getting my perch on

Hi Folks, Been guiding the hard water the last few days.  Lots of ice out there now with over 18" where we fished yesterday afternoon.  Decent snow pack on the ice and snow shoes are not a bad bet.  Pretty mild on the ice the last few days but a steady west wind makes thing a bit more chilly.  Not much luck catching game fish as we have been pursuing northern pike on one lake and trout on another.  However, the pan fish have been fairly cooperative.  Chumming chopped on live bait seems to be very effective in keeping schools of perch and smelt in close proximity to our holes.  I have noticed with the yellow perch that small minnows are producing bigger fish and maggots mainly get interest from the little dinky perch.  Also, brightly colored lures and glow in the dark lures have been the ticket.  Hali jigs in fire tiger, chartreuse, and orange have all been effective.  For the smelt anything in silver/ gold/bronze complimented with green or blue have been consistent.  Tip up fishing for me has been slow, but then again ice fishing is all about patience.  We did get broken off yesterday jig fishing by a pike.  Will be guiding this weekend and not sure what direction I will be heading.  Stay and warm and have, Willy