Tip up bait combos for walleye?

[south_metro_fish]

If you are fishing with some friends and using multiple tip ups what are some different presentations that you like to use for walleyes?

[jwmiller33]

put a shiner minnow on a plane red hook and put it a foot or two off bottom

[engfish]

JB Lures Gem-n-Eyes with a fathead has been a consistent producer for us when fishing SD. Northland Tackle makes a jig with a similar design called the Eye Dropper jig. The red glow and pink glow have been two of my favorites for tip ups. My brother-in-law swears by red hooks, and I've always liked colored hooks--orange, pink, or glow white with a plain split shot. The nice thing about SD is you can fish four lines, so you get to try a lot of different set-ups.

What kind of line are you using on your tip-ups? That's a whole new discussion.

[thedeadsea]

Make sure you have lighter line as a leader.

A plain hook through the tail as one mainstay. Have also found that eyes like deadsticked minnows "butt" hooked (through the butt up and out the back) with a Northland eye dropper jig. As the minnow swims, the flat part of the jig creates a flash to bring in fish.

I keep my baits within 6 inches of the bottom. In the case of the plain hook, drop the splitshot to the bottom then use your flasher to get the line up enough so the minnow is just above the bottom.

Unlike fishing for pike or trout, you need to constantly monitor tip ups set for eyes. I also will set the T-bar so the flag is almost off the side of it, so the slightest movement will trip it.

[Zoob]

I've had really good luck with dropping a tail (lives longer) or dorsal hooked fathead only a couple inches off the bottom. No splitshot, just the vertical jig single-barb hook - glo-brite yellow with a red stripe.

[panfishpounder00]

a GOOD swivel attached to the main tip-up line is a must. i use a small egg sinker above the swivel to help get the shiner down. i also use 8 lb berkley vanish as a leader, i set this rig up like a quik-set rig, except i DO NOT use a treble hook, instead i use a size 6 or 8 mustad bait holder hook, i dont know if the spinner on the leader helps in attracting fish or not really, but i figure a little more flash wouldnt hurt.

[fishinfey8]

Like JW said, shiner with a colored hook. I like to use a little bigger hooks on my tip ups...I would use some strong braid "tip-up" line then tie on a 7ft. 8-12lb mono leader. Mono leader is key, flourocarbon works well too...1ft. off bottom - I find that the fish will see the bait, but the ones that come up a foot are usually the ones that commit and hit it.

[Ed Carlson]

For the majority of my tip up fishing I prefer to use the Frabill Pro-Thermal tip-ups, just more user friendly in all conditions. My main line is #30 Frabill Suffix braid down to my leader option.

A bass style bullet weight just above a quality swivel, bellow a 10 lb fluorocarbon leader ranging from 20" to 30" rigged to a #2, #4, or #6 circle hook tipped with a minnow or a chub.

Clear water I run the bait higher, as high as 3 feet, stained water I rig closer to the bottom to just tickling the bottom at rest.

I feel the bullet style weight causes less snags on the ice when getting the rigging and the fish in the hole, as most fish are lost at the hole you do not want any slack at that time. The Gremlin BullShot slotted bullet weights do well for this application, as you do not need to cut the line to adjust weight for different size live baits.

In more cooperative weather conditions I prefer to use a H-T Windless Tip-Up for walleye, the ones that can be rigged to jig with the wind.

Then I use the same rigging or a Lindy flyer style jig with no added weight but a swivel above the 20" fluorocarbon leader. I add clamp on set of spring jingle bells to the flag...when I get a hit....Jingle-Jingle...the bells go off.

I also use a brand called the Hook-Set Tip up, a nifty..nifty tip-up rig, has 3 settings to set the hook on the fish at the strike. Light set, medium set...and a Jack-um-up good set. Actually 4 settings, as you can use it without the aid of the hook-set feature just as well...so..yup..it's 4 settings total.

I feel this is the most conservation minded tip-up on the market today, because I have not once got a gut hooked fish on them. I often fish catch and release so I am concerned about unwanted mortality thus I like this system a lot.

Some states and/or provinces (Minnesota and Ontario) classify them as a "Spring loaded device" and view them as an illegal device...darn silly if you ask me, as they lessen mortality and should be encouraged not discouraged. Very high percentage tip-up rigs, they very seldom miss. Personally I can see any difference in this system over a down-rigger release and a rod under load...do you..and they are legal all over..preaty darn silly.

[thedeadsea]

I find that the fish will see the bait, but the ones that come up a foot are usually the ones that commit and hit it.

Thats a good tip!