Best Ice Fishing Lures of 2019: Complete Reviews with Comparisons

Ice fishing may be cold, but it’s also a heck of a lot of fun, well, if you catch fish anyway! Of course, when it comes to catching fish, having the right lure makes a huge difference.

That’s what we want to help you with right here and now, to help you find some of the best ice fishing lures out on the market. We have got 10 great options for you to check out, so let’s get right to it!

Best Ice Fishing Lures Comparison Chart

Best Ice Fishing Lures: Reviews

Salmo Chubby Darter

This is a moderately priced ice fishing lure, one that closely resembles a moving bait fish. It’s colorful, reflective, and it should definitely get the attention of any nearby fish.

Product Highlights

The Salmo Chubby Darter is a 1.25 inch long lure, so it should work well for a number of different fish when ice fishing. To be clear, this particular lure is intended to catch prey such as pile, walleye, perch, crappie, and trout. In other words, it’s quite a versatile lure that can be used for a number of different ice fishing purposes, making it just that much more cost-effective.

The Salmo Chubby Darter has a coloration, which is a mix between silver, red, and orange. This means that it is a highly contrasting lure with bright accents, which should definitely allow fish to see it from a good distance. It’s also got a good deal of reflective properties too, so whatever little light penetrates the surface of the ice, it should be reflected by the Salmo Chubby Darter.

Moreover, the Salmo Chubby Darter is awesome for simple jigging, or in other words, moving the tip of your rod up and down. This thing will dart around like a little injured baitfish, and that’s always something that gets the attention of predators.

Keep in mind that the Salmo Chubby Darter has 2 really high-quality treble hooks attached to it, which should be enough to snag some pretty big fish. It’s also a high-quality metal lure that is solid and should last for a very long time to come.

The Good

The good part about the Salmo Chubby Darter is that it’s an all-around effective lure, one with high-quality components, it’s very easy to use, super reflective and contrasting, and it should work for a number of different fish species.

The Bad

One thing which we do not like about the Salmo Chubby Darter is that you cannot attach live bait, such as worms to it. Attaching live bait will actually take away from the action and the natural look of it, which is, of course, not ideal.

Pros

• Durable
• Affordable
• Bright and reflective
• Ideal for a number of species
• Double treble hooks

Cons

• Cannot be used with live bait
• Only for vertical fishing

Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure

When it comes to ice fishing lures, here we have another great one. It costs just a little more than the other one we just looked at, but it also has some really nice qualities that make it worth the cost. It’s a great lure for on the spot suspended fishing, like ice fishing.

Product Highlights

The Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure is a really cool option to go with because it comes in well over a dozen different color combinations. For one, you can get standard color lures, which all feature a combination of highly contrasting colors to attract fish from far and wide, plus they are also designed to be highly reflective.

You then also have a variety of glowing Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lures to go with, ones that glow in the dark, which is great when the lure is under the ice, as there’s not too much light down there. Either way, here you get an amazing selection of colorful, contrasting, and even glowing lures that should catch the eyes of fish everywhere.

Keep in mind that the Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure is a minnow lure, and fish love eating minnows. Whether pike, trout, perch, crappie, walleye, or anything else you are aiming to catch, this thing should definitely get the job done.

Something we do appreciate about the Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure is that the body is made out of balsa wood, which is very durable and should last for quite some time, although it’s not as durable as metal, that much is true.

The Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure is weighted down with some metal to ensure that it sinks way down into the water, instead of just floating on top, which is indeed quite important for ice fishing. It’s a good lure to have in a single spot, and simply jig it, or pull it up and down, which will then cause it to mimic a baitfish swimming in a concentrated area.

Something else which stands out here is that the Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure has double single hooks, one at the rear and one at the front, and the front hook is reversed for increased hooking power. Let’s not forget that the bottom of this lure also features a good treble hook.

The Good

There are many good aspects of the Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure, such as the fact that it is moderately priced and that it comes in so many different contrasting, reflective, and even glowing colors. It has pretty good action and mimics a real minnow really well, so that’s another bonus.

The Bad

Something which could be better about the Rapala Jigging Rap 07 Fishing Lure is that the balsa wood design of it does soak up some water with really prolonged use, and then if fish strike it, ones with big teeth, they make take some chips out of this thing.

Pros

• Many colors – some glowing
• Reflective and highly contrasting
• Double single hooks and a treble hook
• Mimics a minnow quite well
• Can be used for a variety of predator fish

Cons

• Wooden body may get damaged over time

Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait

Here we have quite the large 2.5 inch long crankbait, one that works well for open water fishing, and it has great casting distance, although it can also be used for ice fishing in the right circumstances. Keep in mind that the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is quite an expensive option to go with.

Product Highlights

Alright, so what we do need to note about the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is that it is not meant to be used as a stationary lure. This is a crankbait, which means that it needs to be retrieved to be effective at luring in fish, or in other words, it should be cast out and then reeled in, whether fast or slow. That being said, you could use it for ice fishing if there is a bit of a current in the water.

It doesn’t have to be a strong current, just as long as it carries this thing downstream a bit, so you can then reel it back in against the current. If you can manage this, then the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait does make for a great lure.

The Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait has a really loud BB rattler inside of it, which means that when you haul it back in against the current, it creates a loud rattling sound, and this also helps to create vibrations in the water. The combination of these effects does really help to lure in fish from far and wide.

What can also be said about the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is that it comes in about a dozen different color options, and they’re all super bright and have highly contrasting designs, so even under the ice with minimal light, fish should be able to see them very well.

Moreover, the selection of colors here is nice because it means you can choose the one which works best for the fish you are aiming to catch. The Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait does have a lipless design, so it does actually sink quite well, plus it is just fairly large and heavy too, which is ideal for ice fishing where you need the lure to sink.

Something else you might like about the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is that it comes with high-quality double treble hooks for double the fish catching power.

The Good

The good part about the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is that it creates vibrations and loud rattling noises, plus it’s super colorful and highly contrasting too. It’s definitely not a lure that other fish will miss. It’s also a fairly fast sinker, making it good for deep water ice fishing.

The Bad

The bad part about the Rapala Rippin' Rap Crankbait is that it is designed to be reeled in, as this is where most of the sound and vibration comes from, as well as the action, so it’s really not the best for calm ice fishing with no water movement.

Pros

• Bright and contrasting
• Many different color and size options
• Works well for larger predator fish
• Sound and vibration
• High-quality treble hooks

Cons

• Not great for stationary fishing
• Not ideal for smaller fish

Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon

Here we have yet another great lure, this one actually being specifically designed for ice fishing, which is thanks to various beneficial qualities which it has. It’s not the cheapest lure out there, but also not the most expensive either, and we do think that it gets the job done just fine.

Product Highlights

The Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon, for one, is a very colorful lure. It features super bright reds, greens, and yellows to ensure that fish can see it from far and wide. More than that, it’s also very metallic and reflective, so whatever little light penetrates through the ice, at least it is reflected by this lure. It’s definitely one of the more visible lures out there, but we would like to see it come in more than just this one single color scheme.

The Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is a pretty heavy lure, which is good for ice fishing, because it will sink down to the bottom relatively quickly, so you can then tug on your ice fishing rod, moving it up and down, to make this little bait fish lure move around, to resemble a real fish moving up and down in the water column. It is a spoon, so when it moves, there should be plenty of back and forth action to attract fish.

One of the best features of the Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is that it is a rattling spoon, which means that it has some BBs on the inside. This creates a fairly loud rattling sound, which then also creates some water vibration. This is something that definitely helps lure in fish from far and wide, because not only is it visible, but it’s loud too.

The Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is a very durable metal lure with strong connection points, another bonus indeed, plus it also has a good single treble hook located at the rear, which should be more than enough to hook fish.

The Good

What we like about the Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is that it is a highly visible and attractive lure in every way. It vibrates, it rattles, it is bright, contrasting, and reflects light too. It’s the perfect ice fishing lure for jigging, and it can be used for a wide variety of predator fish too.

The Bad

One thing which we do not like about the Northland BRS3-93 Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon is that it only comes in a single color scheme, which is not the best, but other than that, we really do not see anything wrong with it.

Pros

• Rattles and vibrates
• Bright, colorful, reflective, and contrasting
• Great action and movement
• Ideal for ice fishing, especially if you need a sinking lure
• Works for many different kinds of fish

Cons

• Only comes in a single color
• Paint may wear off with prolonged use

Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure

Here we have what is a fairly expensive ice fishing lure, for what it is anyway. Now, it may not look like anything particularly special or colorful, but it does actually work quite well to catch a variety of fish, which is, of course, the aim of the game.

Product Highlights

The Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is a glow chartreuse tiger, which for one, means that it does glow in the dark. Now, what needs to be said here is that the Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is blue and black, so no, it’s not particularly colorful, bright, or highly contrasting, which can be a problem.

However, of course, the saving grace here is that this thing does glow when there is not much ambient light, so it should actually be visible from pretty far away, although we would like to see it come in more than just this one color combination.

The Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is a 1.25 inch lure, so it should be fine for most predatory fish, whether small or large, and it’s nice when you can use a single lure for many different kinds of fish. Catching walleye, crappie, perch, trout, and bass are all fish that love to go for this lure. The durable body of the Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is a benefit indeed because there are some big fish below the ice that will definitely try their best to damage it.

What is also nice about the Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is that it comes with a fairly long chain to which the single point hook is attached, thus providing a bit of space between the lure and the hook. This can be good and bad, because fish may see the chain and be scared off by it, but it’s not too highly visible, so it’s not horrible.

We do like how you can attach a worm or grub to the extended hook, thus acting like a double bait or double lure. However, on the other hand, the hook itself is not the best at hooking large fish that may rip away from it.

The Good

The good part about the Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is, of course, that it glows in the dark, making it quite visible, plus you can also attach some live bait to it for an extra kick. It’s a nice sinking lure that is perfect for ice fishing for a variety of predator fish.

The Bad

The bad part about the Nils Master HAL25-AYF Hali25 Lure is the hook itself, which is only a single-pointed small hook, and yes, it might have trouble hooking some larger and more boisterous fish, plus the chain it is attached to may break or even scare fish away.

Pros

• Durable body
• Glows in the dark
• Good for shallow and deep water
• Attracts a variety of fish
• Can attach live bait to it

Cons

• Some issues with the extended hook and chain

Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure 

Here we have a very large, fairly expensive, and very shiny lure intended for both vertical and horizontal presentations, and yes, it does excel at ice fishing, especially when it gets near the water bed. Personally, we think that the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is one of the best options out there at this time.

Product Highlights

The Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure, as you can tell by the name, is almost 3 inches long, so it is a very big lure and not ideal for small fish. It might actually scare small fish away, but that said, pike, largemouth bass, and other such fish will definitely be attracted to what looks like a tasty meal. It’s a great option to go with for large predator fish.

Moreover, the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is very shiny, as is also implied by the name of it. It’s very reflective and has the ability to reflect even the smallest amounts of light. Next, it does come in a few different colors, although nothing too bright, mostly different shades of silver and gold, although there are a couple of blue ones too. We would like to see some more color and contrast here, although being so reflective should make up for it.

Keep in mind that the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is also a rattler, as it has interior components designed to make a lot of noise, which then also creates water vibration, both awesome features for luring in predator fish.

Something else to note here is that the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is specially balanced to sit upright when it’s not moving, especially when on the bottom, at the water bed, which is good for some situations, although it might look slightly unnatural.

The Good

The good part about the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is that it can be used for horizontal fishing applications, such as simple cast and retrieve, but it also excels at vertical applications, such as jigging and ice fishing. It’s bright, it rattles, and it’s super durable too. The dual treble hooks aren’t too shabby either!

The Bad

What we don’t like about the Live Target 2 7/8 inch Golden Shiner Lure is that it doesn’t come in many highly contrasting colors, plus it only comes in a very large size, so it’s only ideal for certain large predator fish.

Pros

• Super durable
• Very reflective
• Makes sound and vibration
• For vertical and horizontal applications
• Sinks pretty fast

Cons

• Not many bright color options
• Only for big fish

acme Kastmaster Lure

Here we have a very affordable ice fishing lure, one that can also be used for non-ice fishing purposes. It’s a really durable lure, one that is highly reflective, and comes in a lot of color options too. It might look really simple, but actually works very well for a variety of predator fish.

Product Highlights

The acme Kastmaster Lure is essentially a spoon, and it does a great job of attracting the attention of nearby fish. To start, the acme Kastmaster Lure comes in many different color options with greens, golds, silvers, reds, yellows, blues, and so much more. This is ideal because different predator fish prefer different snacks, so you can match the color to the fish you are aiming to catch.

Next, all acme Kastmaster Lures are made to be super reflective, so what little light penetrates the ice will be reflected by this thing, and even better, this reflective quality is increase because it is a spoon, so it spins and moves around in the water, thus catching as much light as possible.

What does really stand out about the acme Kastmaster Lure is that it is made out of solid brass, so it won’t break, bend, corrode, or suffer from bite marks very easily. Actually, everything about this lure, including connection points, is made to last a very long time, which also goes for the high-quality treble hook, a triple pointed hook which should have no problems snagging fish.

Something we do want to note here is that this acme Kastmaster Lure is not very heavy, and it doesn’t sink too well, so it won’t hit the water bed anytime soon, but it does work well for topwater and middle column fishing. Keep in mind that this acme Kastmaster Lure is designed for smaller fish, but might not be best for the big boys.

The Good

The good part about the acme Kastmaster Lure is that it’s a very affordable lure that still manages to bring a high level of quality and durability to the table. It might not be big, but it’s still quite effective, especially because it’s so bright and highly reflective.

The Bad

Something which many people are not going to like about the acme Kastmaster Lure, besides the fact that it is only ideal for smaller fish, is that it does not sink very well, which can definitely be quite a problem when it comes to ice fishing.

Pros

• Very durable
• Many color options
• Super reflective
• Lots of motion
• affordable

Cons

• does not sink much
• only for catching smaller fish

Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure

When it comes to the best ice fishing lures out there, the Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is definitely one of the prime choices you could go with. It works for many different types of fish; it’s a sinker, it’s got awesome hooks, it’s shiny and bright, and quite affordable too!

Product Highlights

The Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is a 2 inch lure, so it works well for most kinds of fish, maybe except for the smallest ones, but this is a good size for ice fishing, especially for bass, walleye, trout, and carp.

What is important to note here is that the Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is weighted to sink down to the bottom pretty quickly, and it’s weighted so that it sits evenly in the water to resemble a real live bait fish, and it even bounces on the water bed when necessary. It might just be one of the very best lures out there for ice fishing, especially for vertical jigging.

Something else which stands out about the Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is that it comes in a few different bright and contrasting color combinations, including pink, blue, yellow, red, orange, and several others.

The high level of brightness and contrast is indeed important when it comes to ice fishing. Moreover, these things all have a very metallic and reflective coating, so not only are they contrasting and bright, but they also do a fine job at reflecting light to ensure that they can be seen from as far as possible.

In terms of the hooks, here you get dual super sharp treble hooks, which means that you should have no problems hooking fish and keeping them on the line until you manage to reel them in.

The Good

What we really like about the Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is that it sinks fast, it is weighted to look realistic and be well balanced, and it makes for a rather perfect ice fishing jigging lure. It’s bright, reflective, and has some killer hooks on it too.

The Bad

What we really don’t like about the Dynamic Lures HD Ice Fishing Lure is that it’s just not very durable. The body is made out of plastic, albeit fairly durable plastic, but it really doesn’t stand up against metal or wooden lures in terms of durability, not even close.

Pros

• sinks fast
• great for vertical jigging
• well balanced
• bright, colorful, reflective, contrasting
• super sharp dual treble hooks

Cons

• not very durable

Northland Forage Minnow Spoon

Here we have another fairly affordable ice fishing lure for you to keep in mind, and although it’s not super pricey, it is very durable, it’s made to lure in all sorts of fish, and it’s a super bright and reflective baitfish that mimics an injured minnow, just what a predator fish loves to see.

Product Highlights

If you are looking for a good ice fishing lure that is ideal for crappie, perch, panfish, walleye, trout, bass, and more, a very versatile lure, then this Northland Forage Minnow Spoon is a fine option to keep in mind. It comes in various sizes, so you can match the size of the lure to the type of fish you want to go for.

Moreover, it also comes in various weights, which means that you can get one which sinks really fast, or one which does not. Once again, here you can match the weight of the lure to the exact type of ice fishing you want to do and the fish you are aiming to catch. Personally, we would recommend a slightly larger and heavier one, as sinking lures are usually best for ice fishing, ones that will go deep down, so you can easily jig them and slowly bounce them towards the surface.

The Northland Forage Minnow Spoon comes in a variety of color combinations, which is also a bonus because different colors work best for different fish and situations. All of the color combinations are super bright and highly contrasting, plus this thing is made to be super reflective, too, so it should easily catch any amount of light and be seen from quite a distance.

The Northland Forage Minnow Spoon is meant to mimic an injured minnow, and it produces a lot of action, something else which should go a long way in luring in those big fish. The treble hook on the rear of it is more than good enough to hook some big fish and keep them there until you can lure them in. The durable metal body and connection points on the Northland Forage Minnow Spoon are quite nice too.

The Good

The good part about the Northland Forage Minnow Spoon is that you get an all-around great ice fishing lure for a pretty low price. It’s durable; it’s colorful and bright, it reflects light, it mimics an injured minnow, can be used for various predator fish, and more. It’s just a great little lure to go with.

The Bad

One of the only downsides with this Northland Forage Minnow Spoon is that the paint seems to wear off pretty fast, which means that it’s not the longest-lasting lure in that sense.

Pros

• Durable body and connections
• Good treble hook
• Bright, colorful, contrasting, and reflective
• Various color combos and sizes
• Fairly affordable

Cons

• Paint tends to wear off pretty fast

Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig

This may be the final option on our list today, but still a very good one nonetheless. Now, the Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig is a bit expensive, especially when compared to some of the other options here today, but it is also a very good one, to say the least.

Product Highlights

The Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig does come in a variety of color combinations, 9 to be exact, and they are all intended to resemble a different baitfish. Now, in terms of colors, there are some really bright ones included here, as well as some duller ones.

There are ones which are highly contrasting, as well as ones that are not. Moreover, when it comes to reflectivity, some of these Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig are really reflective, while others are quite dull. This can all be good or bad depending on the situation and what you are fishing for, so choose wisely.

What is really good about the Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig is that it flutters as it sinks, and it does sink at a decent rate, making it good for ice fishing, and it does attract a good deal of attention.

Moreover, when you bounce and jig it, as well as slowly reel it in, it produces a heck of a lot of action, and it definitely resembles an injured baitfish, or in other words, it looks like an easy and tasty snack for any nearby fish. It constantly vibrates and flutters no matter what, and that’s a big deal.

Something that stands out about the Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig is that it has a really strong center tie point, so it creates a good balance in the water. Moreover, this thing does come with pretty solid dual treble hooks, one in the front and one in the rear for double the fish hooking power.

The Good

The good part about the Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig is that it creates a heck of a lot of movement no matter what, it can be used for several types of fishing, and it will lure in many types of fish. It’s just an all-around good ice fishing lure.

The Bad

Something which we do not really like about the Sebril Vibrato Hard Metal Jig is that it could be a bit more durable. The body and connection points are a bit weak, especially for the relatively high price which this lure comes in at.

Pros

• Many different color combinations
• Lots of movement and vibration
• Dual treble hooks
• Good balance
• Ideal for many fishing types

Cons

• Not the most durable option out there