Slow bite

[iceman15]

hi there im not a very experinced icefisherman like the rest of you so i thought i would ask you me and a friend have been marking fish on a local pond and been seening great numbers of those fish with the underwater camera which is cool but we just cant get them to bite most of them are bluegills i have came up with several possible answers and was wondering which one is most possible i thought #1 that they wont bite due to the overcast weather lately #2 due to the fact that maybe there is too much food left in the lake yet #3 that is has to do with the preasure or #4 bluegills just dont bite till late ice? i also went to another local pond and fished for awhile i was gettin bits on a waxy in like 15 ft of water and the bite was kinda a slow pull down on the bobber and then it would let back up and then i would do that again and again could just never get it to bite hard enough to set the hook would that be how crappies bite thanks guys i know you guys know more about icefishing then i do so im hoping i can learn from you good luck

[pbc]

Bluegills are real sensitive to size and color of teardrop.  Start with a #10 or smaller, red or green, tipped with a wax worm.  Always fish above them, I have caught them at all depths from 4' below the ice to the bottom.  Crappies generally hit pretty aggresively - the slow sinking bobber sounds like bass.

[pbc]

The smallest bobber is always needed for bluegills as well, the 1/2 inch diameter kind - too much resistance and they will spit it out.  I use 2' test line weight.

[major]

I agree, use the smallest tackle you can get your hands on.  Your bobber must be able to just barely hold your hook/lure off the bottom.  Granted, it may take your hook a while to get to the bottom without a weight but it might work.  I buy the skinniest yellow sponge bobbers and then cut them down a little.  You might want to try a very sensitive spring bobber.  Try different baits likes spikes or minnow heads.  If you use wax worms try to t-bone the waxy on the hook.  Instead of lures you might want to try some colored hooks because they are lighter.

[BUSCHY]

This is all very good advise, but the best advise is to take one of us along so we can help hands on  .  Just jokin' with ya.  Good luck I hope you catch a limit.

[iceman15]

thanks guy appriciate the advice will give it a try and tell ya how i turn out.