The key is ACTIVE FISH!!!!
Fish sometimes gorge all day long, but that is usually NOT the case in hard water season. Everything is alot slower, both bait and predator.
Being able to see the fish, whether it is ice sonar, viewing in shallow water, or camera, really helps.
When the fish are on, and aggressive, colour and presentation make a small difference, as long as what you are using and what you are after are compatible. 6 inch stocker rainbows will not hit a #12 Red Five of Diamonds, they might get snagged, but you get the point. A #6 red five of diamonds with a Meal Worm though...
Flash and lots of action can trigger a strike from an active fish, and there usually are some active fish even on a bad day. Or you have to wait until all the fish go active, like the first and last hour of daylight.
One of my favorites for Walleye, Pike and Ling is a big Wetaskiwin Wizard, with the double hooks spread out wide Hook a minnow horizontal with one hook in the head and one hook in the tail on one side of the blade.
Lift it up a couple of feet off bottom, and let it FLUTTER down to the bottom. If the line goes slack before hitting bottom remember to pull up quick as a fish has hit the Wizard on the drop.
If the fish are lock jawed, the flutter drop action really makes fish take notice.
If the fish are active, just slowly jig off the bottom.
Drewski
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