2.5", size 6 heavy jig hook
The Ice Perch is really just a spin off ubiquitous zonker pattern. What they lack in complexity, they make up for in effectiveness. The slim profile easily matches small perch, chubs, suckers, dace, shiners, whitefish, and trout fry. Fishing a heavy fly on a jig hook allows the angler to get their fly in the zone without snagging as often, which is a huge key to tricking a big trout. They have a flowing, diving action when retrieved on a jerky strip. Fish love to hit them on a dead fall as they sink.
New for 2023, the Extra Heavy Ice Perch follows the same design but incorporates the same gigantic tungsten bead used on my Impossible Meat. They sink about twice the rate of normal ice perch and will allow you to reach fish in very deep water or heavy current. Please be extremely careful casting these flies- they are heavy enough to cause serious injury to yourself and others.
