Live bait is always effective, no matter what species of fish you target, be it through the ice or in open water. We have all used live bait at one time or another, and most of us used it when we first started fishing as kids. That being said, when I’m heading out fishing this month, I’ll be bringing along some live bait. You should, too!

March is the month of opportunity for fishermen. There are so many choices for the Midwestern angler that it’s hard to decide. Should I fish the river for walleyes and sauger? Head south for crappies? Or hit the ice up north a few more times?

March ice fishing is some of the best of the year. While a lot of ice anglers are worn out by now and just want the weather to warm up, not me; I’m still fired up about ice! I’ve had some of my best ice fishing in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and on up into Canada in March and even April. Remember, as the ice thins, safety becomes a big concern; it’s time to use your spud bar to test the ice for strength. I wear my Graff-USA float suit at all times this month.

This winter, I’ve caught more fish (of all species) on Custom Jigs & Spins old, reliable Demon Jig and the new Puki jig—a tungsten version of the Demon. My most productive colors on the Demons and Pukis are the Wonderglow colors. Whether I give them a little jolt with a UV flash or just lower them down the hole, they are hot!

One reason that these jigs are ultra-productive with live bait is because of their thin-wire hooks. Whether you are piercing spikes or waxworms with the size 10 or adding a minnow to the size 6 or 4, your live bait will still remain lively… which is the whole point of fishing with live bait.

When I’m ice fishing for bluegills, the size 10 Demon is a go-to lure on one rod at all times. A slow jiggle on the lift and a controlled slow fall, followed by an extended pause and jiggle, is usually all the action that’s needed to catch a “mess” of ‘gills! Plus, the Demon’s light weight allows a bluegill to suck it in without any resistance. It’s when they feel resistance that they tend to drop it.

If I’m in my tent or it is calm outside, the Demon is the way to go. When I’m fishing deeper (over 10 feet) or it’s really windy and hard to detect bites out in the elements, the extra weight of the tungsten Puki is what I need.

Crappies are a different story. A crappie will come in and slam the jig; a little extra weight of tungsten doesn’t reduce the number of strikes like it does with bluegills. I’ll catch crappies all day long on that tiny size 10 Puki, but the added size and flash of the size 6 and size 4 really gets the larger crappies going.

Spikes or waxworms produce on crappies, as do minnows. Match the minnow size to the hook size; use a crappie minnow on the size 6 and a larger, walleye-sized one on the size 4. For crappies, I’ll set up a deadstick with a tail-hooked minnow, which sometimes is more effective than jigging.

Walleyes really love a size 4 Demon and Puki. While most anglers prefer jigging with heavier spoons, sometimes—especially in late season—a finesse approach is more effective. I’ll use a minnow head or a whole minnow on these jigs. I’ll also use them on tip-ups, deadstick and rattle reels. The little extra color and flash of these jigs gives the minnow that extra bling!

When it comes to open-water fishing in March, I’m after walleyes, sauger and crappies. When I’m fishing the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, I like to use two rods in the boat. On the Wisconsin, I’ll anchor up with the Spot-Lock when I see walleyes or sauger on the Sidescan, and then cast up-current with a BFishN Tackle H2O Jig tipped with AuthentX Plastic like a Pulse-R or Moxi. The jig needs to be just heavy enough so that the jig-n-plastic slips slowly, ticking bottom occasionally.

I’ll hang an extra rod or two in the holders with a 1/2- to 3/4-ounce Lindy weight with a swivel and 2-foot leader to a Wonderglow Demon 4 and a fathead. If there are short strikers, I’ll slip on a stinger hook. You could use a hook with a Lindy weight, but if you watch the action of that Demon in the current, you will never use a plain hook again! It shimmies and shakes and really attracts.

When I’m on the Mississippi, I’m a Dubuque rig kind of guy. I’ll tie on a three-way swivel, put a 1/2- to 5/8-ounce H20 jig six inches below with a Pulse-R or Moxi, and then two feet back off the open swivel goes the size 4 Demon with a minnow. Sometimes, I’ll put on a few beads ahead of the Demon, even adding a little propeller on the line or a small Indiana blade on a clevis; there are lots of options!

Early-spring, open-water crappie action occurs around piers, channels, brush piles and weed edges. This is float and Demon time! Walking a shoreline around a marina, or casting to piers in a boat, is a great way to fill a stringer, catch dinner or even a trophy. I like to use a small Rocket Bobber with a size 4 Demon or Puki and a top-fin-hooked minnow. This is a different presentation than most anglers use, and it is very deadly. It has color, flash, action and a little extra bling that crappies love!

Well, there you have it! March is a great month to fish; you just need to figure out where you want to go and what species to fish for. Bringing along a Supply of Custom Jigs & Spins Pukis and Demons and some fresh live bait guarantees success!