When you’re stuck fishing straight down through a hole in the ice, it just makes sense to use a bait that does more than sit there and hope a walleye swims by. That is why legendary guide and professional angler Tony Roach many, along with many other hard water anglers, love horizontal baits like the Jigging Rap—they roam. That wide, side-to-side dart covers way more water under the ice and can pull fish in from a distance, especially on those days when a basic vertical jig just isn’t getting any love.

Now, everyone has their own way of doing things—and that is part of the fun—but one approach Roach has seen work over and over is that he likes to work Jigging Raps fast and aggressively at first to get fish fired up, then switch to small, subtle jig strokes and slowly lift the bait once a walleye shows interest. It is that change-up that often seals the deal. Check out the video to see how he does it, take what you like, and make it your own. That is how ice fishing should be!

KEY TACKLE AND GEAR FOR THIS APPROACH:

• Rapala Jigging Rap (Size 5) – A horizontal, fast-darting lure that covers water and calls walleyes in from a distance

• St. Croix Legend Black Ice Rod (30” Medium Action) – Sensitive enough to detect light bites, with the backbone to snap Jigging Raps effectively

• Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel – Smooth drag and reliable performance for controlled jigging and solid hooksets

• MarCum Lithium Ion Shuttle – Lightweight, high-performance electronics for watching fish reactions and dialing in your presentation