Best Ice Fishing Attractants of 2026
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Ice fishing attractants are a popular addition to any angler's arsenal. These products are designed to enhance the scent and flavor of your bait, enticing fish to bite. Attractants come in a variety of forms, including liquids, gels, and powders, and can be applied directly to your bait or added to the water around your fishing hole. Many attractants are made with natural ingredients, such as fish oils and extracts, and are safe for use in the environment. Whether you're targeting panfish, walleye, or trout, adding an attractant to your bait can make all the difference in your catch rate.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 7 Ice Fishing Attractants
Pro-Cure Mr. Icehole Trophy Walleye Ice Gel
The Pro-Cure Icehole Gel is made using only genuine bait, giving you a natural scent and texture that fish find irresistible. Its unique formula keeps the gel from freezing, so you can use it even in cold weather without any hassle. Enhanced with UV Flash, this gel becomes more visible underwater, attracting fish more effectively. Plus, it contains powerful bite stimulants designed to encourage fish to bite, increasing your chances of a successful catch. With Pro-Cure Icehole Gel, you get a reliable and effective fishing attractant that helps you fish more efficiently in various conditions.
Pro-Cure Mr. Icehole Panfish Perch Ice Gel
Pro-Cure Ice Gel is a top-quality fishing attractant designed to enhance your ice fishing experience. Made from 100 percent real bait, this gel is packed with powerful bite stimulants that are sure to trigger bites. The special formula of the gel ensures that it won't freeze up, allowing you to easily apply it to your fishing gear even in extremely cold temperatures. Additionally, the gel is enhanced with UV Flash, which increases its visibility underwater and attracts fish towards your bait. With Pro-Cure Ice Gel, you can attract more panfish perch and increase your chances of a successful ice fishing trip.
Pro-Cure Mr. Icehole Musky Pike Ice Gel
The Pro-Cure Icehole Ice Gel is crafted using only real bait, giving you an authentic scent and taste that fish find irresistible. Its unique formula is designed to stay soft and won't freeze, so you can easily apply it even in cold conditions. Enhanced with UV Flash, this gel is more visible underwater, attracting fish more effectively. Plus, it contains strong bite stimulants that encourage fish to strike, increasing your chances of a successful catch. If you want a reliable attractant that works well in freezing temperatures and grabs the attention of musky and pike, this gel is a smart choice.
Generic Ice Fishing Bombs
The Generic Ice Fishing Bombs make attracting fish to your ice fishing spot much easier. You simply drop one into your fishing hole, and it starts releasing a special attractant that draws baitfish and panfish closer. This means less waiting and more action right where you are. The formula is designed to work well in cold water, spreading a scent trail that pulls fish from a wide area, increasing your chances of a good catch. Each pack comes with four bombs, so you can use them multiple times or cover several holes during your fishing trip, giving you more flexibility and opportunities to catch fish.
Berkley Power Bait Crappie Nibbles
Berkley Crappie Nibbles offer an enticing flavor and aroma that effectively lure crappies and pinfish to your line. With the unique ability to keep fish hooked up to 18 times longer, you’ll enjoy a more productive fishing experience. The formula dissolves gradually in the water, creating a tantalizing scent cloud that attracts fish from a distance. Additionally, the sparkle feature mimics the shimmer of real fish scales, enhancing its appeal even further. This combination of qualities makes these nibbles a must-have for any fishing enthusiast looking to increase their catch.
LUNKERHUNT May Bug Fishing Bait Jar
The LUNKERHUNT May Bug Bait is designed to attract fish effectively with its unique, specially formulated scent that entices bass, trout, and pike to bite. Unlike live bait, these baits won't dry out in the sun, so you can keep them ready to use for longer periods without losing their effectiveness. The scent infusion means you get better results than with traditional live bait, making your fishing trips more successful. Plus, these baits maintain their performance both in and out of water, giving you a reliable option no matter where you fish.
Bait-Pop Live Sonar Intensifier Scented Sparklscales
The Bait-Pop Sparklscales is a fishing attractant designed to enhance your fishing experience. This product comes in a convenient .5oz tube, making it easy to carry and apply when you’re out on the water. The scented formula is created to intensify the sonar signals, helping to draw fish closer to your bait. With its unique sparkly scales, it adds an extra visual appeal that can trigger more bites. Whether you’re fishing in fresh or saltwater, this attractant can improve your chances of a successful catch by stimulating fish senses effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best bait to use ice fishing?
For ice fishing live bait, try wax worms (bee moth larva), maggots, spikes (fly larvae), wigglers (mayfly larvae) or minnows. You can drop your bait and leave it alone, or you can slowly jig to attract the fish. Ice fishing jigging also works with artificial ice fishing bait.
2. Does WD 40 work as fish attractant?
Others say it covers the human scent (it might, but this seems unlikely to make a big difference). WD-40 addresses the myth on its website, saying: “While WD-40 can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion, WD-40 Company does not recommend using it to attract fish.”
3. What is the best scent to attract fish?
This gives you an advantage of being able to get a good hook set and catching the fish. Three scents that appear to be positive scents are salt, anise, and garlic.
During our ice fishing attractant research, we found 24 ice fishing attractant products and shortlisted 7 quality products. We collected and analyzed 32,493 customer reviews through our big data system to write the ice fishing attractants list. We found that most customers choose ice fishing attractants with an average price of $13.20.
The ice fishing attractants are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of ice fishing attractants, including Pro-Cure, Berkley, Lunkerhunt, Bait-Pop. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Paul Tilton is a fitness enthusiast. He doesn't like to work in front of a computer screen so he quit his job and runs a gym in Washington. He spent a lot of time on the road and has been a contributing writer for a well-known travel guide website. He is now happy to share his travel experience and professional knowledge of travel gear and fitness here.