Tipup assistance

[TiNK3R]

Being really bored and nothing better to do than redo all of my jigs and tipups I was remembering my lack of success (only 1 flag the entire season) so I figured I would post a picture of my tipup in hopes that I'm doing something horribly wrong and I can fix it =)

These setups are for pike... although I might change one over to a walleye setup.

Typical tipup line (black braided) : 24" leader : pimple - I usually put a 3-5" sucker on.

Hope someone can point something out! Thank you!

[ddsbyday]

Set up is ok. I would swap out the pimple for a spit shot and a plain hook and minnow. The pimple is a jigging spoon and too heavy for a dead stick. Put it on your jigging rod with a minnow head and have at it.

[TiNK3R]

yeah the only other setup I used is a plain hook. Does the leader get in the way/scare the fish off?

I will definitely give the pimple a go like you suggested, thanks a ton!

[Random guy]

I would swap out the pimple for a spit shot and a plain hook and minnow.

Good advice. Also if you are fishing pike in clear water take a look at florucarbon leaders, they vanish in the water and resit the kinks n coils.

[TiNK3R]

Wont they just bite through it like butter?

[Random guy]

I use 60-80 lb floro leaders for pike and musky all year long and have never had a bite off, infact they use floro for catching swordfish, baracuda and even sharks. Floro is wicked tough.

Another item you can look at is a premade quickstrike rig for your pike set up. Take a look at Big Tooth Tackle for some neat ideas on an old standard for quick strike rigs.

[epkirkman]

I am not a big fan of suckers. I don't seem to do well with them unless I rip their heads off and jig with them.

[TiNK3R]

Great advice; I will look into getting some of that! Thanks a ton Jonny!

I'll use suckers if the shiners are not available... it was hit or miss last year.

[Random guy]

I am not a big fan of suckers. I don't seem to do well with them unless I rip their heads off and jig with them.

Thats cuz your from Eyeowa!

Love the suckers, I treat em like pets until its time.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

I would also strongly recommend looking into a quick strike rig.. I just started using them a few days ago and so far have caught a nice bass and 2 pike with a 100% hookup ratio.. If you dont know what im talking about do a google search on them and you will see plenty of them. they work great with sucker(which is what i have been using) and shiners. For walleyes I would do as other have said attach a floro leader and a plain hood with a splitshot.

Good Luck this season!

[gritsnham]

All kinds of jigs and hooks work good under tip-ups. I like to try smaller glow and different color jigs. For plain hooks one of my new favs is circle hooks which have increased my hook ups and makes unhooking fish alot easier. Take some getting used to but seem better once you get the method down. Just experiment with different things and see what works on different waters

[kpd3301]

Try using fireline crystal leader. Very durable I did not have one bite off last winter and the fish do not see it. I had many more flags using this compared to past experience.

[MN Greenheads]

1. Use a quick strike rig or single treble hook with bead and blade to make it legal. 2. The most important thing is to make sure your rig is above the weeds instead of in them or only slightly above them. Good luck.

[Quetico]

I've considered using fireline on tip-ups in the past. My issue is that I hate dealing with memory on my tip-up lines. For my tip-ups I want a with no memory.

[herefish101]

I love the circle hooks from gamakatsu, i used them all last year and did not miss one fish. these hooks seem to turn rite into the corner of the mouth. because of that i dont even use a leader or snell, just tie it right on. they are awsome...........

[hhguide]

Like others have said I would look at a floro leader with a plain hook or colored hook. It seemes to work well. I would also think about maybe using a smaller minnow walleyes and northerns dont always want the biggest!

[DoubleB]

I just got into using tip-ups regularly last year and I keep getting my minnows stolen regardless of how easy I set the flag to trip, any suggestions?

[DoubleB]

I should mention that I am usually fishing for walleyes when I set them out and using a #4 or #6 plain hook. Thanks.

[Quetico]

Give them more time.

[fishwater]

I just got into using tip-ups regularly last year and I keep getting my minnows stolen regardless of how easy I set the flag to trip, any suggestions?

You not getting tripped flags and loosing your minnows? How are you hooking the minnows?

[snoozebutton]

Or maybe a smaller hook and smaller minnow, maybe a lighter sinker. Might be perch doing it, they're notorious for that.

[DoubleB]

I usually fish fatheads hooked through the back beneath the dorsal fin. My flags usually don't trip and on the rare occasion that they do, when I feel for the fish there's nobody home. I fish a medium spiltshot 12" or so up from the hook and the line is run thru the wire guide that is attached to the spool. I put mono backing on the spool, then Dacron line, then a lighter mono leader so they are close to full and spin nice and esy. Thanks.

[Hoffer]

Couple comments...

for Pike I totally agree with Johnny P. I have read his posts for awhile and switched to flurocrabon leaders for Pike. I have had only one time where I was biyt off -and that was my fault cause I had noticed a nice weak spot in the line after landing one fish - but I got lazy and didnt change out the leader - but they usually dont bite off and they lats a long time. i put a few red beads above the hook - and that seems to help too. For eyes - I agree with the above posters - I like the smaller colored hooks that daiichi makes...they come in packs with all the colors, red, lime green, orange and glow...those are awesome hooks and catch anything they touch. I also mark my depth with a small split shot. Place the split shot right by the metal clip type holder below the spool. That way you know each time where your depth is and they are easy to move up and down to change the depth of your bait - just pinch the split shot - move it and then pinch it back - and I also think it helps the fish to not feel any kind of resistance..after it trips the flag - the sinker will start to slowly fall with the line and the fish doesnt feel anything.