To say that ice fishermen are using ultra light fishing tackle is like saying professional athletes are over paid. Fishermen after bigger catches of bluegills, crappies and yellow perch consider two pound test monofilament heavy stuff and most won't touch anything thicker than one pound test! Some anglers even use nylon sewing thread that has a break strength of about 3/4 of a pound. That's 12 ounces!

Why do ice fishermen use these super small pound test monofilaments? Because they can't get their hands on any half pound test! Although it may sound crazy, panfishermen swear by an angling system that uses the lightest possible monofilament and tiny tear drop jigs. No split shots or other weight is added to the line, and the tear drops are attached using a loop knot that allows the lure maximum freedom of movement.

A sensitive spring bobber (often home made from piano wire) is used to detect light bites, and a super soft action rod incorporated to cushion the delicate monofilament against breakage. A tiny spinning reel is used to store line and reel hooked fish to the surface.

This super light and sophisticated panfishing equipment is used in cooperation with a portable graph to locate fish and to present lures right smack on the nose of waiting panfish.

A flasher is the preferred sonar for this method of fishing.

By adjusting the sensitivity or gain on the flasher anglers can see heavy blips that represent fish and the thin blip that shows the location of their tear drop. By raising or lowering the lure accordingly an angler can put his or her lure in precisely the spot a waiting bluegill or crappie can't refuse.

A delicate jiggling action keeps the tear drop quivering in a fashion that screams EAT ME to nearby panfish. One of the best methods is to begin fishing with the tear drop at the same level or slightly above the fish. Lightly wiggle the rod tip to give the tear drop a delicate vibrating action. If no bite occurs within a minute or two, raise the bait a couple inches and try again. Waxworms, mousies, maggots and wigglers are the preferred live baits.

Using a portable flasher powered by a motorcycle or jell type battery prevents the angler from wasting valuable time fishing holes that don't contain any fish. The graph instantly confirms the presence of fish.

Once fish are located, go to town tempting as many bites as possible. Watch the spring bobber closely for any movement that indicates the fish has the bait. Sometimes the bobber will move down, but just as often it will move up, indicating the fish as picked up the bait and moved up with it.

Some anglers prefer to use fluorescent lines like Stren's Golden to help them detect subtle strikes. Watch the line while jigging and set the hook the instant the line darts or moves even slightly.

A good hole may produce up to a dozen landed fish, but most holes only produce a few fish. To make up for the lack of fish per hole, it becomes necessary to fish as many holes as possible.

Sometimes a short move will produce several more panfish for the frying pan. I drill a dozen or more holes before starting to fish. Once I've got my rods rigged and ready to go, I simply move from hole to hole as needed.

Good bluegill and crappie fishing typically takes place in 10 to 25 feet of water. The larger slabs are often taken deep and the best time to fish is the last hour before dark and again for an hour around sunrise.

Crappies are sometimes taken after dark, but bluegill and perch seem to bite best early and late in the day. This super ultra light panfishing system has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Anglers using these techniques can milk out limit catches while others using heavier line and traditional bobbers can't even get a bite!