Buckshot Rattles Out-Produce Swedish Pimples on Bantam Lake's Off-Color Ice
Swedish Pimples in gold and silver remain the default pick among CT ice anglers. For perch scattered across open flats, a Buckshot Rattle Spoon adds an auditory component that draws fish in before the switch to a quieter presentation.
| Product | Verdict | Approx. price | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay de Noc Swedish Pimple | The default choice among CT ice anglers | $5.99–$9.99 | Check price |
| Acme Kastmaster 1/4 oz | The spoon anglers keep in the box for both ice and open water | $6.99 | Check price |
| Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoon | Best for pulling scattered perch toward the hole | $4.99 | Check price |
Connecticut's inland lakes rarely hold safe ice for more than a few weeks a winter, and when they do, jigging spoons account for most of the perch and pike anglers report landing through the hole. Ice fishing lures need to be visible in low light, appealing to fish running on a slowed winter metabolism, and durable enough to fish in subfreezing air. Jigging spoons meet all three, which is why they've stayed a staple on hardwater for decades. Anglers who get out on Bantam Lake or East Twin Lake in a cold winter typically start with one of three spoons, and which one depends on whether the fish are schooled and aggressive or scattered and cautious.
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Bay de Noc Swedish Pimple
The default choice among CT ice anglersThe Swedish Pimple is a tapered metal spoon that produces a fluttering, wobbling fall. The common technique reported by CT ice anglers is to lift the spoon 12–18 inches and let it free-fall on slack line — the spoon flashes on the drop, then hangs still. Most strikes come during the pause after the fall, not the lift. It runs 1/8 oz to 1 oz — smaller for perch and small bass, larger for pike. The general consensus among CT lake anglers: gold in stained water, silver in clear water.
Acme Kastmaster 1/4 oz
The Kastmaster started as an open-water casting spoon and carried over to ice fishing well. Its balanced weight reaches depth quickly and throws good flash on the retrieve. Through ice, CT anglers commonly run it in the 15–25 foot range typical of lakes like Squantz Pond and Mansfield Hollow. The 1/4 oz size is the size most often mentioned by CT ice anglers — enough weight to reach depth without oversizing the bait relative to typical winter forage.
Northland Buckshot Rattle Spoon
Best for pulling scattered perch toward the holeWinter perch often spread out across flats and need to be pulled toward a hole rather than found sitting under it. The Buckshot Rattle's tungsten rattles put out vibration that perch pick up through their lateral line from a distance. A pattern regularly described in CT ice fishing community threads: once a flasher shows fish schooling under the hole, anglers switch from the rattle spoon to a quieter Swedish Pimple for the more cautious biters that follow. As of recent winters, that search-then-switch sequence is the most commonly reported approach among CT perch anglers working open flats.
Buying guide
**How CT Ice Anglers Actually Jig These Spoons**
**The Basic Jig** Lift the rod 12–18 inches at a steady pace, then let the lure free-fall on slack line. The free-fall produces the spoon's most natural action — the flash of a fleeing baitfish. Most strikes come on the pause after the fall, while the lure hangs still.
**Reading a Flasher** A sonar flasher (Vexilar, Humminbird Ice) shows real-time depth and marks both your lure and nearby fish as blips on the screen. When fish marks show up: hold the lure just above them and jig slowly. When no marks appear: use larger, more active jigging motions to pull fish in from farther off.
**Triggering Reluctant Fish** Fish sometimes follow a spoon without striking. Anglers commonly try, in order: speeding up to trigger a chase response, slowing down to match a lethargic cold-water metabolism, switching to a different lure size or profile, adding live bait, or dead-sticking — holding the lure completely still for 30 seconds or more.
**Adding Bait** Many ice fishing spoons produce more strikes tipped with a small piece of bait for scent and movement. Wax worms: easy to carry, effective for perch and panfish. Small minnow or minnow head: draws larger fish including bass and pike. Mealworms: hold up longer than wax worms in cold conditions.
**CT Ice Season Reality Check** Connecticut's ice fishing window has grown less reliable as winters have warmed, and safe-ice days on lakes like Bantam and East Twin aren't guaranteed every year. Check current ice reports and thickness before any trip, follow the minimums in CT DEEP's ice fishing safety guidance and our own ice fishing safety guide, and never fish alone.
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