Targeting Northerns

[blackdog1101]

I plan to take Friday afternoon off of work and go fishing for northerns. One tip up, and me jigging nearby. I figure that easy the fish can choose between a still bait or an active bait. I usually put sucker minnows on the tip up. Should I stick with them, or try something else? I've got a few Lindy Darter jigs to try as well. Should I put a minnow head on them? Thanks!

[Jarrod32]

Sounds like a pretty standard setup. I would stick with the sucker chub under the tip up on a quick strike rig...another option might be to use some frozen smelt, but I prefer the sucker chubs.

The Lindy Darter is a good choice for jigging...I wouldn't tip it with anything. Other jigging options would be a large Jigging Rap or a spoon...my personal favorite is a Mepps Syclops.

[OnAFly]

I would do about the same thing you described. I've pulled them in with jigging raps before. You can also tie on a big rattlin' rap or clackin' rap and call them into your area.

[Mike Stark]

Pike love dead bait too.

[Whopper Stopper]

From here on in dead bait just gets better and better!

WS

[pathogen]

Your tipup choice sounds good to me. Personally, I would jig with something that has a lot of flash and vibration, and for me that would translate into a spoon of some sort with the head of a minnow for scent.

[Archerysniper]

My best spearing decoy this winter has been to jig a open water daredevil really hard and let it flutter down they have been nailing it,color choice and size is up to you but I have been using a 4" watermelon and hammed silver seems like the flashier the better which is normal for them. Only a few lakes have they preferred the dark colors like black and grey by far the old red and white or orange and yellow have performed better then the dark spoons.

[Eric_Kruger]

I picked up a few Pike killa lures for a decent price at the beginning of the season to try jigging for pike but I havent gotten around to actually trying them yet. I would guess as long as your jigging a bigger chunk of peat and making alot of vibration something should come take a swipe at it. Another great lure is the trout and pout spoon.

[randallt]

I like shiners better than suckers on tip-ups. I think you have a better chance at getting a large eye or bass with them than you do a sucker and I don't think it hurts your Northern chances at all.

[PurpleCatMan]

Where do you guys set up for pike? Near weed beds? On top of points and such?

[Archerysniper]

I have had better luck this winter on the the weedy shelfs or benches next to deep water breaks. Keep in mind this is for spearing so normally I'm 6 to 14 feet deep.

[Jarrod32]

I was going to say the same thing...find a weed edge next to a drop off to deeper water. Set your tip-ups right along the weed edge, and let the flags fly...

[goosemafia]

find the biggest suckers you can without tipping off the tip-up and you will have a great day

[ryanschultz]

i would perfer shinners over suckers for tip ups northerns love them and so do the walleyes