, you simply watch for flags indicating the strike, then approach and control the hook-set when you’re ready.

Where legal, some modern deadstick systems also include automatic hook-set features. The Automatic Fisherman and Jaw Jacker are good examples. Like the Ice Rigger, a rod of your choice is placed in the holder and the line is positioned within a trip. But instead of releasing a flag and allowing line to free-spool when a fish strikes, the rod is bent into a loaded position, so that when the trip is released the rod tip snaps up and sets the hook. You simply run over, grasp the rod and start fighting the fish.

Sure, there are other types of rod holders available, each offering advantages given specific sets of conditions. But my point isn’t to provide an extensive review of rod holders, but rather, encourage you to give some serious thought to deadstick systems, including the advantages and creative presentation options they offer.

Deadstick Rigging Fine Points
Deadstick presentation options are nearly endless. You can choose live- or dead bait-rigged “bare bones,” using a simple hook and sinker, various “quick-strike” or tip-up-style rigs, and even lures with select tippers will perform.

Somewhat longer, slower-action rods are preferred by some anglers, especially when using automatic hook-set systems—otherwise, limitations are few. When seeking panfish, most preferred, ultralight rods rigged with a lightly hooked wriggling grub on a marabou-style jig or plastic tail tipped on a tiny, lightweight jig can be effective. While, heavier action systems of varying power, length and design incorporating larger live baits, tentacle tubes or plastic creatures are equally effective for larger gamefish. Even flutter spoons tipped with a lively minnow provide subtle forms of fish-attracting movement and flash difficult to duplicate using any other method.

For some reason, there are times when a bait-tipped jig, sparkly, tentacle-clad plastic or lightweight flutter spoon held in place with just a hint of limited, natural movement offered by the bait, creates an irresistible nugget fish just can’t pass up.

Try adding subtle flash options, too. At times, simple beads, blades, strips of fish scent-soaked yarn, rattle chambers—tiny metal beads separated by spacers adding intriguing combinations of both color and sound—or even brightly-colored buttons or sequins slipped onto your line, can make a difference.

Regardless of the system you choose, deadstick benefits are clear:

• Offer less active-moving presentations to work, in contrast to simultaneous, active-jigging approach
• Provide extra lines to help cover water, increasing odds of placing varied presentations to more fish
• Help monitor fish movements within a specified area or around varied structural features
• Most importantly, adding fun to your experience

Additional Tips:
Since deadstick systems position your reel atop the ice, one weakness is your line remains exposed at the waterline, leaving these systems vulnerable to freeze-up in sub-freezing conditions. When such conditions prevail, it’s critical to keep your deadstick holes open and clear of blowing snow.

Solutions include using a hole cover, Ice Stopper System, or better yet, a combination of both. The Ice Stopper system simply consists of a slip-bobber-style plug filled with a freeze-proof solution that means your line will always remain free to move, even if ice forms around it. The Ice Stopper can also be placed within an insulated hole cover—cut in the center to appropriately accommodate the plug. This combination performs surprisingly well, even in the harshest temperatures.

Although part of the attraction deadstick systems offer is the “no-touch, hands-off” advantage, for best results you still should remain actively engaged. Drill extra holes throughout your deadstick set, and while using sonar to check for the presence of fish and depth they’re holding, strategically jig those holes using a variety of lures and baits. As you key in on patterns, take the time to adjust the position of your deadstick systems and presentations accordingly.

When periodically attending to your deadstick stations, always begin by giving each line a gentle lift or jiggle—anything to create some contrasting motion—then pause and allow your presentation to settle. In different forms, such movements can be used to attract fish from a distance, or more often than not, trigger strikes from any holding nearby. If nothing happens, slowly raise your presentations to double-check your depth settings, knots and bait, then reset as desired.

The bottom line is while incredibly easy and productive, advanced deadsticking techniques are often underutilized. So try experimenting and find out for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised just how powerful these deadsticking options can be.

Tom Gruenwald has contributed to the modern “ice fishing revolution” over the years by authoring hundreds of magazine articles and four books on the subject, all while spending countless hours promoting the sport through his seminars, appearances and award-winning television program, TGO, Tom Gruenwald Outdoors, now airing on Sportsman Channel, Wild TV and Midco Sports.