If you imagine panfish piled up around a sunken pine when you hear “Christmas Tree,” this list of Stocking Stuffer ideas is for you!
Rapala Flat Jigs
Picture a Jigging Rap with a flatter body, but a familiar hook and tail profile – that’s the new Rapala Flat Jig.
Whether fished in open water or through the ice, the Flat Jig’s namesake flat-minnow profile creates a responsive, long-gliding searching action in even the most demanding conditions.
At 80 percent heavier than a Jigging Rap of similar length, a Flat Jig will produce in even heavy current and very deep water, giving multi-species anglers the world over a great new tool for tough conditions. When fished through the ice, the Flat Jig will work best with a vertical pump-and-swim action.
Like Jigging Raps, Flat Jigs feature a balanced, weighted minnow profile and swim in tantalizing circles on the fall. Armed with single reversed hooks on the nose and posterior, as well as a center treble hook hung from a belly eyelet, they don’t allow for missed bites.
The 1 ½-inch Flat Jig weighs 9/16 oz. The 2 ½-inch model weighs 1 3/16 oz. Both are available in 10 color patterns: Flake Blue; Flake Clown; Flake Gold Olive; Flake Parrot; Flake Silver; Flake Silver Shad; Glow Pearl Blue; Glow Pearl Olive; Holo-Flake Anchovy; Holo-Flake Gold Fluorescent Red.
VMC Ice Tungsten Jigs
When the snow finally flies and the lakes freeze, be sure your ice-fishing arsenal includes VMC Tungsten Fly Jigs, Tungsten Tubby Jigs, Tungsten Chandelier Jigs, Tungsten Nymph Jigs and Tungsten Wax Tail Jigs.
Capitalizing on the size-to-weight advantage of tungsten, each drops fast to keep a hot-bite on fire. Because tungsten sinks much faster than lead, even a tiny tungsten jig will get back down to biting fish faster than a larger lead-head jig.
A perfect imitator of natural flies and aquatic insects, the Tungsten Fly Jig delivers big results with a small profile. A 90-degree hook eye ensures optimal horizontal position of the jig, allowing ice anglers to convert more hits into solid hooksets and lose fewer fish at the hole.
Tungsten Fly Jigs come in three sizes, 1/64th, 1/32nd and 1/16th ounces. They’re available in six color patterns: Glow, Glow Chartreuse, Glow Pink, Metallic Rainbow, Metallic Silver, Metallic Gold. The Glow colors provide up to 15 minutes of continuous charge.
Perhaps the perfect panfish jig, VMC’s Tungsten Tubby Jig boasts a super-fast drop speed, allowing ice anglers to deliver their favorite Trigger X panfish plastics to the strike zone faster.
Tungsten Tubby Jigs are available in three sizes, two per pack: 1/64 oz. (size 14 hook); 1/32 oz. (size 12 hook); 1/16 oz. (size 10 hook).
The Tungsten Chandelier Jig’s inversed conical head delivers superior sonar returns, making it easier for ice anglers to target their desired depth. Add your favorite Trigger X panfish plastic or live bait to the sticky-sharp VMC treble hook and hold on.
Tungsten Chandelier Jigs come in three sizes, 1/16th, 1/8th and 3/16th of an ounce. They’re available in eight colors: Glow, Green Orange Glow, Orange Chartreuse Glow, Pink Chartreuse Glow, Glow Chartreuse, Glow Red, Crappie Minnow and Mayfly. The Glow colors provide up to 15 minutes of continuous charge.
Pre-rigged with a Trigger X Nymph soft bait (also sold separately) a Tungsten Nymph Jig resembles the small aquatic insects that fish feed on year-round.
Tungsten Nymph Jigs come in two sizes, 1/32nd and 1/16th of an ounce. They’re available in eight colors: Glow, Green Orange Glow, Orange Chartreuse Glow, Pink Chartreuse Glow, Glow Chartreuse, Glow Red, Crappie Minnow and Mayfly. The Glow colors provide up to 15 minutes of continuous charge.
Pre-rigged with Trigger X Wax Tail soft baits (also sold separately), Tungsten Wax Tail Jigs are a deadly combination for weedline-hugging bluegill and open-basin crappie. We recommend slowly twitching a Tungsten Wax Tail Jig in place when fish are in a finicky mood. The subtle action will turn lookers into biters.
Tungsten Wax Tail Jigs come in two sizes, 1/32nd and 1/16th of an ounce. They’re available in eight colors: Glow, Green Orange Glow, Orange Chartreuse Glow, Pink Chartreuse Glow, Glow Chartreuse, Glow Red, Crappie Minnow and Mayfly. The Glow colors provide up to 15 minutes of continuous charge.
Rapala Floating Aerator
Small in size but offering big-time results, Rapala’s new Floating Aerator gently mixes air into water, aerating 1.5 liters (0.4 gallons) per minute.
Ideal for most bait-storage containers or enclosures, this portable device features a floating, water-activated switch, air-release stone and 18 hours of continuous runtime. Set to run at 15-minute intervals, it will provide 36 hours of runtime. It is powered by 3 “C” batteries (not included) housed in an easy-access enclosure.
Rapala Magnetic Release Clip
Kayak anglers especially will appreciate Rapala’s new Magnetic Release Clip.
Capable of handling a 6.6-pound (3 kg) load, powerful break-away magnets allow for free handling of an attached tool when pulled apart. A sturdy carabiner clip securely attaches to a loop on an angler’s personal floatation device. A heavy-duty split ring holds attached tools tightly.
Panfish Tool Combo
The perfect starter set of essential tools for handling panfish, or a great complement to your existing tool collection, Rapala’s new Panfish Tool Combo features a Super Line Scissors, 4-inch Panfish Pliers and a Mini Hook Remover.
The serrated cutting edge of the Super Line Scissors is designed to grip and hold tough braid for easy, non-slip cutting. Additional features include stainless steel construction and oversized finger holes
The 4-inch Panfish Pliers’ narrow gripping nose provides control and reach. Constructed of carbon steel and nickel-plated, it features a double-leaf spring, co-molded grips and a compact size for easy storage.
The Mini Hook Remover features a retractable hook-remover pin, a line-cutting blade, adiamond hook sharpener and a jig-eye buster.
