I answered a request to take a friend ice fishing. I had a pretty good crappie bite going on an area lake and was quite sure we would have a good morning.

Once at the lake, it didn’t take long to find our fish suspended 22 feet down in 25 feet of water. I drilled out a dozen holes in the general area and we settled down to see what we could get to bite.

Winter crappies are always a little finicky and need to be coaxed into biting. After I had a few fish on the ice, I noticed that my partner for the day had yet to catch one. I walked over to see if I could help.

Right away, I could see that there was an issue. His line was kinked and not hanging straight. When he told me he was using 4-pound-test line, I knew we had a problem. This weight line was too heavy for the tiny jigs we were using. Without the line hanging straight, he could never see or feel the bite.

I offered to let him use one of my rigs with 2-pound-test line, but he refused. He did end up catching a couple of fish. I caught my limit.

It is hard to get people to believe that light line can make such a difference for catching winter panfish. They worry about breaking off on hooksets or when fighting fish.

That is not the case. With the correct rod and a properly set drag, I have caught some very impressive fish on super light line. After a day of fishing, I do retie the knot because it will get weak.

I have had tough days when even 2-pound-test is too heavy to get bites. One-pound-test is a little tricky to use but it can make a difference in extreme conditions.

Light line is harder for fish to see, allows your lure to hang straight so it is easier to see or feel bites, and increases the action on your jig. Using light line is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Most of the time during winter, I utilize jigs that hang horizontally. Some of them have a longer shank that allows me to add plastic, while others have a stubbier profile.

After catching a fish, your knot on the jig will slide towards the top of the eyelet. This causes the jig to lose its horizontal presentation and now hang at a 45-degree angle. Although it is possible to catch fish in this position, you lose some of the action. To correct this problem, grasp the jig between your thumb and forefinger and pull the line with your other hand to shift the knot toward the back of the hook eye. The jig will now hang horizontally until the next fighting fish pulls the knot forward again. Simply repeat the process as needed.

When a jig is hanging horizontally, you get a much better kicking action as you work the lure. Winter fish are finicky and this increased action adds appeal. I catch more fish when the jig hangs horizontally. This is another little thing that makes a difference. (Dave Genz frequently emphasizes this.)

Fish feed by using their sense of smell as well as their sight. How things smell can be very important in the winter months.

Winter panfish feed mainly on invertebrates and zooplankton. If you look at their stomachs, they are full of mush. Because of this, I usually attach Eurolarvae to my jigs to add some scent. I often do this even if I am using plastic tails.

Smell can be very important for triggering finicky winter panfish. If my bait gets waterlogged, I rip it off and put on something fresh. It is amazing how many times fresh larvae trigger a bite.

Fighting the elements makes winter a difficult time to fish. Paying attention to little things can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your day and provide an easier time tolerating the elements.

For more fishing insight from the pros who know, check out the next issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.