Deadbaits with Tip-ups

[FLAG!!]

Haven't seen this topic on any recent posts.. curious how many of you primarily use deadbaits on tip-ups for pike? Tried a few different times last year at various depths and never even got a flag.

I typically chase walleyes but my 10 yr old nephew loves tip-up fishing on the local south metro lakes. Have had way better luck with shiners/suckers than deads.

What's the secret?

[Mike Stark]

A lot of folks say that dead bait will out fish live bait by quite a bit. I usually use dead bait for pike. Pike can be lazy in the winter and don't always want to chase a bait around. A trick i saw in an in-fisherman article is to put a small crappie minnow on the hook with the dead bait. the minnow puts out a little flash and movement to bring the fish in. i havent tried it but it seems like a good idea. I have had really good days using live light northerns too. Dead bait is just so much easier to deal with, especially when heading into the BWCA.

[uptracker]

Quick strike rigs and smelt!!!

[walleye 4 me]

smelt is all we us in ND.

[FLAG!!]

The crappie minnow idea makes a lot of sense (on paper at least haha). Can't wait to try it and I agree 100%, deads are so much more convenient and cost effective too. Come to think of it, could fund a portion of the beer/cigar purchase if I didn't have to spend (waste) $5-10 on shiners/suckers.

Mind if I asked where you're setting the bait? I've heard some guys swear dead bait belongs within 6" of the bottom, others say 1 foot below the ice. Tried both last year with zero luck.

Also do u buy smelt in bulk and if so, where?

Thanks again for the feedback.

[TProGuy]

Almost never use live bait for pike on the tip-ups. Most of the time it is smelt, but I will also use dead suckers or shiners. From my experience anyways, I have the best luck using dead bait on a wind-operated jigging style tip up that is set to catch just enough wind to have the bait move no more than 4-5" when it jigs. I have caught fish on a standard tip-up without movement, but nowhere near as many as I do the other way.

[Mike Stark]

Mind if I asked where you're setting the bait? I've heard some guys swear dead bait belongs within 6" of the bottom, others say 1 foot below the ice. Tried both last year with zero luck.

Keeping trying both of those locations. Dead bait will float up to right below the ice. Pike will cruise below the ice looking for easy meals. Same goes for along the bottom. My best day of pike fishing yet to date happened in about a foot and half of water in green weeds. So many big pike were up in the shallows to feed. I was setting the dead cisco RIGHT under the ice.

You might want to try a new location. Find the weeds and you will usually find the pike.

This was the big fish of the afternoon. A fat fish that was at least 40in.

[FLAG!!]

Nice one! Will continue experimenting... Hopefully as soon as next wknd

[Deershooter]

Make sure you check the new regs on using smelt at bait in MN. They just changed the law this year that they have to be preserved to use them as bait.

[Jim Uran]

I think it varies lake to lake, I've tried dead bait on several lakes in my location. Some of theme prefer dead but most take a shiner or a sucker first! If dead bait isn't producing like the live ones are, use live bait.

Ive caught my biggest Pike on a great big lively sucker though up on LOW, 42.5"

[deadeye]

I love to use a frozen cisco on the tip ups. It has been much nicer to use than live bait (it doesn't die) and like others said it really does produce well. My success rate definitely went up when I switched to it. Haven't used smelt in the winter for pike yet but Im sure it would work great. The ciscos seem to work very well so I guess I never bothered to try smelt.

[dmichaelm]

Not to hijack the thread here, I think the question is related.

What did people find they liked best/used most after the smelt regs changed last year?

I had some frozen imported dead bait from vados that landed me a great fish. However it was real big. I like something with less bulk to it and wonder what people found that they had success on.

If you can include where you picked it up that would help as well.

[Mike Stark]

Not to hijack the thread here, I think the question is related.

What did people find they liked best/used most after the smelt regs changed last year?

I had some frozen imported dead bait from vados that landed me a great fish. However it was real big. I like something with less bulk to it and wonder what people found that they had success on.

If you can include where you picked it up that would help as well.

That fish in the picture above was caught on a treated cisco that had been hydrated.