Frozen sucker/shiner

[Sherman]

I know this topic have been talked bout, but does any one use dead sucker and/or shiner on the ice? How will you use the bait and at what depth will you set? If it don't work out ill just keep it as cut bait for the kitties during spring time.

[chrishalvy]

Never hit walleyes on dead bait.

I'd like to know if anyone else does?

I toss all dead bait, or use it on the crappies.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

If we shouldn't target walleyes with dead bait, then why do guys use minnow heads or bodies when targeting eyes and pike?

[mplsplayer]

I caught a 30 inch pike on a dead but not yet frozen sucker on a quick strike rig. In North Dakota live suckers are against the law to use so everyone fishes dead bait on tip ups.

[Hoffer]

Depends on how you are fishing them and for what species?

Walleyes: Never say never but a whole dead sucker or shiner on a hook on a tipup or dead stick, or rattle reel...most likely wont catch an eye.

Of course, take a head off the minnow and stick it on a jig and actively jig for the eyes - you are going to get fish. Many walleye guys only fish this way.

Northerns: Absolutely any dead bait - the smellier the better. Norts are scavengers and will suck up anything. Sometimes I have heard guys say that dead bait out produced live bait some days for Norts. Norts will bite on dead bait under tipups, rattle reels, dead sticks and of course dead bait jigging.

This year in Canada in the Fall we had an afternoon where we went through 2 dozen or more norts on dead bait - just one after the other.

[Gordie]

Put that dead sucker on a tip up about 1-2 foot under the ice and wait for the flag to pop. I have done this for pike many times and have been very successful with it.

[hunter322]

@mplsplayer, WHAT? Are you kiding me? North dakota has some wierd laws when it comes to the outdoors. Ive also heard that if you have a perm ice house it has to float?

[pikerliker]

My son caught a 28 inch walleye on Devils Lake ND on a tip up with a full large frozen Smelt a couple years ago. It ran with the bait just like a pike until all the line was spooled out! Like it was said earlier, never say never.

[Sherman]

Thanks for all the reply guys. Will try it out and will know the results myself. Again like Hoffer said Never Say Never.

Or else when everything fails, this can be the second option.

Frozen Sucker