When it comes to Tip-Ups.

[FLAG!!]

I am a blue glow demon (the big ones) junkie when it comes to pike. One weighted hook (the demon) with a larger split shot above about 2ft. This keeps the shiner from swimming away from the strike of the fish. 15ft of 10lb mono followed by the backing. The reason for the long length of leader is the stretch factor. It adds shock absorption while battling a fish. If you're fishing shallow then you are not after big pike. Set at 18-27ft this rig will catch pike left and right. The guy next to you using the braid/Quick Strike/heavy gear could go all day with only a flag or two. I would rather have ten flags than one.

Do I lose fish? Yes. A few over the years, but maybe the circle hook and a shiner are the way to go this year. It all comes down to the fact that I would rather see flags and take my chances or not see flags and have no chance at all.

HOTIME- when you're fishing 18-27' for bigger pike, how far off the bottom are you setting your lines?

[BassFisherman]

Yeah I knew that one haha. But I saw those different style hooks and stuff. Is that what u want? The actual jigs is what I've been using...

[Tom7227]

Steve,

I just tried to replicate your design and I am having trouble keeping the line twisted. I bought some AFW Surfstrand 1x7 60 lb test braided stainless steel leader. It just doesn't want to stay twisted. I even tried a pliers that I liberated from the Air Force that we used to use to safety wire parts on the C130 and while it twists it just fine the stuff wants to unwrap.

I suppose I have the wrong wire but nothing that I saw at the FF looked anywhere close to your picture.

What am I doing incorrectly?

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[servocam]

This has been a good thread for me Agronomist_at_IA as I am struggling as well with Tip-ups. I see the Pike on my UWC, but yet to get a strike - they ignore the bait on the tip-up that is ~20 ft away, but always come over to smile for the camera. I am using a braided line on one and a nylon line on the other (based on what others told me). I use the quick-strike rig as I was told this what I have to use due to MN law. I hook in the mouth and then behind the dorsal fin.

So....I went to read what MN DNR says: Anglers may use only one hook. An artificial lure is considered one hook. A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered three hooks and is not legal.

So from what I read above, I am going to:

• Add 5 feet of fluorocarbon leader
• Switch to the single circle hook, no blades or no bead (according to MN law, this is a single hook and is legal).
• I have tried live and dead; most say dead. I'm going to by some preserved smelt from GM. I hate buying the live bait to just use 2 of them.
• I usually in <10 FOW and set one 2 feet below the ice and the other a few feet deeper or 2-3 feet above any weeds. I'll stick with this method (maybe do the other 1/2 the column instead just above the weeds if deeper).

Question: best place to hook single hook?

[20lbSloughShark]

Well I'm a little late, but to answer your question, I say hook right at the dorsal fin. I like a balanced bait. You can also hook through the upper lip. You have to wait a while for the fish to take the bait then, and risk gut hooks. I always like size 3/0 hooks for medium or large suckers, but depending on the bait you use you might go smaller. Just remember, don't hook, just pull line in steadily.

[LPCrowRiverFisherman]

Anybody ever use dead creek chubs, I have some stored in the freezer and was wondering if they would work? If so, where in the water column do you think they would produce best?

[goosemafia]

i use dead smelt on LOTW and they work great we just lay the right on the bottom and the northerns scoop-em right up.

[OnAFly]

A buddy of mine swears by dead ciscoes. He puts them 1/2 way down and 1-2ft under the ice.

Smelt are great too if you can find them.

[motley man]

40# to 50# mono with spinner in white or flouro red and a medium treble with 5-6 inch sucker.

[ole matty]

Hey Steve thanks for the circle hook idea!!!!!! My catch % had soaring up to 99.99%!!!!! They do work REALLY good!!! Only lost ONE pike this year.