Stained Water Tip Ups

[Maximum12]

Background: the lake I frequent most of the winter is small & shallow with murky water, clarity is lousy. I almost never catch anything on tip-ups in this stained water (2 northerns in 15 outings over the past year) ~ almost everything comes off of jigging spoons or something flashy. Today alone I had eight fish on the rod, the flag never tripped once.

Question: are there different things I ought to do in stained water to attract fish? I've tried glow hooks, glow jigs, lighter test, all different depths, blah blah blah & I'm out of ideas. Anyone have any advice? Thanks!

[jigmeister]

Have you tried using a larger dead bait such as smelt? The scent given off by this type of bait may help attract a hungry pike.

[efgh]

Try a windlas tipup,

[IcEaHoLiC]

Where are you able to buy smelt.....I have been wondering about that and cant find any? Let me know please!

[slick814]

Shiners on a glow-in-the-dark jig on your tip-up can work pretty well.

Something with a lot of flash helps. In that situation, I've had good luck with "summer" jigs, a bit bigger head on it, maybe a 1/4 oz. or so, and the extra size helps with extra attractant. You're more than likely looking for pike that way, so the slightly larger hook size won't hurt you either.

[jipper]

I have bought smelt at vados in spring lake park before.. Might want to give them a call

[jigmeister]

This might sound funny, but try the frozen seafood section at your grocery store.

[Zimm]

One other option if your looking to catch northerns is to put on a norhland rattle tube. It slips over your hook. You can find them anywhere. I would also put on a big sucker or shinner and let him do the work for you. This has worked for us when we river fish for gators and I think it may work in your situation as well. Good Luck. Zimm

[Maximum12]

Thanks for the tips, the smelt things sounds promising. I sometimes forget that our toothy friends have senses other than sight.

This gives me a few more ideas to try at the very least!

[tucciproshop]

i would try about a 6" shinner. Big and flashy

[pathogen]

efgh had an excellent suggestion. a Windlass tipup will do the jigging for you, and you can adjust them to be subtle, or very aggressive. Perhaps combined with a high scent bait like smelt it will do the trick for you.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Try making a leader and add a couple spinner blades.

[buzbunni]

I took note of a tip I read earlier this season. The tip was to use a safety-pin style spinner, with a plain hook attached where the jig/plastic body would be. Tie the spinner onto the line, bait the rig with you're minnow, and you've instantly got larger profile, a nice thumpin' going on, and some good flash. Choose the color and size rig you want. I haven't yet tried it this season, but it ain't over til it's over...