The Swedish Pimple by Bay De Noc Lure Co. 1/18/19

Lure of the Week
Posted 1/18/19

Welcome to Winter! I feel like I can finally say that with the incoming snow storm this weekend and the ice that has finally thickened enough for the real ice fishing to begin. What is bittersweet is …

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The Swedish Pimple by Bay De Noc Lure Co. 1/18/19

Posted

Welcome to Winter! I feel like I can finally say that with the incoming snow storm this weekend and the ice that has finally thickened enough for the real ice fishing to begin. What is bittersweet is that I will not be able to get out fishing this weekend, but I do hope all of you reading get a chance to hit the ice and start enjoying some of the awesome lures I’ve been mentioning here. As for this week’s lure, I chose a classic. The Swedish Pimple.

The Swedish Pimple made by Bay De Noc Lure Co. has been around for a long time, exactly when it was created I don’t know but have been trying to find out. The company was established in 1955 but all I can tell you is that the lure design is older than me for sure. It’s a very popular ice fishing lure considered by many to be a staple of the sport. Ask an old-timer angler of the ice and they will likely know of it. The Swedish pimple I picked up is a size 4 prism style in green. Swedish pimples come in sizes ranging from 2 to 14. The company is based out of Gladstone Michigan and prides their products as being “Made in the USA.” The Pimple is considered a spoon but is really a jig if you want to split hairs. The size 4 that I have is 2 inches in length not including the treble hook. It comes with a spare single hook, split ring and colored flipper to replace the ones on the lure. Gotta love that kind of courtesy in a lure company.

The prism style is indicative of an outward bevel on the opposite side of the jig that smoothly pronounces a triangular hump down the length of the body. On the smooth face, a foil holographic adhesive covers the length as well, catching and refracting light and adding another element of color to the dance of the jig. The tie on does not come with a split ring or snap-tie so I would suggest putting whichever you prefer onto the lure so as to tie a clean knot that is less prone to abrasions from the metal of the lure. It also insures a centered descent of the jig as you drop it, as opposed to having the knot tied to one side of the lures head and pulling from an angle once the weight of a fish begins to fight.

How does one fish the Swedish Pimple you ask? I’m so glad you asked! A very good technique that I’m aware of is a rapid jig. Basically if you drop your pimple to depth and bounce your knee with your rod hand resting on your knee. That ought to do the trick. What this is accomplishing is getting any local fishes attention and bringing them in. You want to use a silver pimple more often than not and get as much flash going as possible. If you are using a sonar device like a MarCum you just watch your lure work until something enters the viewfinder. Once you see a fish approaching, dead-stick your rod, which is to say, stop moving. Hold it still and let the now lifeless lure float still and vulnerable for the predator about to take it. As in many ice fishing lures, add some wax worm or meal worm to your hook, not much, maybe as long of a piece as your hook. If you don’t have sonar, then don’t worry, you can jig rapidly like that and pause every now and again for a 5-count before resuming. When you stop and when you pick up again be leery of a sudden strike.

So for anyone still confused, the Swedish pimple is not a kind of meatball, nor is a type of blemish. But when used correctly can be a great lure for catching winter bass and even trout, walleye, salmon, pike, perch, etc.

If you want to target panfish, ie: perch or crappie, I would suggest using a size 2. It will be less intrusive as the larger size 4 used for bass and other midsized predators. Another note I would add is that you can hang on to this lure for the summer time and use it to cast, drift or troll with. It’s fairly universal as more than just a jig, but as a jig, it really seems to work well.

You can pick one up in most tackle shops and even a superstore with a decent outdoor section. Try them out and see if you like one style over another for your particular pond or lake.

*If you have any luck with the lure of the week, feel free to email your pictures to events@riverreporter.com for an opportunity to share them on our website. If you have a favorite kind of lure we haven’t reviewed yet, feel free to send that lure to our office at PO box 150 Narrowsburg, NY 12764. We will add it to our weekly reviews and share the results. Check back each week on Fridays to see the new lure of the week!

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