Northern Pike - Setting up ice fishing Tip Up's

[TomWehler]

Well, I simply switch them up.

We, Bonnie & I, most times set four.

Take the dogs along and check baits every 20 minutes.

Adjust baits or move them to different pre-drilled holes too if nothing seems to be happening.

Your going deep and shallow while out alone, just swicth them up every once in a while, see what happens.

Cool thing on a point is to set one in a good looking feeding area about three feet off the bottom in 8' to 15'.

Then set the one you have deeper at the same depth just off the deep side of the point in 15' to 22' or so and then move it around the point in a half moon or "C" type pattern.

This holds baits at same depth.

BIG fish sometimes just move off the food shelf and stay at the same level to rest after a missed attack or on their way to another feeding area.

They see a struggling minnow that is oddly out of place, above, in front or to either side...WHAM!!!

Switching depths is something we have had fun with for years in the whole water column.

If your ever popping holes and find or better yet know of a open pocket in a weedbed, BINGO.

Fish can come in from any side to chew your offering.

Good time to find and remember these areas is during your open water Pike / Bass Hunts.

GPS - Oh ya!

If you working a long flat, weeds not much else, Zig Zag pattern cover lots of water and you can find active fish very easy.

Working as a team with a friend you can really get around.

Inside & outside turns on a weed line seem to produce more than just say any old place along the line.

Add easy access to deeper water and your going to get your offerings chewed BIG time.

Smaller points or secondary points that get less pressure away from the crowds can also be very HOT if they have any of the above near by.

Shallow water sand / muck flats with a mix of weeds here and there can be killer early and late ice feeding areas.

Easy to have fun experimenting, learn a few things that work for you and become very productive at icing some BIG FAT PIKE.

Lots of other ways to go, but we like to keep it simple and the Pike do find us.

Good luck JoeTC, I feel you will do just fine.

Tom

[GatorGetter]

Where can a guy find good frozen smelt or herring? The grocery stores have very small ones this year.

[Fish'n guy]

Thanks for the info Tom and great advice. I love to fish pike on the ice and haven't really been able to pattern them, but your advice may help me land some nice Pike this winter!!GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!